How China’s King Long bus bagged $1 million top prize in Dubai self-driving challenge

$1 MILLION PRIZE: Bus maker King Long of China bagged the first place in “Industry Leaders” category for self-driving buses, bringing home the $1 million top prize for the challenge. The King Long team members were honoured at the 3rd Dubai World Congress for Self-Driving Transport (September 26-27, 2023), hosted by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority. The self-driving bus, six metres in length, has a maximum speed of 69 km/h and can move up to 12 passengers. The bus is equipped with 27 cameras and sensors, with a battery that can be fully charged in 120 minutes.

EVALUATION: King Long secured the first place after their bus successfully underwent multiple tests, evaluated based on five primary criteria: operational strategy, safety and security, sustainability and energy, passenger experience, and interaction with road users. Five international firms had qualified for the final stage in the Industry Leaders category: Alexander Dennis (United Kingdom), Bright Drive (Egypt), King Long (China), Quadribot (France), and iAuto Technology (Taiwan). Five universities were selected for the finals in the Local Academia category: Heriot-Watt University, Dubai, Khalifa University – Abu Dhabi, University of Dubai, University of Bolton - Ras Al Khaimah, and the American University of Sharjah.

20 TESTS: Dubai is at the forefront of promoting innovations in self-driving technology. The King Long entry in the self-driving bus challenge cleared 20 different tests, including emergency lane shifting, navigating through a roundabout with obstacles, and surpassing a broken-down vehicle in the middle of the road.

BUS WITHOUT HUMAN DRIVER: The King Long self-driving bus is an autonomous bus developed by King Long United Automotive Industry Co., Ltd., a Chinese automotive manufacturer. This self-driving bus is designed to operate without a human driver, relying on advanced technologies such as sensors, cameras, radar systems, and artificial intelligence to navigate and control the vehicle.

NEXT-GENERATION: On September 15, 2021, King Long and Baidu, China’s leading search-engine and internet company, jointly rolled out a new generation of “Apollo” autonomous driving bus, a month after it was unveiled in Guangzhou. These autonomous buses — able to operate on their own, which means the bus can navigate its route, sense its surroundings, and make decisions without human intervention — are typically designed to be accessible to passengers with disabilities, with features like low-floor entry, ramps, and accommodations for wheelchair users.

AUTONOMOUS METRO BUS: As one of the leading bus makers in China, King Long first brought its fifth-generation Jieguan electric bus and carbon-fibre metro bus on display at the China International Exhibition on Buses, Trucks and Components held in Beijing in July 2021.

DRIVING INTO THE FUTURE: The Dubai event unveiled a thrilling glimpse into the future of autonomous mobility, celebrating the winners of the Dubai World Challenge for Self-Driving Transport, a competition that drew over 2,000 international participants, 53 speakers, and 40 leading exhibitors in smart and sustainable mobility.

SECOND PLACER: Bright Drive Company from Egypt secured second place, garnering $750,000 for a self-driving bus that is six metres in length and has a top speed of 69 kilometres per hour. This bus can accommodate up to 15 passengers and is uniquely equipped with 16 cameras and sensors and can be fully charged in 180 minutes. The bus successfully passed tests that included reversing, navigating pedestrian crossing with limited visibility, and merging into traffic.

CHALLENGE: The Dubai challenge, boasting a purse of $2.3 million, witnessed remarkable global participation from industry leaders in self-driving buses, a technological marvel equipped with cameras and sensors, showing a remarkable potential for safer, more efficient public transportation. It also demonstrates Dubai’s relentless pursuit of cutting-edge mobility solutions that is crucial for a sustainable and connected future.