36 Dossier | WeRide Robobus strongest, highest-bandwidth connection at a given moment or place. “Whichever provides the best result in the latest connectivity speed and latency tests, we switch our video and telemetry streaming over to that SIM card, and the technician at the remote station continues receiving the Robobus’ desensitised data that way,” Liu says. Cyber security has also been a key area of focus, given the network connections accessible from the outside of the vehicle. The first piece of protection developed against hostile access or seizure of Robobus’ systems is a robust set of ID verification subroutines, by which the vehicle computer automatically checks the ID of any received command signal and rejects it if the ID is not a pre-authorised one. “Secondly, we use a RSA [RivestShamir-Adleman] algorithm to encrypt all data in our transmissions, and the third thing is vehicle-side command filtering: if the vehicle receives an unregistered command, the filtering process ensures it gets ignored,” Liu explains. “Finally, the most important thing in our view for an autonomous vehicle: when Robobus receives a command, it has the autonomy to decide whether to follow the command or not, based on the safety measurements it’s making onboard. “If someone tells the vehicle to pull over or change lane, or brake hard from high speed, the vehicle will analyse the safety of the scenario, according to its sensors and computers, and judge whether it would execute the command normally or not. So it’s virtually impossible for Robobus to be remotely forced into causing a traffic collision.” The future As accomplished as it is, the company is nonetheless hard at work in several areas relating to and even beyond self-driving transportation. For one, having demonstrated and validated Robobus units across numerous Asian cities, and one European one, WeRide is now developing a distinctly European version of the minibus, with a design slightly tailored in multiple places to fit EU homologation standards. “We are also working closely with Bosch, combining our self-driving expertise with their vast automotive knowledge to develop L2 and L3 ADAS solutions that can be exported to OEMs worldwide,” Liu adds. Closer to home, WeRide aims to launch its next-generation Robotaxi by mid-October, having quickly achieved commercial availability of its 1 t RoboSweeper autonomous street sweeper, which was released this April. It is also proceeding in collaboration with the Nanchang-headquartered OEM Jiangling Motors on completion and commercialisation of the RoboVan, set to become the world’s first L4-level, autonomous cargo van designed for intra-city package delivery. With all these vehicles set to bring intelligent autonomy across countless streets and highways, WeRide can doubtlessly be expected to become a globally recognised name in headlines, alongside the automotive giants of our world today. October/November 2024 | Uncrewed Systems Technology WeRide Robobus L4 autonomous Battery-electric Central drive motor Double wishbone suspension 10 seats maximum Dimensions: 5500 x 2050 x 2650 mm Kerb weight: 4.3 t Ground clearance: 260 mm Peak motor power: 120 kW Cruise motor power: 47 kW Battery capacity: 173 Ah Maximum operating speed: 40 kph (while autonomous) Operating range: 120 km Turning radius: 6 m Key specifications With Robobuses being demonstrated in many Asian cities (and Paris), WeRide is now designing a European version of the minibus to EU homologation standards
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