On September 3, a road in Hefei used for 5G-connected vehicle demonstration operation officially started operation. Located in Baohe District, the road measures 4.4 km in length and is in the form of a ring.

On the same day, Ankai autonomous driving bus was put into service on the road. Measuring 6.6-meter in length, the bus has an extremely eye-catching appearance and adopts low-floor access. Boasting spacious room for passengers, the bus no longer needs a bus driver. A security guard, instead, only provides some assistance to the driving of the bus when necessary.

Journalists and citizens were excited to have the opportunity to experience the brand new travel services. During the whole trip, Ankai autonomous driving bus performed a host of complex tasks, including autonomous cruising, precise parking, keeping distance with other vehicles and pedestrians, etc.

According to a bus engineer from Ankai, 5G technology has significantly reduced the time for data transmission, creating a promising future for the commercial operation of autonomous driving buses.Apart from Ankai autonomous driving bus, Baidu Apollo, JAC autonomous driving vehicle, etc. were also put into operation on the road.

In August, 2019, Anhui province announced its plan to build a road for the demonstration operation of 5G-connected vehicles. After seven months hard work, the road completed its construction. Then, the road testing equipment, digital exhibition halls and vehicle-road signal coordination test were completed in August this year, laying a solid foundation for its official operation. Currently, 5G data transmission, 5G multi-scenario application, cloud control center, and exhibition halls are just some of the highlights of the road.