From -25℃ to 45℃，WeRide’s autonomous driving fleets excel road tests in extreme weather

WeRide’s Robobus and Robotaxi fleets recently accomplished autonomous driving road tests in Heihe, China and Abu Dhabi, UAE. The temperatures of the two cities reach as low as -25°C and as high as 45°C respectively, representing the most extreme weather conditions in the world.

Though it is common for the automobile industry to conduct test drives under extreme weather conditions, WeRide is one of the very few AD technology companies in the world that excels in similar tests. WeRide conquered various challenging scenarios under extreme weather conditions and has further improved our AD software and hardware capabilities. All the tests are essential for us to achieve fully driverless vehicles in large-scale operations.

WeRide has now taken the lead.

Follow us and take a look at how our vehicles work under extreme weather.

Heihe, China 50°14′N 127°31′E

WeRide’s Robobus

Lowest temperature: -25℃

We uphold accuracy and safety in our operations, making every effort to identify and handle data noises. Considering the adverse winter conditions in Heihe, the heavy snowfall would bring a significant amount of noise to the sensors; the icy roads would also create strong surface reflection, which in turn may disrupt the sensor suite to achieve accurate perception results. Throughout the driverless tests in such extreme weather, WeRide’s Robobus has overcome the above challenges. The vehicle is able to utilize its millisecond-level low latency sensing with 360 degrees coverage to filter noises coming from the snow fall, ensuring safety at all times.

Another challenge in extreme weather is slippery road. It is one of the major factors that causes road accidents, and it is also a life-threatening factor for driverless vehicles. Empowered by WeRide’s multi-sensor fusion, the AD system will be able to track the absolute and relative speed of the vehicle in real time, leading to precise control of the steering angle, acceleration and braking of the vehicle.

Abu Dhabi, UAE 24°28′N 54°22′E

WeRide’s Robotaxi

Highest temperature: 45℃

Apart from the extreme cold weather, WeRide has also overcome the challenges of extreme heat in Abu Dhabi. High temperatures could cause electronic and mechanical components to malfunction. For instance, smartphones often fail to function properly under extremely high or low temperatures. To accommodate for temperature swings, WeRide has developed a comprehensive thermal management system on our driverless vehicles’ onboard AD computing platform, preventing malfunctions of the computer caused by extremely high temperatures.

As an island on the Persian Gulf, Abu Dhabi is surrounded by ocean with high humidity. The salt mist from the ocean would cause serious corrosion on electronics, and to the AD sensor suites in our fleets as well. Compliant with automotive grade standards, WeRide has developed a proprietary sensor cleaning system which automatically tracks and identifies dirt and water stains, cleaning up the sensor whenever is needed. This system will support the driverless fleet to run smoothly and safely under extreme weather conditions.

Autonomous driving had never been realized in Heihe and Abu Dhabi. Now that WeRide has successfully conducted road tests in both cities, they as well as more cities can benefit from the evolving AD technology. After all, safety, stability and comfort are fundamentals for large-scale fully driverless vehicles operations. With our commitment in elevating AD technology for a safe, eco-friendly, affordable and comfortable driverless journey, WeRide will continue to explore and conduct more road tests to overcome adverse conditions, enabling our technology to be applicable worldwide.

About WeRide

WeRide is a leading, commercial-stage global company that develops Level 4 autonomous driving technologies. WeRide aims to develop safe and reliable driverless solution to make our mobility and transportation safer, more affordable and accessible. It is the first technology company in the world that holds driverless test permits in both China and the U.S.

WeRide has been a pioneer in accelerating the commercialization of autonomous technologies and services around the world. Through strategic alliances with leading OEMs, mobility and logistics service platforms, WeRide offers an all-rounded product mix of Robotaxi, Mini Robobus and Robovan to provide services including online ride-hailing, on-demand transport and urban logistics.

Established in 2017, WeRide is headquartered in Guangzhou, China, and has expanded its R&D and operation centers to Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Zhengzhou, Nanjing, Wuhan, and Anqing, as well as San Jose in the US. WeRide has formed partnerships with top-tier global OEMs including Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, Yutong Group and GAC Group, etc.

For more information, please visit: Website: www.weride.ai; Medium: https://werideai.medium.com/; twitter/LinkedIn/YouTube: WeRide.ai.