Shanghai Issues First Batch of Licenses for Unmanned Equipment?
Recently, news emerged that the Traffic Police Detachment of the Pudong Branch of the Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau has issued the first batch of identification plates for unmanned equipment. The new plates are designed in a combination of light blue and white, with the region’s abbreviation at the beginning, followed by a mix of letters and numbers, and clearly labeled “Unmanned Equipment” at the top.
Many netizens have associated these identification plates for unmanned equipment with autonomous vehicles, and some self-media outlets have even claimed them as “exclusive licenses for autonomous vehicles.”
On November 15, The Paper learned from relevant departments and enterprises in Pudong New Area that the above understanding is a misinterpretation. The unmanned equipment is not the manned vehicles that netizens assumed, but refers to low-speed wheeled equipment for unmanned delivery. The key difference between this and autonomous vehicles is the absence of a driver’s seat (cabin). It mainly operates on non-motor vehicle lanes to perform predetermined tasks, such as delivery, environmental sanitation, and patrol.
(Image of the identification plate for unmanned equipment sourced from the “Postal Express Convenience” WeChat official account)
Unmanned Equipment ≠ Autonomous Vehicles
In fact, issuing identification plates for unmanned equipment is not a recent “novelty.”
According to “Pudong Fabu,” during the 2024 World Artificial Intelligence Conference held in July this year, the Traffic Police Detachment of the Pudong Branch of the Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau and the Pudong New Area Science and Technology and Economic Commission jointly issued the city’s first batch of identification plates for unmanned equipment, with five enterprises receiving certification. This marks an important milestone in the application of unmanned equipment in Pudong New Area and nationwide, signaling that unmanned equipment is gradually entering a new stage of standardized and large-scale application.
(In July 2024, the Traffic Police Detachment of the Pudong Branch of the Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau and the Pudong New Area Science and Technology and Economic Commission jointly issued Shanghai’s first batch of identification plates for unmanned equipment, with five enterprises receiving certification. Image sourced from “Pudong Fabu”)
However, recently, this “identification plate” has gained attention online, being misinterpreted as an “autonomous vehicle license.” Some short videos have even associated images of the identification plate with autonomous vehicles, and the platform has created a topic #ShanghaiIssuesFirstBatchOfAutonomousVehicleLicenses.
On November 15, a reporter from The Paper interviewed an autonomous vehicle enterprise and learned that the identification plate for unmanned equipment is completely different from an autonomous vehicle license, and the former cannot be used for autonomous taxis. Currently, all intelligent and connected vehicles in Shanghai must obtain test licenses in accordance with laws and regulations, and these licenses are regularly renewed according to relevant management regulations.
How to Correctly Understand Unmanned Equipment?
The Pudong New Area Science and Technology and Economic Commission (abbreviated as “Science and Economic Commission”) introduced to The Paper that on June 29, 2023, the Pudong New Area People’s Congress passed the “Regulations on Promoting the Innovative Application of Unmanned Equipment in Pudong New Area,” which clearly defines unmanned equipment as low-speed wheeled equipment that meets relevant technical standards or specifications, completes autonomous driving through intelligent and connected systems, and performs predetermined tasks, operating on non-motor vehicle lanes within specific roads and areas.
According to the “T/SHV2X2 Group Standard” issued by the Shanghai Vehicle Networking Association, which outlines technical requirements and field testing methods for low-speed unmanned delivery equipment, unmanned equipment refers to wheeled equipment that operates at specified speeds within specific roads and areas, does not meet the definition of a motor vehicle, has no driver’s seat (cabin), completes autonomous driving through intelligent and connected systems, and performs predetermined tasks.
The reporter learned that currently, a total of 17 unmanned equipment from five enterprises in Pudong New Area have obtained identification plates, with Bai Xiniu being one of the first enterprises. On November 15, relevant staff from the enterprise told The Paper’s reporter that after obtaining the identification plates, their unmanned logistics vehicles can legally operate on the road, and their unmanned equipment is mainly used for connections between outlets and stations. Currently, the enterprise is actively expanding its unmanned delivery business and has partnered with express delivery companies to provide them with logistics and delivery services.
Why Issue Identification Plates for Unmanned Equipment?
Did unmanned equipment have any “licenses” before? What is the main purpose of issuing these identification plates?
The Pudong New Area Science and Economic Commission stated that unmanned equipment did not have a unified license identification before. The significance of issuing these identification plates lies mainly in three aspects:
Firstly, it clarifies the responsibility attribution in case of accidents involving unmanned equipment. Although a comprehensive national legal framework for unmanned equipment has not yet been established, Pudong New Area, through the implementation of detailed regulations, legally issues identification plates to unmanned equipment enterprises, which clarifies the responsibility attribution in case of accidents to a certain extent.
Secondly, it enhances the supervision of unmanned equipment within the region. With a dedicated identification for unmanned equipment, management departments can more easily track and manage these equipment, ensuring road safety. This provides a more convenient and effective way for traffic management departments to supervise.
Lastly, it promotes the application of unmanned technology and integrates it into the public’s daily life. Dedicated identification plates help drive the application and development of unmanned technology in the transportation sector. The special colors and identifications help traditional drivers quickly identify and respond accordingly on the road. At the same time, it raises public awareness and acceptance of unmanned technology, facilitating the better integration of unmanned equipment into the public’s daily life.
What is the Progress of Autonomous Vehicle Application?
Many people are also concerned about the progress of autonomous vehicles that can carry passengers and whether they will have exclusive licenses.
(On March 19, 2018, a temporary license “Hu N5590 Shi” was placed on the windshield of an intelligent and connected vehicle on Boyuan Road in Jiading District, Shanghai. Photo by Yu Kai, The Paper)
The Pudong New Area Science and Economic Commission told The Paper’s reporter that test licenses for intelligent and connected vehicles without drivers (i.e., “autonomous vehicles”) were issued in March last year, but this does not mean they can operate on the road. Autonomous vehicles will undergo stages such as road testing, demonstration applications, and demonstration operations. Each testing stage will have corresponding temporary driving licenses and vehicle identification plates. Currently, autonomous vehicles in Pudong New Area are in the demonstration application stage and are expected to advance to the demonstration operation stage by the end of this year or early next year.
Pudong New Area has also formulated relevant regulations and implementation details for autonomous vehicles. Unlike unmanned equipment, autonomous vehicles involve carrying passengers. Therefore, government departments are more rigorous in granting temporary driving licenses and vehicle identification plates.
It is reported that in November 2022, the Shanghai People’s Congress passed the country’s first local regulation on the innovative application of intelligent and connected vehicles – the “Regulations on Promoting the Innovative Application of Intelligent and Connected Vehicles Without Drivers in Pudong New Area of Shanghai.” In March 2023, the Pudong New Area People’s Government issued the “Implementation Details of the Regulations on Promoting the Innovative Application of Intelligent and Connected Vehicles Without Drivers in Pudong New Area of Shanghai,” providing a solid legal foundation for autonomous driving of intelligent and connected vehicles.
The Pudong New Area Science and Economic Commission stated that it will promote legislation and regulation for intelligent and connected vehicles without drivers, implement total control, balance the interaction between the government and the market, and establish a framework for the orderly development of the autonomous driving industry. At the same time, it will explore establishing a closed loop for employment security between autonomous driving enterprises and traditional driver groups, with relevant safety and operation positions appropriately favoring traditional driver groups.