How I Built This with Guy Raz – When trucks drive themselves with Chris Urmson of Aurora

Intro

In this episode of “How I Built This with Guy Raz,” host Guy Raz interviews Chris Urmson, the CEO of Aurora, a company building an autonomous driving system for everything from large semi-trucks to passenger cars. Urmson, a founding member of Google’s self-driving car program, shares his journey in the world of autonomous vehicles and the potential impact they can have on the trucking industry and society as a whole.

Main Takeaways

Revolutionizing the Trucking Industry

• Autonomous vehicles have the potential to revolutionize the trucking industry, which is a crucial part of the US economy with a shortage of drivers.
• Aurora is focused on the trucking industry and aims to make goods move more efficiently and lower costs over time.

From DARPA Challenges to Google

• The development of autonomous vehicles started with DARPA grand challenges, which aimed to keep young men and women on supply lines out of harm’s way in conflict and later evolved to have a huge impact on America’s roadways.
• Chris Urmson was a founding member of Google’s self-driving car program and worked on developing autonomous vehicles for his entire professional career.

Building Autonomous Driving Capability

• Aurora is building an autonomous driving system for everything from large semi-trucks to passenger cars.
• The company’s core technology is First Light, which uses light like radar to see farther and faster than other technologies.
• There are differences in developing autonomous driving technology for long haul trucks versus light vehicles, such as the need to look further ahead and account for the momentum and inertia of a large truck.

The Path to Safety and Regulation

• Safety is a top priority for Aurora, and the company is refining and testing its autonomous driving system to ensure safety.
• Simulation tools are used to test the safety of autonomous vehicles and improve the company’s procedures and culture.
• Engaging with federal and state regulators can help them understand the promise and risk of autonomous driving technology.

The Future of Autonomous Trucks

• Aurora plans to have no human drivers on a trucking route between Dallas and Houston by the end of next year.
• In 10 years, tens of percent of the US trucking fleet is expected to be autonomous.
• Challenges for autonomous trucks include ensuring the safety of cargo and addressing concerns from regulators and politicians.

Summary

Revolutionizing the Trucking Industry

Autonomous vehicles have the potential to revolutionize the trucking industry, which plays a crucial role in the US economy but faces a shortage of drivers. Aurora, a company led by Chris Urmson, is focused on building an autonomous driving system that can make goods move more efficiently and lower costs over time.

From DARPA Challenges to Google

The development of autonomous vehicles traces back to the DARPA grand challenges, which aimed to protect soldiers in conflict zones. Chris Urmson, a founding member of Google’s self-driving car program, has been at the forefront of autonomous vehicle development throughout his career.

Building Autonomous Driving Capability

Aurora is building an autonomous driving system that can be integrated into various vehicles, including large semi-trucks and passenger cars. Their core technology, First Light, uses light like radar to enhance perception and improve safety. Developing autonomous driving technology for trucks requires accounting for unique challenges, such as the momentum and inertia of a large truck.

The Path to Safety and Regulation

Aurora prioritizes safety and is refining and testing its autonomous driving system to ensure its reliability. Simulation tools are used to test the safety of autonomous vehicles and improve procedures. Engaging with regulators helps them understand the potential and risks of autonomous driving technology.

The Future of Autonomous Trucks

Aurora aims to have no human drivers on a trucking route between Dallas and Houston by the end of next year. In the next decade, a significant portion of the US trucking fleet is expected to be autonomous. However, challenges remain, including ensuring the safety of cargo and addressing concerns from regulators and politicians.

Conclusion

Chris Urmson’s journey in the world of autonomous vehicles showcases the potential for these technologies to revolutionize the trucking industry and make transportation more efficient. Aurora’s focus on safety and collaboration with regulators highlights their commitment to responsible development. As autonomous trucks become more prevalent, society will need to address the impact on truck drivers and ensure that new opportunities and training are available for the workforce.