Driverless sweepers on the streets soon

Wang Anqi and Tom Qian

Thirty driverless motor sweepers are due to be on Jiading streets from January, according to a deal signed between the Jiading government and Tongji University.

The driverless sweeper made its debut at the recent AI World 2018 and 20th China International Industry Fair held in Shanghai. 

They have been developed by the university with sponsorship from the Shanghai Science and Technology Commission. 

So far four have been built and passed tests.

In the National Intelligent Connected Vehicle (Shanghai) Pilot Zone in Jiading where driverless motor sweepers are under test, they can avoid roadblocks, detour automatically and run along preset courses monitored by a safety supervisor. 

With a speed of 3-5 kilometers an hour, each vehicle can cover 13,000 square meters in an hour, work for over six hours without stopping, and return to parking spots automatically.

Equipped with intelligent driving and remote control systems, the sweepers have already been used to clean streets and squares. 

They can clean streets along set routes or along road edges automatically.

Supervisors can control the vehicles and check their status of the vehicles via an app on a mobile phone which also receives data from video, sensors, and monitors electricity and malfunctions. 

Drivers can take control of the vehicles by simply stepping on the brake or touching the steering wheel to convert the unmanned model to a manned model. 

“So far the driverless motor sweepers are especially suitable for use in closed areas at night, which can save a lot of manpower and labor cost,” an industry insider said.