Chinese Community Offers Autonomous Shuttles

Seedland Group, one of China’s top 100 real estate firms, has launched an autonomous shuttle service at its Boston Ivy gated community in Guangzhou.

The service uses two Hachi Auto electric vehicles, which can be booked by residents to take them anywhere within the geo-fenced complex. The driverless vehicles can accommodate four passengers.

Using an array of lidar and cameras, the vehicles can detect and navigate around moving and stationary objects. Seedland says the car’s positioning software is accurate to within 2 cm.

The vehicles have undergone thousands of real-world tests with more than 100,000 km (62,000 miles) of autonomous operation, according to the developer.

The Hachi Auto cars can be summoned via a smartphone app or various devices in a resident’s home, including a so-called “smart mirror,” according to Seedland. Users can unlock the vehicle through facial recognition or a verification code. Riders can access controls using touchscreens or voice controls.

Seedland says the low-speed cars can stop within 30 cm during emergency maneuvers.

Seedland, which was formed in 2006, plans to expand use of Hachi Auto vehicles to several other properties across China next year. The company also uses robots to deliver packages and assist residents.