TuSimple Completes First Fully Autonomous Semi-Truck Run on Public Roads

TuSimple, which develops autonomous driving technology, has announced it successfully completed the world’s first fully autonomous semi-truck run on open public roads without a human in the vehicle, and without human intervention. Taking place on December 22, the run involved a TuSimple upfitted autonomous semi-truck leaving a railyard in Tucson, Ariz., and traveling more than 80 miles on surface streets and highways at night, safely arriving at a high-volume distribution center in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The company said the one-hour and 20-minute drive was the first time a Class 8 autonomous truck has operated on open public roads without a human in the vehicle, and without human intervention. TuSimple said the test was performed in close collaboration with the Arizona Department of Transportation and law enforcement officials. A PDF with additional details of the company’s safety framework can be downloaded here.