JD Logistics (京东物流, HK: 02618), the delivery arm of JD Group, yesterday started using its 600-plus smart autonomous vehicles for package pickup, making it the first domestic company to adopt delivery robots capable of self-initiated pickup and drop-off at scale.
According to IT Home, an online tech news portal, JD’s couriers can dispatch the delivery robots to send packages after contacting the receivers for approval.
The receivers will be able to check the real-time status of the delivery on the JD Logistics app, as part of a convenient user experience, according to a statement from the company.
JD Logistics is a pioneer in the development of driverless delivery vehicles. Efforts got underway in 2016, as JD became the first firm to apply autonomous driving technologies in real-world scenarios.
Its vehicle fleet has now been upgraded to the fifth generation, with a capacity of 200kg and a range of 100km.
Combining 10 core technologies including high-precision positioning, infused sensing and behavioral intention prediction, the vehicle, decked out often in JD’s iconic red, was first used on trial and now has hit the road in ever larger numbers.
To date, JD Logistics has deployed over 600 vehicles to upwards of 30 cities nationwide, handling package pickup and delivery within residential neighborhoods and major business districts.
They also connect with supermarkets and grocery store chains to provide on-demand delivery services.
