In a significant milestone for autonomous vehicle technology, Aurora and Continental have successfully completed the initial phase of their self-driving trucks project. The groundbreaking $300 million initiative aims to mass-produce hardware for commercial self-driving trucks, with plans to deploy thousands of autonomous trucks on U.S. roads by 2027. The companies are gearing up to showcase the design at CES 2024.
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Blueprint for the Future
Aurora and Continental have revealed the completion of the design and system architecture for an autonomous vehicle hardware kit, which includes cutting-edge technologies such as radar, cameras, lidar, and high-performance computers. This achievement demonstrates their dedication to developing reliable hardware capable of navigating diverse environmental conditions.
Fallback System – Ensuring Reliability
Another crucial aspect of their progress is the finalization of the fallback system, a secondary computer designed to take over operations in case of a primary system failure. This redundancy enhances the safety of the autonomous trucks, ensuring seamless operation even in rare failure scenarios.
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Roadmap to Autonomy
The companies have outlined a comprehensive four-year partnership roadmap towards the commercialization of autonomous trucks. With the design phase completed, they are moving on to building initial hardware versions for testing in Texas and global facilities in 2024-2025, with plans for production and integration in the following years leading to the deployment of thousands of trucks by 2027.
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Business Beyond Boundaries
While the primary goal is mass-producing autonomous vehicle systems, the partnership between Aurora and Continental aims to create an industrialized ecosystem for autonomous hardware kits, focusing on reliability, serviceability, and cost-efficiency. This collaboration positions them at the forefront of a transformative technology shaping the trucking industry.
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Driving Toward Profitability
Aurora’s Co-founder and CEO, Chris Urmson, emphasizes the importance of finalizing the hardware design to make the Aurora Driver economically viable. Aurora plans to launch 19 driverless Class 8 trucks by the end of 2024, paving the way for scaled manufacturing and updates in the future.
Our Say
The successful completion of the hardware design by Aurora and Continental marks a significant milestone in the autonomous trucking industry. Their dedication to reliability, safety, and scalability positions them as key players in reshaping the logistics landscape. The showcase at CES 2024 will offer a glimpse into the future of freight transportation.
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