Aurora Innovation and Volvo Collaborate on Autonomous Semi-Trucks

Aurora Innovation, a leading autonomous vehicle startup, announced Tuesday a collaborative agreement with Volvo to co-develop self-driving semi-trucks specifically for the North American market.

Partnership Details

This multi-year partnership will operate through Volvo’s Autonomous Solutions division. The primary focus will be on developing trucks capable of fully autonomous operation on highways, connecting key transportation hubs for Volvo’s clientele.

Aurora Driver, encompassing Aurora’s self-driving software, computing platform, and sensor array, will be seamlessly integrated into Volvo’s truck models.

Expanding Industry Partnerships

This announcement follows Aurora’s recent acquisition of Uber’s self-driving subsidiary and a separate agreement with Toyota to create autonomous minivans. Consequently, Aurora now maintains partnerships with two of the three largest trucking manufacturers in the United States.

These manufacturers – Paccar and Volvo – collectively account for approximately 50% of all Class 8 truck sales within the country.

An Aurora spokesperson confirmed to TechCrunch that existing collaborations, such as the one with Paccar, will continue alongside the new Volvo partnership.

The spokesperson highlighted the unique aspects of the Paccar relationship, stating it will facilitate the development and deployment of Paccar’s first truck capable of operating without a safety driver.

Lidar Technology for Long-Range Trucking

Aurora’s Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave lidar technology, acquired through the purchases of Blackmore and OURS Technology, is considered crucial for enabling autonomous long-haul trucking.

Lidar, or light detection and ranging radar, is widely recognized as an essential component of self-driving systems.

Aurora asserts that its lidar technology, unlike conventional time-of-flight lidar, offers the extended visibility necessary to identify potential hazards at a sufficient distance to allow for safe stopping or deceleration.

Acceleration of Volvo’s Autonomous Initiatives

This collaboration also signifies a substantial advancement for Volvo Autonomous Solutions. It represents the business unit’s inaugural agreement to bring autonomous trucking technology to public roads.

Aurora’s Rapid Growth and Backing

Since its inception in 2017, Aurora has quickly established itself as a prominent player in the self-driving technology sector.

The company has attracted significant investment from prominent firms including Amazon, Sequoia Capital, and Greylock Partners.

Aurora was founded by former leaders from Uber, Tesla, and Google, bringing together extensive expertise in the field.