Driverless delivery vehicles are being trialized in Hai'an, Nantong. [Photo/WeChat account: hafbwx]

The Hai'an branch of China Post has introduced driverless delivery vehicles that not only strictly follow traffic rules. Still, it can also navigate automatically based on road conditions and remind pedestrians with voice prompts. Each vehicle can deliver around 700 parcels per day, and when fully charged, it can travel up to 160 kilometers at full load.

Equipped with 12 high-definition cameras and a laser radar system, the vehicles achieve 360-degree panoramic viewing and 120-meter obstacle detection. Thanks to an intelligent collision-avoidance system that integrates multiple sensors, the vehicles can react to emergencies with a rapid braking response time of just 0.1 seconds. They can accurately recognize obstacles, lane markings, and traffic signals even in rainy or foggy weather.

Currently, 11 driverless delivery vehicles have entered the trial phase, operating along 22 delivery routes that cover 10 districts and towns. Once a route is pre-planned using the control software, the vehicles can depart at scheduled times and deliver parcels to designated locations along preset routes. Staff can monitor the vehicles' status through a mobile app or computer system and smoothly switch to manual operation in emergencies, ensuring safe and stable service.

Tao Yuanyuan, deputy general manager of the Hai'an branch, said that after three months of trial operations, the cost per delivery has dropped by more than 30 percent, significantly reducing the labor intensity for delivery workers.