A truck without a driver is a prerequisite for deployment of Level 4 or 5 autonomous trucks, but the conundrum of how to alert fellow motorists before a support vehicle arrives when a problem arises posed an existential question for autonomous trucking companies.
“This decision underscores the government’s recognition of the immense economic and community benefits of autonomous trucking.
The green light for beacons rather than triangles comes as Aurora and its peers ready for a pivotal year for autonomous trucking in 2027.
Meanwhile, Aurora’s partner, Volvo Autonomous Solutions, as well as autonomous trucking rivals, such as Waabi, PlusAI and Torc Robotics, are set to ramp up operations to commercial scale in 2027.
Waabi Chief Operating Officer Lior Ron told TT on Oct. 14 that the FMCSA decision was a pivotal step for the autonomous trucking sector.