Smart, self-driving buses start trial operation in Nansha

Nansha residents will be able to take intelligent network connected buses to travel between Hengli Station on Guangzhou Metro Line 18 and Jiaomen Station on Guangzhou Metro Line 4, local media outlets reported on Aug 22. 

Five buses of this kind are now in trial operation in Lingshan Island area. 

A total of eight passenger seats are available in the bus and the windows of the bus are very large, allowing passengers to get a better view of the local scenery. 

After all the passengers fasten their seat belts, the safety supervisor in the driver's seat will start the bus, but the safety supervisor doesn't need to drive the bus as the bus applies a level-4 autonomous driving system apart from emergencies.

An augmented reality interactive display hanging inside the bus allows passengers to see what the bus can "see" such as the road condition, traffic signals and signage information.

A white on-board unit (OBU) in the shape of a shark fin in the bus makes the bus capable of sensing traffic situations 300 meters ahead such as the countdown of the traffic lights.

Officials from the Nansha industry and information technology bureau noted that the district now is pushing forward the testing and trial operation of autonomous driving, the construction of an intelligent transportation platform, the renovation of intelligent roads and the construction of the closed test sites for autonomous driving, striving to become a national demonstrative zone for autonomous driving and smart transportation.