Karl Iagnemma & Chris Urmson at TC Sessions: Mobility 2021

The Pioneers of Autonomous Vehicle Technology

Prior to the substantial investments and acquisitions that propelled autonomous vehicles into prominence, Karl Iagnemma and Chris Urmson were deeply involved in the research and subsequent development of this groundbreaking technology.

These individuals – Iagnemma with a background from MIT, and Urmson from Carnegie Mellon University – ultimately established their own autonomous vehicle companies, aiming to translate years of research and development into tangible public benefits.

The complete realization of this goal remains ongoing. Urmson, serving as co-founder and CEO of Aurora, and Iagnemma, who holds the position of president and CEO at Motional, continue to address the technical and commercial hurdles hindering widespread adoption.

TC Sessions: Mobility 2021 – A Gathering of Visionaries

TechCrunch is pleased to announce that both Urmson and Iagnemma will participate in TC Sessions: Mobility 2021, appearing on our virtual stage. This one-day event, scheduled for June 9th, will unite engineers, founders, investors, and CEOs dedicated to shaping the future of transportation for both people and goods.

During the session, Iagnemma and Urmson will discuss the historical evolution of the field, current challenges, and their respective future aspirations. We will explore the remaining technical obstacles, the competitive landscape for skilled professionals, viable business models, and potential applications of autonomous vehicles, alongside anecdotes from the early stages of startup creation and testing.

Both speakers possess impressive credentials and a wealth of experience, far too extensive to detail comprehensively here.

Chris Urmson: A Robotics Leader

Urmson has dedicated over 15 years to the advancement of autonomous vehicle technology. He received his Bachelor of Science in computer engineering from the University of Manitoba in 1998, followed by a PhD in Robotics from Carnegie Mellon University in 2005.

He previously served as a faculty member at Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute, leading projects involving large-scale trucks, desert robotics, and acting as the technical director for the DARPA Urban and Grand Challenge teams. Urmson is credited with over 60 patents and 50 published research papers.

Leaving CMU, he became a founding member of Google’s self-driving program, holding the role of CTO. In 2017, Urmson co-founded Aurora alongside Sterling Anderson and Drew Bagnell.

Karl Iagnemma: An Authority in Driverless Systems

Iagnemma is widely recognized as a leading expert in robotics and driverless vehicle technology. He directed the Robotic Mobility Group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where his research yielded more than 150 technical publications, 50 patents, and numerous edited volumes, including works on the DARPA Grand Challenge and Urban Challenge.

He holds a BS from the University of Michigan, graduating at the top of his class, and both MS and PhD degrees from MIT, where he was a National Science Foundation fellow.

In 2013, Iagnemma co-founded nuTonomy, an early pioneer in ride-hailing pilot programs. This company was acquired by Aptiv in late 2017. Subsequently, Aptiv and Hyundai established a joint venture in 2020, which Iagnemma now leads.

A Stellar Lineup of Speakers

Iagnemma and Urmson represent just two of the many influential figures in transportation who will be featured at our June event. The growing list of confirmed speakers includes Pam Fletcher, VP of Global Innovation at GM; Alexandr Wang, CEO of Scale AI; JoeBen Bevirt, founder and CEO of Joby Aviation; investor and LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman (whose SPAC recently merged with Joby); investors Clara Brenner of Urban Innovation Fund, Quin Garcia of Autotech Ventures, and Rachel Holt of Construct Capital.

Additionally, Ahti Heinla, co-founder and CEO/CTO of Starship Technologies; Jesse Levinson, co-founder and CTO of Zoox; Tamika L. Butler, a community organizer, transportation consultant, and lawyer; Tiffany Chu, co-founder and CEO of Remix; and Frank Reig, co-founder and CEO of Revel, will also be present.

Further announcements regarding speakers will be made in the coming weeks. Early Bird ticket sales conclude tonight, May 7th, at 11:59 pm PT. Secure your tickets ASAP to save $100.