“Driving into the Future: The Rise of Driverless Trucks on US Roads”
Driverless tractor-trailers are poised to revolutionize US roads, with Pittsburgh-based Aurora Innovation Inc. leading the charge. Demonstrating its prowess, the company has been conducting tests with an 18-wheel self-driving truck along a track near the Monongahela River. Equipped with 25 laser, radar, and camera sensors, Aurora’s autonomous semi has showcased its ability to navigate obstacles such as a trash can and a tire in the road. By the end of this year, Aurora plans to commence transporting goods on Interstate 45 between Dallas and Houston using 20 driverless trucks.
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Driverless
Within the next three to four years, Aurora and its competitors aim to deploy thousands of self-driving trucks on America’s highways, aiming to expedite the delivery of goods by enabling trucks to operate nearly continuously without breaks. However, the notion of an 80,000-pound driverless truck traveling at speeds exceeding 65 mph on a super-highway may raise concerns. According to a recent poll by AAA, 66% of Americans would be apprehensive about riding in an autonomous vehicle.
Nevertheless, trucks equipped with Aurora’s systems are set to begin carrying loads for companies like FedEx, Uber Freight, and Werner in less than nine months. While Aurora and other companies plan to initiate freight routes in Texas, where snow and ice are infrequent, concerns about safety linger amidst the lack of federal regulation. Aurora and its peers assert that their self-driving vehicles are safer than human-directed counterparts due to extensive testing and advanced sensor technology.
Although self-driving freighters hold potential safety benefits, concerns about real-world performance and safety engineering persist. Phil Koopman, a vehicle automation researcher at Carnegie Mellon University, underscores the importance of quality safety engineering in ensuring road safety. Despite billions of dollars at stake, questions remain about how companies will balance safety with financial interests.
Aurora’s autonomous trucks have already completed over 1 million miles of safe freight transportation on public roads since 2021, accompanied by human safety drivers. With only three minor incidents attributed to errors by other drivers, Aurora remains committed to safety, even at the expense of potential profitability. Despite the anticipation of profitability by late 2027 or early 2028, Aurora vows not to compromise on safety, a sentiment echoed by its competitors like Plus.ai, Gatik, and Kodiak Robotics.
While the prospects of self-driving trucks present opportunities for efficiency and innovation, skepticism remains, as evidenced by concerns voiced at a Buc-ee’s mega convenience store along I-45. With accidents involving autonomous vehicles raising apprehensions, the path to widespread acceptance and adoption of driverless technology may be met with both excitement and caution.
