TechCrunch Mobility: A roadblock clears for self-driving trucks

STOP STOP I HAVE TO SAY THIS FIRST, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS FINALLY LETTING SELF-DRIVING TRUCKS IGNORE THE RULE ABOUT PLACING TRIANGLES ON THE ROAD DURING BREAKDOWNS, WHICH IS NUTS BECAUSE AURORA INNOVATION AND KODIAK AI HAD TO GET A FEDERAL EXEMPTION JUST FOR THIS. SEE, NORMALLY IF A TRUCK BREAKS DOWN, A HUMAN HAS TO GET OUT AND PUT UP WARNING REFLECTORS WITHIN TEN MINUTES BUT OBVIOUSLY, A ROBOT TRUCK DOES NOT HAVE ARMS OR A PERSON SITTING INSIDE. AURORA EVEN SOUGHT A COURT FIGHT OVER THIS REQUIREMENT PREVIOUSLY BUT GOT DENIED, SO NOW THEY HAVE THE GREEN LIGHT ANYWAY, AND IT REMOVES A HUGE ROADBLOCK TO MAKING THESE THINGS COMMERCIAL. IT IS LITERALLY ABOUT TRUCKS KNOWING HOW TO BE BROKEN WITHOUT A HUMAN. RIGHT I AM GOING TO THE SMOKING AREA, COME.

GENUINELY WHAT IS HAPPENING TODAY, AURORA INNOVATION AND KODIAK AI JUST SCORED A MASSIVE WIN AGAINST FEDERAL REGULATORS BECAUSE THEY NO LONGER HAVE TO FOLLOW THE ANCIENT RULE REQUIRING HUMANS TO PLACE WARNING TRIANGLES ON THE PAVEMENT WHEN A TRUCK BREAKS DOWN. THE PROBLEM WAS THAT A SELF-DRIVING TRUCK CANNOT PHYSICALLY DEPLOY THOSE REFLECTIVE DEVICES, WHICH WAS A MAJOR BARRIER TO ACTUALLY COMMERCIALIZING THESE THINGS. AURORA HAD ACTUALLY TAKEN THE REGULATORS TO COURT TO TRY AND GET OUT OF THIS RULE ALREADY BUT LOST, AND NOW SUDDENLY THEY HAVE THE EXEMPTION THEY NEEDED ALL ALONG TO KEEP THE FUTURE OF TRANSPORTATION MOVING WITHOUT A HUMAN DRIVER HANGING OUT BY THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. IT IS WILD TO WATCH THIS TECH EVOLVE. ANYWAY WHAT ARE YOU DOING LATER?

Aurora Innovation and Kodiak AI received a federal exemption allowing their self-driving trucks to operate without complying with a regulation requiring humans to place warning triangles during breakdowns.

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