Chinese autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV) company EHang is jointly developing smart city transportation with Shenzhen Expressway that integrates urban air mobility and expressway networks.

Based on the deployment of the Shenzhen Expressway UAV command-and-control systems, the two parties plan to broaden use cases of EHang AAVs for roads inspection, emergency rescue, materials transportation and others. In addition, as a partner of EHang’s 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.

EHang and Shenzhen Expressway 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.

“We have been working with EHang to explore the AAV applications for two years, which laid a solid technological foundation,” said a statement from Shenzhen Expressway.

Edward Xu, chief strategy officer of EHang, added: “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.”

EHang provides users in various industries with AAV products and commercial offerings for air mobility including passenger transportation and logistics, smart city management, and aerial media.

Shenzhen Expressway is principally engaged in the investment, construction, operation and management of toll highways and roads. The company says it aims to enhance wealth creation by improving the quality of operation, obtaining reasonable returns through providing high-quality services to society, and achieving satisfaction of customers, employees, shareholders and related parties by balancing their interests.