Aurora Autonomous Truck Technology & SPAC Merger Strategy

Aurora's Vision for the Future of Transportation

Along Interstate 45 in Texas, a prominent billboard displays the word “Aurora” in large white letters, accompanied by the intriguing message: “A new way to drive is on the horizon.”

Determining the level of awareness among the thousands of daily commuters regarding this message, or indeed what Aurora represents, is difficult. The autonomous vehicle technology company remains largely unknown to the general public, despite its ambition to fundamentally reshape the movement of both people and goods.

Showcasing Autonomous Technology

This week, Aurora highlighted its advancements by hosting an event for reporters, analysts, and key partners. These included companies like PACCAR, Toyota, and Volvo, as well as current and prospective investors.

Attendees were given the opportunity to experience Aurora’s autonomous trucks firsthand and observe the underlying technology. The company also announced the commencement of mapping and testing operations on a new route within Texas.

Rapid Growth and Expansion

The “Aurora Illuminated” event occurred at a significant juncture for the company. Founded in 2017 by Sterling Anderson, Drew Bagnell, and Chris Urmson, Aurora has experienced substantial growth.

In under a year, the company’s workforce has more than doubled, exceeding 1,600 employees, largely due to the acquisition of Uber’s self-driving division.

Path to Public Markets

Aurora is now poised to become a publicly traded entity through a merger with Reinvent Technology Partners Y, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC).

This merger, initially announced in July and previously reported by TechCrunch, values the company at approximately $13 billion. A shareholder vote is anticipated this year, and if approved, Aurora will begin trading on the Nasdaq shortly thereafter. Specific dates for these events have not yet been disclosed.

Navigating a Competitive Landscape

While declaring Aurora’s complete success would be premature, the company has successfully overcome several key challenges.

These include securing substantial funding, establishing strategic partnerships, and expanding its testing programs, all of which position it for eventual commercial deployment. Aurora is making significant strides in the highly competitive autonomous trucking sector.

Other prominent players in this field include Waymo, TuSimple (a publicly traded company), and emerging startups such as Gatik and Kodiak Robotics.

Aurora's Advancement in Autonomous Trucking

Aurora initiated operations in Texas approximately one year ago. Currently, the company utilizes its autonomous trucks – consistently staffed with two safety drivers – to transport goods for Barcel, the producer of Takis spicy chips and various snack products.

These shipments occur along a designated route within Texas, connecting Barcel’s facilities in Dallas, Palmer, and Houston. Recently, Aurora also commenced a pilot program with FedEx, handling freight between Dallas and Houston.

According to FedEx, Paccar trucks outfitted with Aurora’s technology will be deployed on a regular basis to traverse the approximately 500-mile route along Interstate 45.

Future Network Expansion

Aurora’s strategic plan involves the inclusion of additional terminals in El Paso and San Antonio. Following this, the network is projected to extend westward towards Phoenix and Los Angeles.

Further expansion is planned southward to Laredo and eastward to New Orleans. Ultimately, Aurora aims to establish a comprehensive network encompassing both the Western and Eastern seaboards, eventually covering the entirety of the United States.

While a definitive timeline for expansion beyond Texas has not been disclosed, Aurora has recently begun testing – without carrying freight – the 630-mile route connecting El Paso and Dallas.

Operational Performance and Long-Term Benefits

The company reports a consistent record of on-time deliveries on routes where it is currently transporting commercial loads, as stated by co-founder and chief product officer Sterling Anderson.

“This demonstrates exceptional operational efficiency,” remarked co-founder and CEO Chris Urmson during a recent interview. “The significant advantage will be realized when we can operate our vehicles without driver constraints – removing the limitations imposed by hours-of-service regulations.”

This driverless operation is anticipated to unlock a substantial advancement in logistical capabilities.

Image Credits: Aurora

The Autonomous Journey

The testing of the autonomous system occurred during two separate trips, originating from the parking area of Aurora’s South Dallas Terminal located in Palmer, Texas.

The vehicle utilized is a Peterbilt 579 truck, integrated with Aurora’s self-driving system and collaboratively customized with Paccar. This Aurora Driver system incorporates cameras, radar technology, and both long- and medium-range light detection and ranging sensors – commonly known as lidar. The long-range lidar was internally developed following the acquisition of Blackmore.

Aurora subsequently acquired a second lidar company, OURS Technology. The medium-range lidar sensors are sourced from a supplier that has not been publicly identified.

Within the cabin, a substantial computer equipped with cooling systems is installed. Additional displays are present, showcasing the vehicle’s movement, planned route, and real-time image classifications. Two safety personnel are onboard during operation.

The designated “pilot” possesses a commercial truck driver’s license (CDL), while the co-pilot monitors the intended path and identifies potential obstacles like other vehicles, pedestrians, or road debris.

Operator Insights and Training

“We view these individuals not merely as testers, but as valuable sources of feedback and guidance regarding both the technology’s performance and adherence to traffic regulations,” stated Lia Theodosiou-Pisanelli, Aurora’s VP of partners and programs, during a pre-ride safety briefing.

“For instance, they provide insights into typical truck driver behaviors, such as executing wide turns and anticipating the expectations of other drivers. They also possess a strong understanding of customer needs.”

All safety operators, who are direct employees of Aurora, undergo extensive training encompassing vehicle operation, defensive driving techniques, and simulated scenarios on a dedicated test track.

Currently, twelve “pilots” have completed the six-to-eight-week training program and are actively operating the trucks, with additional personnel in the training pipeline.

Route Details and System Behavior

Both test drives commenced with the truck autonomously navigating from the terminal to a frontage road, then merging onto Interstate 45. The truck traveled approximately 13 miles along I-45 before exiting, turning left to pass under the highway.

Following a stop at a sign, the truck rejoined the interstate, heading back towards the terminal. The complete round trip covered a distance of roughly 28 miles.

While a comprehensive evaluation of autonomous vehicle technology is challenging within the scope of these demonstrations, they offer a valuable perspective on the system’s capabilities and the type of “driver” the company aims to create.

Aurora is adopting a conservative strategy. The truck’s speed is limited to 65 miles per hour on the highway, even when the speed limit is 75 mph.

The vehicle generally remains in the rightmost lane, except when accommodating merging traffic or overtaking slower vehicles. It also automatically shifts lanes when encountering a stopped vehicle on the shoulder, in accordance with state law.

Aurora has instructed its safety operators to manually take control – a process called “disengagement” – in active construction zones with workers present, when emergency vehicles approach with activated lights, and in response to unpredictable traffic situations.

Learning from Disengagements

“Each disengagement provides a learning opportunity,” explained Theodosiou-Pisanelli. “We encourage proactive disengagement; it doesn’t hinder our learning process, as we can analyze the scenario in a simulator and assess the system’s potential response.”

The company reports having accumulated over 4.5 million miles of on-road testing, supplemented by billions of miles of virtual simulations.

During the test ride, the safety operator intervened once on a frontage road when a pickup truck slowly moved forward from a driveway, appearing poised to enter the path of the semi-truck.

For the duration of the two rides, the truck operated autonomously and smoothly, with a single instance of slightly firmer braking when a slower vehicle moved into its lane.

Aurora's Technological Showcase

The company presented its strategic vision and technological advancements beneath a temporary installation designed with the aesthetic of a Tesla product launch. This included demonstrations of its lidar technology and simulation capabilities, alongside prototypes. The intention was to illustrate the foundation of their plans for launching an autonomous trucking service by the end of 2023 and a ride-hailing service by the end of 2024.

Two distinct vehicle prototypes were showcased, representing the future of autonomous transport for both goods and people. A design prototype of Volvo’s inaugural autonomous truck, the Volvo VNL, was presented, slated for eventual commercial production. On-road evaluations of the VNL are scheduled to commence in 2022.

Furthermore, Aurora exhibited its Toyota Sienna prototype, prepared for autonomous vehicle integration and mass manufacturing. A fleet of approximately twelve vehicles will be deployed for testing and validation across Pittsburgh, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Texas, according to company statements.

Key Technologies Demonstrated

• Lidar: Aurora highlighted its advanced lidar systems, crucial for perceiving the vehicle’s surroundings.
• Simulation: The company emphasized the importance of simulation in validating and refining its autonomous driving software.
• Volvo VNL: This truck prototype signifies Aurora’s commitment to autonomous freight transport.
• Toyota Sienna: The Sienna prototype demonstrates Aurora’s progress in developing autonomous passenger vehicles.

The demonstration served to communicate Aurora’s progress toward achieving full autonomy. The company aims to establish a robust and scalable autonomous transportation platform.

Future Partnerships and Technological Advancements

While Aurora is currently not prepared to disclose details regarding potential future collaborations, Anderson indicated the substantial size of the market. He emphasized the presence of numerous companies, stating that discussions are ongoing with a significant number of them.

Both executives addressed the topic of teleassistance technology, a system involving remote human monitoring and the provision of navigational guidance to the autonomous vehicle when necessary. This is an area they hadn't previously elaborated on extensively.

Urmson affirmed that the integration of teleassistance has been a core consideration since the project’s inception.

Anderson detailed the company’s thorough modeling of operations within and around transportation hubs. He explained that every procedural step has been meticulously mapped out, leading to a comprehensive understanding of the necessary support infrastructure. However, the frequency with which teleassistance or roadside assistance will be required in the absence of a driver remains to be fully determined.

Confirmation was given by Urmson and Anderson that Aurora is currently evaluating teleassistance technology both in controlled environments and on public roadways. They also stated that collaboration with partners will be crucial in establishing the optimal strategy for commercial deployment.