Aurora Innovation, the autonomous vehicle company, has revealed the final design, architecture, and hardware for its cutting-edge technology, the Aurora Driver. Developed in collaboration with German auto supplier Continental, this technology will be used to power Aurora’s future lineup of driverless semi trucks, set to hit the road in 2027. The company also announced its intention to deploy a small number of fully autonomous trucks by the end of 2024, with the goal of having “thousands” of trucks operational within the next three years.
Aurora, founded in 2017 by former employees of Uber, Tesla, and Waymo, plans to deploy 20 fully autonomous trucks this year, with a projected increase to about 100 trucks in 2025. In addition to production for their own use, Aurora aims to sell its self-driving technology to other companies, solidifying its position as a key player in the industry. The partnership with Continental, established in April 2023, will allow Aurora to effectively scale its manufacturing plans.
Traditionally, autonomous trucks were expected to lead the way in mass adoption before robotaxis and personal autonomous vehicles. However, they have faced similar obstacles with delayed timelines and limited funding. Some companies in the sector have gone out of business, and public opinion towards autonomous vehicles has soured due to high-profile incidents involving companies like Tesla and Cruise.
Nevertheless, Aurora aims to differentiate itself by taking a measured and cautious approach to commercializing its technology. By prioritizing safety and practicality, Aurora hopes to gain public trust and confidence. The company plans to spend the next year and a half building and testing prototypes in collaboration with Continental, with testing taking place at their facility in New Braunfels, Texas. Continental will also assist in industrializing and validating Aurora’s technology and developing a fallback system to enhance the safety of the trucks.
Aurora is optimistic that its partnership with Continental, combined with its commitment to reliability and safety, will propel the company’s driverless trucks into widespread use. The planned mass deployment of autonomous trucks presents an exciting opportunity for innovation and efficiency in the transportation industry.
The source of the article is from the blog japan-pc.jp