First Driverless Journey of a Class 8 Truck by TuSimple in Arizona

A driverless semi-truck controlled by TuSimple’s technology completed an 80-mile route in Arizona without any humans on board and without human intervention during the drive, the company announced on Wednesday. According to TuSimple, it is the first successful fully autonomous operation of a Class 8 vehicle (over 15 tons) on public roads without human intervention.

(San Diego/Tucson/Arizona) As various US media report today, the technology startup TuSimple (NASDAQ: TSP) from San Diego (California) claims to have conducted the first successful fully autonomous drive of a Class 8 truck (semi-trailer) on public roads without human intervention. TuSimple announced that it successfully completed the 80-mile night drive on Interstate 10 in Arizona without a driver in the cabin.

TuSimple kept the timing of the first driverless pilot secret and announced on Wednesday that the retrofitted Class 8 truck started on December 22 at a station in Tucson (Arizona) and ended at a distribution center in Phoenix (Arizona). The route was approximately 80 miles (128.75 km). The drive was conducted with the permission and oversight of the Department of Transportation and other authorities in Arizona.

A lead vehicle scouted the route for unexpected obstacles about eight kilometers ahead of the autonomous semi-truck, and a following vehicle, which was about half a mile behind the truck, was ready to intervene if necessary, along with several unmarked police vehicles.

A semi-truck from TuSimple (Navistar brand) drove 80 miles without a driver from Tucson to Phoenix (Arizona)

The test drive took place amidst ongoing traffic

As TuSimple reported, the semi-truck successfully handled lane changes on highways, traffic lights, on- and off-ramps while interacting with other vehicles.

“This test underscores our unique position at the forefront of autonomous trucking and delivers advanced driving technology at a commercial scale,” said TuSimple CEO Cheng Lu.

About TuSimple

TuSimple was founded in 2015 and has 70 autonomous trucks worldwide. Through the TuSimple Autonomous Freight Network (AFN), the company offers groundbreaking autonomous freight capabilities as a service to both shippers and carriers, leading to a fundamental transformation in the trucking industry.

TuSimple’s technology allows the autonomous trucking system to see 360 degrees around the entire vehicle and up to 1,000 meters away, enabling it to foresee 30 seconds ahead at highway speeds. This allows the system to effectively avoid hazards while simultaneously increasing efficiency.

Photos: © TuSimple