Topics
Latest
AI
Amazon
Image Credits:Aurora Innovation
Apps
Biotech & Health
Climate
Image Credits:Aurora Innovation
Cloud Computing
Commerce
Crypto
Enterprise
EVs
Fintech
Fundraising
Gadgets
Gaming
Government & Policy
computer hardware
Layoffs
Media & Entertainment
Meta
Microsoft
Privacy
Robotics
Security
societal
Space
Startups
TikTok
Transportation
Venture
More from TechCrunch
Events
Startup Battlefield
StrictlyVC
Podcasts
video
Partner Content
TechCrunch Brand Studio
Crunchboard
Contact Us
Aurora Innovationis taking federal safety regulator to courtin a casethat could have far - reaching significance for self - labour truck companies operating in a regulative environment designed around humankind .
The combat centers around the rather commonplace practice of placing forcible warning triangles around semi trucks stopped along highways . The courtyard denied Aurora ’s request to be nontaxable from that safety demand . Aurora , which plans to launch afully autonomous commercial hauling operationin April , has turn to the District of Columbia Court of Appeals to push regulators to green - alight its freedom .
The move highlights a longstanding tenseness between autonomous vehicle companies seeking to commercialise their technology and safe standard designed for man .
Here ’s what happen in a world where humans drive hand truck : Truck drivers trigger off their hazards and have 10 minutes to put out musing safety triangle as a monition to other road users . The first triangle goes 10 feet behind the truck face oncoming traffic . The sec goes 100 feet behind the hand truck . And the third go 100 infantry ahead of the truckor100 foot behind the hand truck but off - nerve centre . The driver might adjust those positioning if the motortruck is draw over on a curve ball or a blind position .
In a earthly concern where AI repulse truck , there ’s nobody around to put out the monition light . The AV manufacture , lead by Aurora Innovation and Waymo , state a request in January 2023 that would let them and other Ab society to rise flashing warning beacons on the hack of the hand truck instead .
( government note : Waymo submit the petition with Aurora back when it still had an combat-ready self-reliant trucking unit . Waymo shifted focalize away fromself - take trucks in June 2023 , and is n’t as active in this engagement . )
Almost two days later , the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration ( FMCSA ) denied the covering , tell that the solution does not supply an equal or gravid level of safety than the be necessity . In its denial , the agency reference findings from Aurora and Waymo ’s own limited study , which show their proposed beacons actually perform worse than warning triangles in several key scenarios , including when the truck was stopped at a bend .
Join us at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI
The FMCSA also suggested that cab - mounted radio beacon have other shortcomings , namely that number one wood might see the rear of a stopped truck before they see the beacons .
AV industry stakeholder , including the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association and Aurora , called the agency ’s 52 - year - old base hit requirements outdated . Melissa Wade , senior director of authorities sexual intercourse , mention that the FMCSA has n’t supply data that underpin its condom claims around physical triangles . She also said the bureau did n’t allow for counselling for what they would care to see in an AV - friendly stand-in for safety triangle .
The request was supported by other Ab company like Waabi and Kodiak Robotics , the U.S. Chamber of Commerce , and the Consumer Technology Association , among others . It was opposed by organizations like the Owner - Operator Independent Drivers Association , the Transport Workers Union of America , and the Truck Safety Coalition .
The scuffle around warning devices and where and how they get put is one of several regulatory hurdle race that self-directed vehicle companies must jump for continue compliant with Union prophylactic standard , many of which are designed for manual human command . For example , today , AV company need to request an exemptionto deploy and aggregate - green groceries vehicles built without thing like steering wheel or pedals , though Tesla CEO Elon Musk has urged the incoming Trump administration to do away with those principle as he hopes to deploy a gravid fleet of such robotaxis in the come up years .
Aurora also look hopeful that the Trump administration will be more favorable to the Ab diligence . At least , that ’s the opinion portray in a recentblog postfrom Aurora President Ossa Fisher that nods to the incoming “ hardworking , passionate transportation system loss leader quick to support excogitation and salve life . ”
Angie Griffin , a trucker of 17 year who host aYouTube channelwith her husband about the lifestyle of trucking , told TechCrunch she think the regulations on the distance needed between refuge trigon is appropriate because “ vehicles are lapse and coming at you at such a rate of speed that the earliest sensing is better . ”
She said that to fit self - driving truck , her ideal solution would have monish lights on the dawdler of the hand truck , not just on the cab .
Aurora , like other Ab players , does n’t have its own trailers ; it work via hand - offs of client prevue , which is standard in the truckage industry . Requiring letter carrier customers to upfit their trailer with warning beacons would throw away a pull in AV society ’ plan to slot into the current system with minimum disruption , but it could be necessary from a safety stand .
“ You would be surprised , especially in a place like Texas , where it ’s pitch dark , there ’s no ambient Christ Within , there ’s no light pollution , in the middle of the desert , how much a 53 - foot laggard can hide on the shoulder , and you never see it until you ’re passing it , ” Griffin said . “ If you hit the back end of a semitrailer , you ’re probably not live , even if you ’re in another semi . So why take the chance ? ”
