Peterbilt Truck decorated with lidar, sensors and other self-driving technology provided by Aurora.
Aurora
Paccar, maker of Kenworth and Peterbilt semi-trucks, is partnering with Silicon Valley start-up Aurora Innovations to develop and commercialize the technology needed for large rigs safely on highways in a self-contained manner. regular as logistics becomes a major early application for self-driving. systems.
The agreement is global and the companies will initially focus on testing Aurora’s software, sensors and computer system on Peterbilt Model 579 and Kenworth 680 models, said Sterling Anderson, Aurora’s cofounder and chief production officer. Along with highway assessment, the automated system will also be tested at the in-house R&D center of Pacvue, Washington, based in Washington. The companies aim for production versions to be operational within a few years.
“The main use case and a large part of this market lies in the mid-mile and long with class-8 (semis) and that’s where we start,” says Anderson. Forbes. While Aurora continues to develop its passenger vehicle propulsion system, “we have a real opportunity and strategic advantage in truck first.”
Growing demand for truck services across the U.S., a tight supply of human drivers and a relatively easier to master operating environment – compared to urban conditions – have made robotic truck particularly attractive to autonomous technical companies. Aurora joins alphabetical Waymo and startup TuSimple in forming strategic partnerships with truck-building giants. Waymo and Daimler formed a strategic alliance last October, which will initially focus on their Freightliner truck brand, while San Diego-based TuSimple is working with Navistar and other heavy brands that owned by Tkson Group Volkswagen.
Anderson declined to say whether the partnership involves an investment by Paccar.
“This strategic partnership contributes to the quality, technology and innovation of Paccar’s commercial vehicle,” Truck CEO Preston Feight said in a statement.
The news is Aurora’s first major release since it acquired Uber’s self-driving tech unit in December, in full-stock trading. Uber also invested $ 400 million in Aurora at the time of that deal, giving the self-driving companies a cash increase to more than $ 1 billion. Along with Anderson, who led the development of Tesla’s Autopilot system, Aurora cofounders include Chris Urmson, Google’s self-driving car project leader and Drew Bagnell, a Carnegie Mellon University scientist and a former Uber official.
“We are deeply built by Paccar’s product engineering, manufacturing capabilities, and commitment to the safety and operational efficiency of its customers,” Urmson said. “This partnership takes us one step closer to unlocking the automated goods market and delivering goods to those who need them. ”
Aurora announced its focus on trucking and logistics in 2020, with plans to begin testing vehicles on Texas highways. Waymo and TuSimple also have truck centers in the state, the main U.S. market for road goods.