Provided / Aurora
Multiple autonomous trucking companies have launched self-driving commercial freight operations to and from Houston.
Aurora Innovation, Inc. and Bot Auto each began rolling out autonomous self-driving routes this year, according to the companies. Aurora said it began driverless deliveries between Dallas and Houston in recent weeks, while Bot Auto said it’s initiated a pilot program with continuous autonomous operations between Houston and San Antonio.
Both companies say they are operating with Level 4 automation. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), that means the vehicles are responsible “for driving tasks within limited service areas while occupants act only as passengers and do not need to be engaged.” Level 5 is the highest level of automation and does not require the vehicle to operate within designated areas, according to the NHTSA.
Aurora Innovation, Inc.
In a May 1 statement, Aurora co-founder and CEO Chris Urmson said the company is the first to begin commercial self-driving service with heavy-duty trucks on public roads.
“We founded Aurora to deliver the benefits of self-driving technology safely, quickly and broadly,” Urmson said. “Our commitment to building a transformative technology, earning trust, and assembling a strong ecosystem of customers and partners has made this pivotal milestone possible.”
According to Aurora, it has completed more than 4,000 miles without a driver and has submitted its voluntary safety self-assessment to comply with requirements by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the NHTSA.
The company says its self-driving truck — the Aurora Driver — is equipped with computers and sensors that can “see beyond the length of four football fields.”
The company says it hopes to expand its operations to El Paso and Phoenix by the end of 2025.
Bot Auto
Bot Auto is a Texas-based autonomous trucking company headquartered in Houston. The company announced earlier this year that it would begin operating trucks without drivers for a minimum of four months.
“Since our successful hub-to-hub demonstration last October, our team has focused on building a reliable system with enhanced hardware and software redundancies,” Bot Auto founder and CEO Xiaodi Hou said in a March news release. “Safety is our top priority. We are working with the first responder community throughout Texas. We’re taking a proactive approach, employing statistical methods to validate safety.”
