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Baidu Apollo is the chief and most influential autonomous automobile (AV) developer in China. Apollo has aggressive targets throughout a number of AV use instances — particularly robotaxis. As a pacesetter in AI analysis making use of know-how to AVs, Baidu’s AV analysis started in 2013, whereas the Apollo venture began in early 2017.
Baidu was based in 2000 in Beijing and have become China’s main web–search firm. Baidu went public on the Nasdaq change in 2005. With complete income topping $19.5 billion and 2021 revenue of greater than $1.6 billion, Baidu has the monetary sources to spend money on AVs and robotaxis.
This column appears at Baidu’s AV actions, together with a abstract of its July announcement of a robotaxi–centric automobile. The desk beneath summarizes Baidu Apollo’s AV actions.
Baidu Apollo
Apollo is Baidu’s open–supply autonomous–driving tech platform that was launched in 2017. The purpose is to supply an open and secure resolution to allow its companions within the automotive trade with autonomous–driving functionality. Apollo is among the world’s most energetic open platforms for autonomous driving, with over 700,000 traces of supply code, 80,000+ builders, and 210+ trade companions.
Baidu has over 500 L4 AVs in testing or robotaxi operation. In 2021, Baidu had two AVs testing in California. In 2018 and 2019, Baidu had 4 AVs testing in California.
Baidu’s AV testing reached over 32 million kilometers (20 million miles) by the tip of June. In California, Baidu’s AV checks reached 130,000 miles by the tip of 2021.
Apollo has obtained 593 autonomous–driving check permits in China, together with 398 check permits for passenger transportation.
By the tip of March, Baidu had filed over 3,700 patent functions. At the moment, Baidu ranks first on the earth with over 1,000 excessive–stage autonomous–driving patents.
Apollo is energetic in a number of AV use instances, with robotaxis as an important phase. Baidu can be energetic in creating and testing AVs to be used in mass–transit programs — usually referred to as robobuses. This consists of minibuses, similar to Apolong, which has been examined since 2018 in 22 city parks in a number of cities, together with Beijing, Guangzhou, Xiongan, Chongqing and Foshan.
The primary–technology Apolong is the one AV minibus to attain giant–scale operation in China. Apolong amassed greater than 120,000 customers and a complete mileage of 120,000 kilometers by August 2021, at which level Apolong II was launched.
Baidu obtained permission to check robobuses in Beijing in late March. Baidu is working with QCraft and SenseTime and can check eight further robobuses in Beijing.
Baidu can be creating items–solely AVs. These AVs are the premise for particular–goal functions, similar to road sweepers and comparable duties.
Apollo Go
Apollo Go is at the moment out there in 10 cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Changsha, Cangzhou, Wuhan, Wuzhen and Yangquan. Apollo Go has began commercialized operation in a number of cities. Customers can hail a robotaxi with one faucet in Baidu Maps, Apollo Go’s standalone experience–hailing cellular app, or the Apollo Go mini program on the Baidu app. In April, Baidu obtained the primary allow in China for driverless experience–hailing companies in Beijing.
Apollo Go has supplied over 1 million robotaxi rides — principally without cost. Paid robotaxi rides can be found in 4 cities: Beijing, Chongqing, Yangquan and Wuhan (added in early July).
Baidu plans to increase Apollo Go operations to 65 cities in China by 2025 and 100 cities by 2030.
Baidu has a big AV check website in Beijing referred to as Apollo Park. The check space helps AV improvement, in addition to 5G and C–V2X know-how testing. Infrastructure to boost AV use is an enormous a part of Baidu’s plan to increase Apollo Go. Baidu will use 5G C–V2X because it deploys robotaxis. Apollo Park has over 200 AVs and might assist all features of improvement and testing.
Apollo RT6 robotaxi
Baidu Apollo introduced its first goal–constructed robotaxi for the Chinese language market on July 21. It’s the sixth technology of robotaxi automobiles and the supply of its title, RT6. It’s a battery electrical automobile (BEV), which is a manufacturing–prepared mannequin. RT6 has a removable steering wheel.
RT6 will probably be put into operation in China in 2023 on Apollo Go, Baidu’s autonomous experience–hailing service. The desk beneath summarizes public information on the RT6.
The devoted robotaxi design makes the Apollo RT6 distinct from earlier generations that had been retrofitted for AV use in standard automobiles. The detachable steering–wheel design offers extra space for distinctive interiors on the conventional driver seat.
The RT6 has L4 autonomous–driving functionality, supplied by 1,200 TOPS of computing energy, with an intensive sensor structure that features 38 sensors. Solely the variety of every sensor class was included within the RT6 announcement.
RT6 has eight LiDARs. From the launched photos, it’s clear that solely strong–state LiDARs are used. It’s unlikely that the RT6 makes use of any frequency–modulated, steady–wave (FMCW) LiDARs. FMCW LiDARs are greatest for prime–pace and lengthy–distance views, which at the moment usually are not wanted.
RT6 has six radars — most likely solely conventional radars with none 4D or imaging radars. One 4D–imaging radar can be helpful for the ahead–trying radar because of the superior interference rejection in contrast with conventional radars.
The Apollo RT6 exterior options an revolutionary look that integrates sensors on the sunroof alongside interactive lights. This supplied glorious sensor integration, as seen within the beneath pictures.
Apollo RT6 is the primary automobile mannequin constructed on Xinghe, Baidu’s self–developed automotive EE structure designed particularly for autonomous driving. The RT6 makes use of automotive–grade electronics and has redundancy in each {hardware} and autonomous–driving software program.
Apollo RT6 will be part of the Apollo Go experience–hailing service beginning in 2023. Nonetheless, there isn’t any particular beginning month presently.
The manufacturing value of the RT6 is spectacular, at 250,000 RMB (about $37,000). That is half the price of the fifth–technology robotaxi, the Apollo Moon, which is at the moment utilized in Baidu’s robotaxi companies.
In March 2021, Baidu fashioned a three way partnership with Geely referred to as Jidu to provide BEVs and AVs. In December 2021, Jidu stated it will introduce an idea automobile in mid–2022 and ship its first mass–produced AV in 2023. In June, Jidu launched a prototype of its first automobile, referred to as Robo–1, which has appreciable autonomous options. Jidu says it’ll value about $30,000 and is anticipated to go on sale in 2023. This Wired article comprises extra info on the Robo–1.
It seems the RT6 might be based mostly on the Robo–1 BEV, because the Robo–1 aspect–view image within the Wired article appears much like the RT6.
Baidu believes the RT6’s giant value discount will result in deployment of tens of hundreds of AVs throughout China in just a few years. It is going to additionally result in future robotaxi rides costing half of present taxi rides. Baidu stated it plans to provide 100,000 Apollo RT6 automobiles over an unspecified time interval.
Baidu included a stunning and doubtless a controversial assertion in its RT6 press launch: The autonomous–driving functionality of the Apollo RT6 is equal to a talented driver with 20 years of expertise.
Abstract
The Chinese language robotaxi trade continues its speedy improvement and is setting aggressive targets. Baidu Apollo is a pacesetter on this development, however there are many different competent opponents. The sturdy backing of the Chinese language authorities is a crucial think about AV progress. Numerous cities are additionally very supportive, and there’s sturdy competitors between main cities to guide within the highway to perceived future riches on the finish of the rainbow.
Baidu is on the middle of the Apollo open–supply AV improvement venture, which continues to realize assist from each Chinese language and overseas firms. Baidu’s robotaxi service group, Apollo Go, has 500 AVs in testing or robotaxi operation, with plans for speedy growth. The Apollo RT6 robotaxi is the important thing to this progress, with plans for tens of hundreds of robotaxis in operation in just a few years. RT6 deployment begins in 2023.
Apollo Go plans are much more enthusiastic, with robotaxi companies in 65 Chinese language cities in 2025, scaling to 100 cities by 2030. This may doubtless require no less than 100,000 robotaxis by 2030 (1,000 per metropolis). If you happen to assume Apollo’s opponents may have about two instances as many robotaxis (Apollo has 33% share), we’re probably speaking about 300,000 robotaxis working in China by 2030.
Is that this an affordable or low–likelihood state of affairs? Solely time will inform, however there are just a few useful components in China that aren’t current within the U.S. or Europe. The Chinese language authorities basically decides how briskly robotaxi deployment will occur. AV security is, after all, a significant factor, however the general crash charge in China is way larger than within the U.S. and Europe. Therefore, robotaxis and AVs typically can decrease the automobile crash charges in China with out matching AV crash–security charges required or tolerated within the U.S. and Europe.
Moreover, any AV crash fatalities within the U.S. and Europe will probably be entrance–web page tales and can negatively impression the AV trade. In China, not a lot. The lengthy–time period targets are extra vital than quick–time period unfavourable impression, and China is satisfied that AV know-how will deliver main benefits starting from financial to constructive human impression.
China will decrease the AV dangers by solely permitting robotaxi operation in elements of cities — the elements the place visitors and roads are amenable to secure operation. The areas of robotaxi operation will increase with time and as AV system functionality advances. The incorporation of 5G–based mostly C–V2X may even add to AV security in China as deployment of C–V2X for all automobiles expands shortly.
