Aurora Innovation used a July 23rd livestream to provide a closer look at its second-generation autonomous trucking platform, outlining the hardware, fleet-management tools and operating assumptions behind trucks entering commercial service across the U.S. Sun Belt. The presentation followed Aurora’s deployment of second-generation driverless trucks built on the International LT Series platform. The trucks are expected to join a commercial network that currently includes 10 driverless routes. As of the end of June, the Aurora Driver had completed nearly 440,000 miles on public roads without a driver. Chris Urmson, Co-Founder and CEO of Aurora, framed the new platform around the ability to operate longer routes without the rest periods required for human drivers. As an example, Urmson broke down the details of 1,000-mile haul between Fort Worth, Texas, and Phoenix, with the assumption that a solo driver would need to take a mandatory 10-hour rest period before completing the trip. “The Aurora Driver doesn’t need to rest. It’s never tired,” said Urmson, adding, “That makes delivery times on this route up to 40% faster than a solo driver, matching or even beating the performance of premium expedited teams.” There were other financial benefits, according to Urmson, who pointed out that by operating a truck for more hours each day, twice as much revenue per vehicle could be generated without the staffing challenges associated with team drivers. Add to that improved fuel economy and lower insurance expenses, and the technology provided a sound case for ROI from the tech. The improvements continued, as the second-generation hardware was upgraded to withstand vibration, abrasive dust, rain and extreme temperatures. They were also designed for a one-million-mile commercial service life. An updated cleaning system keeps the vehicle’s sensors clear of rain, road film and other buildup that could interfere with their performance. The sensor