The AA invests half a billion in research on unmanned driving systems expected to carry passengers in restricted areas for unmanned buses in 2024

The end of the airport’s south runway has become a hot spot for “check-in” in recent years, but recently citizens may hear driverless car warnings when they travel too close.

According to the Airport Authority, since September this year, it will try unmanned patrol vehicles on a section of about 1.5 kilometers from the South Runway. When it detects someone within 3 meters of the South Runway fence, it will issue a warning and ask the relevant person to leave immediately; if necessary , Will send someone to deal with it.

The AA also pointed out that the unmanned driving system began to be studied in 2018, and the project cost was about 50 million yuan.

It is expected to test unmanned electric buses in the third to fourth quarters of next year as soon as possible to carry employees to and from different locations. It is expected that they will be able to pick up passengers to and from the Aerospace City and the port from 2024.

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Driverless trailers have begun to carry passenger luggage

Yao Zhaocong, deputy director of airport operations of the AA, said that the development of the AA's unmanned driving system will be divided into four stages after the introduction of trailers in 2019.

In the first phase in 2020, 8 unmanned trailers will be used to carry passengers’ luggage to and from the Haitian Ferry Terminal, apron and baggage handling hall. “It has traveled 70,000 kilometers, that is, it has traveled around the earth for more than one and a half times. There have been accidents caused by him."

Starting from the second quarter of this year, the AA has developed to use larger unmanned trailers to carry cargo with a drag force of 30 tons.

Yao Zhaocong pointed out that only one related trailer is currently available. He plans to purchase 70 trailers after the completion of the three-track system in 2024 to replace the current staff-driven trailers to tow the cargo from the freight station to the apron.

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In addition, in September this year, the AA introduced four unmanned patrol vehicles, equipped with three radars, eight lenses and a global positioning system, which can be fully charged for 16 hours.

When the patrol car detects an obstacle within 10 meters of the body, it will automatically brake. Yao Zhaocong said: "I believe that the chance of hitting a person is very small." He said that the driverless technology was developed by experts in Beijing and Hong Kong, and the vehicle chassis Produced in the Mainland.

Currently, two of the patrol vehicles are patrolling at the end of the South Runway. Yao Zhaocong emphasized that the security of the relevant locations is very important. Therefore, the number of patrols can be encrypted. "A patrol car will pass by once in 5 minutes at a point, and people will not be able to do it regardless of the point." He pointed out that patrol cars have a feature that is better than people. Wind and Typhoon Signal No. 8 are working tightly."

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Unmanned vehicles are even more needed under the epidemic, because everyone feels that people and things should be contacted as little as possible, and they also want to protect employees as much as possible, and they need to speed up.

Yao Zhaocong

The introduction of unmanned patrol vehicles is not intended to replace existing manpower

The patrol car has been in operation so far and no break-in cases have been recorded. However, Yao said: "Many people have wedding photos and graduation photos, but they are not ideal and will drive them away." Was the introduction of the patrol car related to the anti-amendment legislation in 2019?

Yao Zhaocong denied the relevant claims and pointed out that the goal of the system is not to replace existing manpower, but to strengthen security and efficiency.

The other two patrol vehicles are planned to operate on the North Runway from December.

The AA is currently modifying and testing ordinary electric buses, hoping to bid for unmanned buses after mastering the technology.

(Photo by Liang Pengwei)

Test driverless electric buses as soon as the third quarter of next year

As for the next stage of development, the AA plans to develop driverless buses, and will test the transportation of staff in the restricted area to different locations as soon as the third quarter of next year. It is expected to officially operate in 2023.

Yao pointed out that he is currently refitting and testing ordinary electric buses, hoping to start bidding after mastering the technology.

By 2024, it plans to use unmanned buses to take passengers to and from the port and the space city; and by 2028, it hopes to be able to travel to and from the space city, the port and Tung Chung.

However, related plans require additional investment, and walking outside the restricted area must also be licensed by the Transport Department.

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