In a world first, new energy technology company BYD has launched an autonomous driving system for its monorail – BYD SkyRail in the city of Yinchuan, northwest China. The system, a BYD creation, is combined with Huawei’s proprietary 4.5G eLTE technology to offer seamless connectivity that allows data to be transmitted securely - all while ensuring a safe ride for passengers.
The debut of BYD’s autonomous monorail signifies an upgrade for the SkyRail which was first made public in October 2016. At level 4, the vehicle now comes complete with the highest level automated driving system, which means it is fully autonomous and capable of performing safety critical driving functions. It embodies several ‘smart’ functions including the ability to switch to a back-up battery in the event of a power outage, auto problem diagnosis, an automated tracking of passenger flow and facial recognition. It is also capable of operating under extreme weather conditions from -40 to 80 degree Celsius.
“We want to use technology to improve the way people live. The combination of Huawei’s state-of-the-art 4.5G technology with our autonomous SkyRail makes the vehicle ‘smarter’, more efficient and even more reliable,” said Wang Chuanfu, chairman and president of BYD.
Huawei and BYD have collaborated closely on research in consumer electronics since 2004.
Both companies are headquartered in Shenzhen, a southeastern Chinese city that has gained fame in global technology circles for its innovation.
