A cruise ship departed from Mingyuedu Ferry Terminal on April 19, which is located at Chongqing Liangjiang Collaborative Innovation Zone. It serves as the maiden voyage of China's first L4 self-driving cruise ship.

China's First L4 Self-driving Cruise Ship Debuts in Chongqing. (Photo/ Liangjiang New Area)

The cruise ship is powered by electricity and can be controlled remotely, sail following preset courses, and automatically adjust its body according to winds and waves and avoid obstacles to provide a comfortable tour for passengers.

According to Orca Tech, a provider of aquatic self-driving technology, it is easy to control the cruise ship: passengers only need to scan a QR code to set tasks, and then the ship will follow the orders and preset courses, automatically avoid obstacles, and return.

Orca Tech has also developed cleaning boats, patrol boats, rescue boats, and other aquatic self-driving products, which can be applied in diverse scenarios. Combined with different modules, they are able to replace people to clean, protect, monitor, and patrol water areas and complete rescue missions.

For example, the rescue boats can perform tasks by remote control through the app or background system of Orca Tech. They will automatically videotape emergencies and upload relevant videos to identify whether it is necessary to be dispatched.

If someone falls overboard, the boat can automatically pop out the lifebuoy, effectively improving the rescue efficiency and the probability of survival.

Chongqing Liangjiang Collaborative Innovation Zone has piloted such applications as self-driving boats, Internet of Vehicles (IoV), and drones in innovative scenarios to deepen the construction of "science & technology + nature + culture" covering all scenarios and build a sample of "Park City" and "Smart City".