China-based autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV) technology platform EHang and Shenzhen Expressway Operation and Development Company have built the first AAV command-and-control platform, equipped with various types of AAVs and intelligent sensor devices for expressway networks management, emergency rescue and safe operations. The two companies have been exploring AAV applications over the last two years and claim to have laid a solid technological foundation.

EHang chief strategy officer Edward Xu says: “Our in-depth partnership with Shenzhen Expressway is another major strategic deployment to deepen the urban air mobility industry in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. It is also another milestone for the EHang 100 Air Mobility Routes Initiative. We hope to work with Shenzhen Expressway to upgrade the transportation in Shenzhen for intelligent urban mobility networks.”

Based on the deployment of the Shenzhen Expressway UAV command-and-control systems, the two parties will further broaden the use cases of EHang AAVs for roads inspection, emergency rescue and materials transportation among others. In addition, as a partner of the EHang 100 Air Mobility Routes Initiative, Shenzhen Expressway will join efforts with EHang to explore the integration of AAV air mobility and expressway networks in smart city transportation.