Yes, That 18-Wheeler on a Texas Highway Is Driving Itself (NYT)

[highplainsdem]

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/27/business/driverless-semi-trucks-aurora-innovation.html

The semi truck rumbled down the congested, five-lane Texas highway, letting a small sedan pass on its right, then accelerating past another semi on its left.

In the back seat of the truck’s sun-drenched cabin, a middle-aged man watched YouTube videos on his phone. Behind him, a 53-foot refrigerated trailer carried nearly 25,000 pounds of pastries.

Nobody was in the driver’s seat.

Last month, Aurora Innovation, based in Pittsburgh, became the first company to operate a driverless 18-wheeler on an American highway, ushering in an era that could dramatically change how cargo moves across the United States.

-snip-

Gov. Abbott welcomes the arrival of these trucks and says Texas "offers businesses the freedom to succeed."

It's a small start. And according to the article, Aurora's being more cautious than most companies developing these trucks. The NYT says another company is operating driverless trucks on dirt roads in Texas (where I hope they'll be able to deal safely with farm equipment that can take the entire width of the road, as well as livestock that got out, farm pets, horseback riders and people walking or running along the road).

One of the quotes in the article, from an engineering professor who specializes in autonomous vehicles: "From a safety point of view, nobody knows how it’s going to turn out."

[SheltieLover]

1. They will stop at nothing to screw working people out of a job, despite the obvious dangers.

[hedda_foil]

2. "From a safety point of view, nobody knows how it's going to turn out."

[flvegan]

3. What could possibly go wrong? n/t