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Aurora Innovation has launched a groundbreaking driverless trucking service in Texas, marking a significant milestone in the United States. This pioneering effort involves regular self-driving deliveries between Dallas and Houston, with Aurora’s trucks already covering over 1,200 miles without human drivers. The achievement positions Aurora as the first company to deploy a commercial autonomous trucking service using heavy-duty trucks on public roads, heralding a transformative shift in freight transportation.
Key Highlights:
- Aurora initiates driverless trucking in Texas.
- First to deploy self-driving heavy-duty trucks commercially.
- Completed over 1,200 driverless miles.
- Expansion planned to El Paso and Phoenix by 2025.
- Partners include Uber Freight and Hirschbach Motor Lines.
- Safety case closed with a Driverless Safety Report released.
- Aurora Driver operates at SAE L4 autonomy level.
- Features Verifiable AI for enhanced safety.
The U.S. trucking industry, valued at over a trillion dollars, faces challenges like an aging workforce, high turnover, and rising costs. Aurora’s autonomous technology offers a solution by providing safe, efficient transport without reducing job opportunities. Launch partners Uber Freight and Hirschbach Motor Lines have collaborated with Aurora during supervised pilots, building confidence in the system.
Chris Urmson, Aurora’s CEO, emphasized the milestone: “We founded Aurora to deliver the benefits of self-driving technology safely, quickly, and broadly.” The Aurora Driver, an SAE L4 system, uses advanced sensors to see over four football fields ahead, ensuring safe highway navigation. It has completed over 10,000 loads across three million autonomous miles in pilot phases.
Safety remains paramount. Aurora closed its safety case, proving the system’s readiness, and released a detailed Driverless Safety Report. The company collaborates with agencies like the FMCSA and NHTSA, using Verifiable AI to ensure compliance with traffic rules. Texas Governor Greg Abbott praised the innovation, noting the state’s support for such advancements. With plans to expand by 2025, Aurora is reshaping freight transport’s future.
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