Shanghai (ZXZC)- SF Express, a China's leading express delivery giant, is likely to become the country's first logistics company that is qualified to conduct paperless navigation surveying and mapping.

A subsidiary of the Shenzhen-based delivery service provider has filed an application for the Class-A qualification of electronic navigation mapping, according to China's Ministry of Natural Resources. If the application was successfully approved, SF Express will become China's 21th company that is allowed to draw up high-definition map (HD map) for autonomous driving.

(Photo source: SF Express WeChat account)

HD map is widely regarded as the “brain” of autonomous driving. Unlike the conventional navigation maps, a HD map must not only precisely recognize dynamic traffic information, such as lane models, road components and road attributes, but also can determine things like road congestion, construction status, traffic accidents and weather conditions. Apart from extreme accuracy, a well-made HD map is able to upgrade data timely and continuously.

With the fast-growing autonomous driving technologies, the qualification to make HD maps has become a kind of precious resource to which multiple developers are flocking as it plays a crucial role in positioning, route mapping and safety.

A whopping deal of logistics businesses would facilitate road data collection for the express delivery giant, who intends to boost its delivery service efficiency using autonomous driving technologies. The mapping qualification would help SF Express speed up its R&D and commercial use of automation technologies. Once the day comes, couriers will be comparatively relieved from the “Double 11” shopping extravaganza, while consumers will receive their goods much earlier.

Up until now, there have been 20 companies and institutes obtaining the Class-A qualification certificate of navigable surveying and mapping, including AutoNavi, NavInfo, Lingtu Software, KuanDeng Technology and Huawei.