Aurora and Continental completed the first step of a $300 million initiative to mass-develop autonomous vehicle hardware for commercial self-driving trucks.
The two businesses announced Friday that an autonomous vehicle hardware kit design and system architecture are ready. Fallback systems, backup computers that can take over if the main computer fails, have also been completed. The firms announced a presentation at CES 2024, the annual tech trade exhibition that begins next week in Las Vegas.
A seemingly tiny milestone in a years-long, multimillion-dollar endeavor, it is difficult and crucial. Driverless semi-trucks employ radar, cameras, lidar, automated driving control units, and high-performance computers to traverse roadways without a driver.
Continental may now create prototypes for its 2027 manufacturing start. Continental will create prototype gear for testing at its new New Braunfels, Texas, site during the next year. The businesses intend to begin “validation” in 2026 by combining hardware and software technologies on a fleet of vehicles for testing. Aurora partners with Paccar and Volvo Group trucks.
The aim is to mass-produce an automotive-grade hardware system that can withstand long-haul vehicles’ daily cold, heat, and other environmental conditions. Hardware must be dependable, simple to maintain, and affordable.
Companies have stated their intention to create thousands of these systems.
Aurora co-founder and CEO Chris Urmson said defining its future hardware design is a key step for appealing Aurora Driver unit economics and long-term company growth. Urmson feels it’s essential for the company’s profitability.
Aurora won’t wait until 2027 or later to start commercial operations. The business expects to deploy 20 autonomous Class 8 trucks by 2024. These autonomous trucks will first transport freight between Dallas and Houston, the company’s trial route.
Aurora spokeswoman Rachel Chibidakis says these initial autonomous trucks won’t have the Aurora-Continental hardware package but are intended to function safely without a driver. Aurora will upgrade this fleet’s gear for years before moving to the scale-manufactured kit.
