ZTO Express has begun trial runs for three unmanned express delivery vehicles on roads in Yangquan, a city committed to intelligent networked self-driving industrial development in North China's Shanxi province. 

Previous trials all took place in closed campuses, mining areas, and communities, rather than normal roads.

The vehicles undertake a short-distance transfer work for transportation between final destinations and post stations, saving time for express delivery personnel and greatly improving delivery efficiency.

The unmanned vehicles equipped with radar can carry hundreds of differently-sized parcels and travel 100 kilometers on a single charge.

Due to the use of automatic avoidance technology, they can perceive the surrounding environment and avoid various dynamics and static obstacles such as pedestrians and vehicles.

Also, ZTO Express has formulated a safety management system for unmanned delivery vehicles and equipped them with on-site and remote safety personnel who monitor their operating status in real time and can immediately take control of the vehicle when needed.  

The unmanned vehicles have been on the road for nearly a month and run four times a day. As long as the package pickup sites and times are set, they can automatically drive according to the established route.

In recent years, Shanxi has been encouraging courier companies to carry out research on key technologies such as artificial intelligence, unmanned delivery, and green packaging.

The trial run has opened a new chapter in the province's express delivery industry and allows residents to enjoy more digital, intelligent and convenient express delivery services.