The Aurora Driver
The Aurora Driver consists of sensors that perceive the world, software that plans a safe path through it, and the computer that powers and integrates them both with the vehicle. We’ve designed it to enable any vehicle type, from passenger sedans to class-8 trucks, to move safely and efficiently through the world.
How it works
The Aurora Driver’s hardware, software, and data services allow it to operate any passenger or commercial vehicle.
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The Aurora Computer acts as a central hub that connects our hardware and autonomy software and enables the Aurora Driver to seamlessly integrate with every vehicle type.
Aurora Computer
This central hub is the heart of the Aurora Driver. This is where sensor data is processed, and Autonomy software is run, allowing the Driver to make quick, precise decisions on the road.
Incredibly fast, reliable processing that is orders of magnitude more powerful than a typical desktop computer
Compact design allows easy integration into all vehicle platforms, from class 8 trucks to passenger vehicles
Built to withstand a wide range of temperatures and on-road conditions, from Pittsburgh snow to Texas heat
Sensor Suite
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Our FirstLight Lidar provides huge advantages over even the most advanced conventional lidar systems available today, especially when it comes to long-haul trucking. It’s a self-driving game-changer that allows the Aurora Driver to identify and track objects farther, faster, and with greater precision than ever before.
Autonomy Software
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Just as humans are better drivers when they’ve been somewhere before, self-driving systems are better drivers when they learn from the collective observations of the fleet, as encoded in maps. In addition to helping the Aurora Driver plan where it's going, maps are critical for understanding of where our vehicles are in the world. Our localization software can determine position within 10 centimeters and 0.1 degree of accuracy, even in environments that deny or deceive GPS. That’s precise!
The Aurora Ecosystem
We’ll fully feel the benefits of self-driving technology through a multifaceted network of manufacturing, mobility, logistics, and fleet management partners. With this network of partners, we will provide the storage, maintenance, dispatch, routing, and on-road support needed to move people and goods safely and efficiently through the world. We call this network the Aurora Ecosystem.
Fitting the pieces together
Vehicle platforms
Automotive partners will manufacture the vehicle platforms powered by the Aurora Driver. So far, we’ve integrated the Aurora Driver into sedans, SUVs, minivans, commercial vehicles, and Class 8 trucks.
Logistics services
The Aurora Driver is also designed for the vehicles that move goods at high volumes between ports, depots, homes, and businesses. We’ll work with the companies that specialize in these logistic networks to make both middle-mile (between distribution centers) and last-mile (directly to homes and businesses) deliveries.
Mobility services
Self-driving technology is poised to make a big impact in the efficiencies and safety of ridesharing and public transportation entities that specialize in moving people. In the future, the Aurora Driver will help operate these massive platforms and transit networks.
Fleet management services
Our fleet management partners are important for delivering a commercial operation at scale by maintaining and servicing the vehicle fleets powered by the Aurora Driver.
The Aurora approach to development
We do things differently at Aurora. We’re developing self-driving technology for the future we believe is possible. We’re building the Aurora Driver through foundational systems that enable us to test, learn, and iterate quickly, making progress for long-term impact.
Our virtual testing suite
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We don’t leave testing to the end of the development process. As code is written, we write both unit tests (e.g., seeing if a method to calculate velocity gives the right answer) and integration tests (e.g., seeing whether that same method works well with other parts of the system). New work must pass all relevant tests before we can merge it with the larger codebase, allowing us to identify and fix issues early.
On-Road Testing
We’ve adopted a “smarter, not farther” approach to on-road testing. Instead of blindly pushing to drive more and more miles, we’ve continued to focus on collecting quality real-world data and on getting the most value out of every data point. For example, we amplify the impact of real-world experience by flagging interesting or novel events and incorporating them into our Virtual Testing Suite. One real-life situation can inspire tens or even hundreds of test permutations, all of which can be continually used to fine-tune existing capabilities.
The Online to Offline pipeline allows us to rapidly convert on-road events into virtual tests.
The Aurora Driver in action
Watch the Aurora Driver slow down and wait while a pedestrian gets into a large truck before smoothly nudging around.
Watch how during this unprotected turn, the pedestrian acts like they are going to step out into the crosswalk. Immediately, the Aurora Driver plans to yield (you can see how the green carpet shortens). Then, as soon as the pedestrian changes direction away from the crosswalk, the Aurora Driver smoothly resumes its trajectory and completes the turn.
Lots of oncoming traffic, lots of pedestrians in the crosswalk, and a smooth unprotected left turn.
Watch the Aurora Driver slow down and complete an unprotected right turn while yielding to pedestrians.
The Aurora Driver completes a very comfortable lane change on a highway, moving at 50mph.