U.S. Tech Firm Operates 100% Autonomous Semi Truck on China Highway

A semi truck with driverless technology successfully completed a demonstration in busy traffic on a highway in an economic center in China, according to the California firm, Plus, that provided the driverless technology.

The driverless semi truck was operated using Plus’ Level 4 autonomous driving technology, without a safety driver, teleoperator, or any other human intervention.

Level 4 technology refers to an automated driving system (ADS) on the vehicle that can itself perform all driving tasks and monitor the driving environment – essentially, do all the driving – in certain circumstances. A human need not pay attention in those circumstances, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The driverless Level 4 truck demonstration was completed on the Wufengshan highway in China’s largest economic center of Yangtze Delta. The demonstration was conducted with a special permit on the newly built highway. During the demonstration, the driverless truck drove safely and smoothly in typical highway traffic, Plus said.

Plus said the demonstration represents a “significant milestone” for the autonomous trucking industry and for Plus, which demonstrated the company’s first driverless Level 4 heavy truck operation in 2018.

Plus said it expects to launch pilot operations of a fully driverless truck for use in a dedicated environment in 2022.

Watch the China driverless truck demo in this video: https://youtu.be/puisSy5sSzI.

Top Photo: Plus driverless truck. Photo provided by Plus.