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Self-driving van delivers packages on Zijingang Campus

2020-08-18

Have you recently noticed a small blue cargo van wandering around the student residence halls on Zijingang Campus? This is Little G, the self-driving delivery van designed by Alibaba. Every day, it shuttles back and forth between different halls of residence to deliver packages to consignees. Although this self-driving van is small and cute, it can carry a heavy load and cater to the needs of more students.

On the strength of such self-driving algorithms as decision planning, high-precision location and precise sensing, it can automatically dodge and circumvent pedestrians and vehicles, make turns and put itself into reverse, and pull over at exactly the appointed site, thereby ensuring the safety of packages.

Consignees can make a reservation for the delivery of packages by using such apps as Taobao or Alipay. Once a reservation is made, they will receive a text message and a smart voice call and check out the real-time route and location of the van. It can also alter its delivery speed according to weather and road conditions. Besides, it can also offer delivery services even on rainy or snowy days.

During the summer vacation, the self-driving van delivers packages to the three halls of residence which are a bit far away from the Package Center—Ziyun, Bifeng and Lantian. It will be expanded to other areas in accordance with the demands of the Zhejiang University community. Moreover, it may also be promoted to other campuses in the near future.

Back to 2017, the demo version of little G had been tested on campus. With more matured techniques and improved safty measurements,the official launching of Little G now is to meet the huge demand of package delivery during the outbreak, while statisfying the 'Zero-contact' health requirements. The coronavirus pandemic has changed the calculus for the players working on self-driving vehicles.The virus has forced them testing vehicles on public roads to ground their fleets.