Unmanned vehicle speeds up logistics efficiency

By Chen Si, Wan Chunfeng,  Liu Hui and Yu Xiaoqin also contributed to this article.

Xingshan County recently introduced an unmanned express delivery vehicle, significantly improving distribution efficiency.

The unmanned delivery vehicle
Photo by Liu Hui

Reaching speeds of up to 40 kilometers per hour, the vehicle outpaces traditional manual deliveries, all without a cabin or driver. Equipped with LIDAR, cameras, and GPS sensors, it continuously monitors traffic lights, weather conditions, and road obstacles for smooth and safe navigation.

At the Xingshan logistics center, workers load parcels, scan codes and set routes via a specialized app. The vehicle then autonomously drives to its destination according to the set route.

Staff sets the route via a specialized app.
Photo by Liu Hui

“It has a capacity of 5 cubic meters and makes three daily trips to district stations, transporting 600 to 800 pieces per shipment. We monitor it in real time on computers and mobile phones, and switch to manual operation mode in case of emergencies,” said Li Zujun, director of Xingshen Express Co Ltd.

Compared with the previous three-wheelers, the unmanned vehicle runs much faster and can work under all weather conditions. Its cargo hold space design makes it easier to load and unload parcels. Convenient to schedule, it helps manage peak demand more efficiently.

“Previously, it would take about an hour for express deliveries to get from the city to district stations. The unmanned vehicle arrives within 20 minutes at most,” said Li Fenglian, manager of a local courier outlet.

A worker loads parcels into the unmanned delivery vehicle.
Photo by Liu Hui