A Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based company, Aurora Innovation Inc., is leading the way in autonomous driving technology by conducting tests on fully autonomous tractor-trailers. These trucks are equipped with 25 laser, radar, and camera sensors that allow them to navigate public highways safely. Aurora has already hauled freight over one million miles with human safety drivers on board, experiencing only three crashes caused by human errors in other vehicles.
Aurora plans to deploy 20 driverless trucks on Texas’s Interstate 45 between Dallas and Houston by 2024. The company aims to eventually have thousands or even tens of thousands of self-driving trucks on American freeways to accelerate the flow of goods. While other competitors like Plus.ai, Gatik, and Kodiak Robotics are also working on autonomous trucking technology, Aurora is striving to be the first to revolutionize the long-haul trucking industry.
Despite advancements in self-driving technology, many Americans still have concerns about fully autonomous vehicles, according to a survey by AAA. Safety advocates are also raising questions about the lack of federal regulations for autonomous cars and trucks. Phil Koopman, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University, acknowledges the potential safety benefits of autonomous trucks but warns that computer systems are not infallible.
Aurora CEO Chris Urmson prioritizes safety over profit, emphasizing that the company will not compromise on safety standards. He believes that driverless trucks will work alongside human drivers rather than replacing them entirely. Urmson predicts that current truck drivers will eventually be able to retire from their profession as autonomous technology becomes more prevalent on the roads.
