New Technology for JD's Singles' Day
( chinadaily.com.cn )
Unmanned aircraft were used by JD.com in Beijing, Xi'an and Suqian for distribution of items purchased on Singles’ Day, and are now in more extensive use. The crafts are supported by unmanned warehouses 24 hours a day. AR and VR technologies are starting to give customers immersive shopping experiences.
JD.com broke the total turnover for Singles' Day record, set in 2011, in 29 seconds. As of 9:14 on Singles' Day, the total number of orders exceeded the orders made in 2014. With the slogan of "Be careful to buy good things", JD.com has attracted customers, and introduced unmanned technologies such as VR and AR to provide technically superior shopping experiences.
First Beijing JD.Com unmanned planes take off
On Nov 11 at 2.30 pm, the first unmanned plane took off in Yongledian Town in Tongzhou district in Beijing, arriving in Hujiacun village ten minutes later. It dropped packages from a height of one meter, which were then distributed to customers. It was a JD.com milestone.
The unmanned plane of JD.com.[Photo/xinhua]
JD.com's unmanned planes were used in Suqian, Xi'an, and Beijing for Singles' Day deliveries, and delivery by that method will mature and expand. According to the CEO of JD.com, Liu Qiangdong, unmanned planes have been certified in four provinces, and several delivery routes have been planned.
To date, unmanned planes have flown for over 10 thousand minutes, covered 10 thousands kilometers, and made more than 1000 flights. The cargo capacity is 30 kilograms and the maximum distance is 30 kilometers. Autonomous obstacle avoidance, intelligent flight planning, and more advanced security and stability technologies will help improve distribution efficiency.
Efficient intelligent robots improve distribution efficiency
Unmanned warehouses provide support to the delivery system. Guan Clothing's unmanned warehouse uses an AGV (Automatic Guided Vehicle) intelligent robot to move and sort product, and uses a mini AGV to find a commodity's location, providing ease of processing for large number of orders.
Customer surprised by the unmanned delivery worker
On Nov 11 at 9.30 am, Mr. Wang received a message to remind him to pick up goods he ordered on JD.com, when he arrived at the pickup location, a cute unmanned vehicle was waiting for him. After he entered the pickup password, the robot gave him his goods. "I ordered it this morning, I received it in half a day; it is so fast. What surprised me is the technological robot. It is too amazing," Wang said.
When an unmanned vehicle arrives at the delivery terminal, it picks up goods for delivery. It then automatically plans the delivery route. JD app sends a password to the customer, which, when entered, opens the container so the customer can pick up his goods. This new pickup experience equally benefits customers and delivery companies.
The black technologies used in JD's unmanned vehicles, such as laser radar and visual sensors, form a 3D environment to detect distances to barriers; they can recognize traffic signs and lane lines to ensure obedience to traffic rules; in addition their positioning and mapping technology guarantees they will not be lost. A GNSS global positioning system allows unmanned vehicles to measure within a centimeter.
JD.com has advantages in developing smart logistics which have been integrated into the distribution process, data connection, control systems and big data applications; all making for easy delivery.
VR/AR provides an amazing shopping experience.
Smart delivery is only one benefit of VR/AR. During Singles' Day, the immersive shopping experience provided by JD.com AR/VR laboratory – the JD Dream -- used 3D modeling technology to bring the VR/AR shopping experience to customers before they selected their purchases.
Customers enter the 3C hall to scan electronic devices such as smart bands, intelligent scales, mobile phones, and computers. They are remotely provided with information and explanations of all the product functions. In the furniture hall, customers can move and arrange furniture according to the actual dimensions of their home.
In the future, policies and regulations of VR/AR in e-commerce will be formulated by JD.com. The coming VR live broadcast programs will bring the attractions of the technologies to everyone.
Unmanned vehicle delivery and AI VR/AR technologies improve efficiency and break barriers; they are helping JD.com to personalize operational methods during mass order periods. These intelligent operational business methods are making everyone fall in love with the new and secret black technology.
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