Aurora’s autonomous trucks are now driving at night. Its next big challenge is rain.

Aurora Innovation, led by CEO Chris Urmson, is setting its sights on the Sunbelt region of the United States over the next year. This area, which runs through the southern states, is pivotal for the company as it aims to deploy its self-driving trucks to transport goods for major clients like Uber Freight and Hirschbach Motor Lines. Since launching its driverless commercial trucking service earlier in the spring, Aurora has made significant strides. In its recent shareholder update, the company announced that it has three autonomous trucks currently operating commercially between Dallas and Houston, amassing over 20,000 driverless miles by the end of June. Notably, these trucks travel with a human observer present in the cab, whose role is not to intervene but to monitor. To further its ambitions, Aurora has established a terminal in Phoenix, a strategic move that supports its mission of expanding its trucking routes across the Sunbelt. The company is testing its autonomous trucks on a 15-hour journey from Fort Worth, Texas to Phoenix for clients like Hirschbach and Werner. With terminals situated close to highways, these trucks must adeptly navigate exits and surface streets. However, it is their newfound capability to operate at night that allows Aurora to explore new frontiers. The company confirmed its self-driving trucks can successfully navigate highways and roads under nighttime conditions, enabling longer journeys and the potential to surpass the federally mandated driving limits for human operators. Human truck drivers are restricted to 11 hours of driving in a 14-hour period and must take mandatory breaks, which presents limitations for long-haul operations. Urmson emphasized the importance of achieving longer distances, suggesting that routes of around 600 miles are optimal for human drivers. Central to Aurora's nighttime operations is its innovative lidar technology, which can detect objects in low-light conditions from more than 450 meters away. This advanced lidar system can identify pedestrians, vehicles, and debris up to 11 seconds earlier than a human driver. Since its inception in 2017, Aurora has acquired two lidar companies, Blackmore in 2019 and OURS Technology in 2021, enhancing its technological capabilities. Looking ahead, Urmson and his team are prioritizing the validation of their trucks' performance in rainy conditions. He stated, "By the end of the year, we expect to operate day, night, and in rain. If we can't drive through rain, it complicates long-distance logistics since weather can vary significantly." Currently, while the development fleet can operate in rainfall, the commercial trucks have not yet completed the necessary validations for such conditions. In adverse weather, these trucks are equipped to autonomously pull off the road until conditions improve, ensuring safety. Urmson indicated that this year is crucial for building the capabilities required for the trucks to operate in diverse environments. Looking forward, Aurora aims to expand its road network and fleet size significantly, planning to deploy “tens” of driverless trucks on public roads by year’s end, and “hundreds” by 2026. These advancements are vital for Aurora as it strives for profitability, especially given the current disparity between its revenue—$1 million in the second quarter—and a net income loss of $201 million, as reported in its regulatory filings.