The inaugural Drive on Horizon Autonomous Driving Pop-up Month kicks off in Shanghai.

On a weekend in August, Shanghai's Jinqiao City's No Sleep Bookstore is hosting an unprecedented fusion of future technology and lifestyle travel.

A young man, his eyes sparkling with curiosity, is seated in a smart car equipped with advanced driver-assistance features as it returns to the parking lot on site. He releases the steering wheel, allowing the vehicle to maneuver and park automatically—as if he’s already feeling the pulse of the future.

Recently, the "Drive on Horizon" autonomous driving pop-up month event—jointly launched by Tongji University's Intelligent Vehicle Research Institute, the Automotive Intelligent Transportation Branch of the China Society of Automotive Engineers, and Horizon Robotics, and powered by CHEK vehicle control technology—officially kicked off. From August 12 to September 3, every weekend visitors can enjoy user talks, hands-on DIY experiences with autonomous driving systems, and complimentary test drives of smart-driving vehicles—all at Shanghai's City No Sleep Bookstore. Professor Xi-Chan Zhu from Tongji University's Intelligent Vehicle Research Institute shared, "In this era of rapidly advancing technology, we hope this event will allow attendees to truly appreciate the allure of autonomous driving and the limitless possibilities it brings to our lives. Through these interactive sessions and firsthand experiences, we aim to foster greater public awareness and acceptance of autonomous driving technologies, ultimately making their adoption safer and more efficient." The "Drive on Horizon" pop-up month not only offers test drives of over 10 intelligent car models but also features a series of engaging salon events, bringing together industry leaders to discuss the future of autonomous driving. Topics such as "Choosing Between Batteries and Chips" and "The Addiction and 'Withdrawal' Moments of Autonomous Driving" sparked thoughtful discussions and lively interactions among attendees and participants. By seamlessly blending test drives with meaningful conversations, the pop-up month is actively promoting cutting-edge intelligent vehicle technologies while significantly advancing public understanding and appreciation of automotive science and innovation. This event truly embodies the spirit of Today at Apple in the intelligent driving community—and marks the first-ever domestic initiative designed to educate and engage everyday users through immersive, science-based experiences with smart vehicles.

Step into the interactive experience zone, where visitors can explore the allure of Horizon Journey series chips and, using the Journey chip computing platform combined with cameras and LiDAR modules, even build their own autonomous driving systems—gaining a deeper understanding of how this technology works. Meanwhile, Xingyuan Intelligence’s brain-computer interface technology offers attendees an unprecedented experience: by simply donning an electrode cap, participants can instantly access analytical data about their emotional states, empowering them to gain better insights into themselves.

During the autonomous driving experience event, attendees can personally explore a variety of smart automotive technologies already integrated into everyday life—ranging from advanced driver-assistance systems to intelligent in-car cabins. Each technology embodies humanity's vision for the future. After completing a test drive of each vehicle, participants will even receive a performance score tailored to their specific ride. This AI-based, intelligent automotive evaluation algorithm model is provided by CarControl CHEK. The CarControl AI car scoring algorithm delivers a scientific and comprehensive assessment of a vehicle’s smart features, empowering owners to proudly declare: "My car’s intelligence outperforms yours—want proof? Let’s hit the road and see who comes out on top!"

By wearing specially designed wearable devices, viewers can instantly access real-time readings of their own brainwave signals. These devices not only help car owners better understand their subjective impressions of the vehicle’s intelligent features but also enable automakers to identify areas for improvement across various functions—and even track emotional changes experienced by drivers during the driving process. During the "User Talk" session, industry experts and prominent figures were invited to engage in in-depth discussions and exchanges with the audience. Ruan Cheng, a self-driving engineer from a leading automotive company and also a popular contributor on Zhihu, remarked: "The advancement of autonomous driving technology isn’t just about technological progress—it’s a true revolution in how humans live and interact with vehicles." Another guest, Li Teng, a product manager at Horizon Robotics, shared his perspective: "In my view, intelligent driving is like nurturing a growing product. You’re the driving instructor, and it’s your student. Sure, at first it may not drive as smoothly as you do—but what’s truly inspiring is seeing how rapidly it’s improving under your guidance." Meanwhile, Sun Shaojun, founder of CarFans, added his thoughts: "With the emergence of ChatGPT, more and more users are now willing to explore intelligent driving technologies, because people are finally starting to believe that artificial intelligence might just outperform humans in this domain."

This month's joint initiator of the autonomous driving flash event, the Intelligent Vehicle Research Institute at Tongji University, is a leading institution in smart car R&D, boasting profound research and extensive practical experience in areas such as autonomous driving and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technologies. Meanwhile, the Automotive Intelligent Transportation Branch is one of the specialized divisions under the China Society of Automotive Engineers—a national, academic, and non-profit organization voluntarily formed by automotive technology professionals dedicated to advancing intelligent transportation systems. Horizon, meanwhile, is a pioneering domestic enterprise that has achieved large-scale, factory-installed mass production of automotive-grade AI chips, committed to integrating Horizon’s intelligent computing solutions into every vehicle—empowering machines to make human life safer and more prosperous. And Chetron is a leading provider of innovative technology solutions and evaluation services for smart cars, dedicated to delivering the most comprehensive and objective metrics for user experience.
As a large-scale public science outreach initiative driven by the collaborative efforts of industry, academia, and research institutions, this Flash Month event has also drawn in numerous smart-car enthusiasts, tech aficionados, and leading technology media outlets. This highly anticipated series of activities will truly kick off widespread public education on smart vehicles, demystifying autonomous driving systems while fostering greater awareness and adoption among target audiences.

Translated from Sina Auto

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