Nuro's Self-Driving Delivery Comeback: AI Advancements Fuel Bay Area Expansion
Techcrunch3 months ago
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Nuro's Self-Driving Delivery Comeback: AI Advancements Fuel Bay Area Expansion

autonomousdelivery
nuro
r3
ai
ubereats

Summary:

  • Nuro, an autonomous delivery startup, receives approval to test its third-generation R3 in four Bay Area cities.

  • The approval marks a comeback for Nuro, which had faced setbacks and financial struggles.

  • Nuro is focusing on AI advancements and has put vehicle manufacturing and commercial operations on hold.

  • Nuro's R3 offers improved capabilities, including faster speeds and Level 4 autonomy, which enables the vehicle to drive itself without human intervention in certain circumstances.

  • Nuro is exploring a path to market outside of autonomous delivery, suggesting a broader vision for the future.

Nuro's Self-Driving Delivery Comeback: AI Advancements Fuel Bay Area Expansion

Autonomous delivery startup Nuro is gearing up for a comeback, receiving approval from the California Department of Motor Vehicles to test its third-generation R3 autonomous delivery vehicle in four Bay Area cities: Mountain View, Palo Alto, Los Altos, and Menlo Park.

This marks a significant step forward for Nuro, which had faced setbacks and financial struggles in recent years. The company has restructured its team, focusing on AI advancements and putting vehicle manufacturing and commercial operations on hold.

Nuro's R3 stands out as a driverless delivery vehicle, designed exclusively for goods. It operates on public roads but resembles a large sidewalk delivery robot, equipped with temperature-controlled storage units for food. The expansion into the Bay Area will be the third largest deployment of fully driverless vehicles in the United States, after Waymo.

Nuro's R3 boasts improved capabilities compared to its predecessor, the R2. It can operate at speeds up to 45 miles per hour, enabling Level 4 autonomy – capable of driving itself without human intervention in certain circumstances. This advancement stems from improvements in AI, with Nuro utilizing one to two large foundational models for tasks such as mapping, localization, perception, prediction, and planning.

Nuro's partnership with Uber Eats remains crucial, with the ride-hail and delivery giant set to utilize the R3 for deliveries this fall. While scaled manufacturing is not on the immediate horizon, Nuro is exploring a path to market outside of autonomous delivery, indicating a broader vision for the future.

Key takeaways:

  • Nuro is making a comeback in the autonomous delivery space, focusing on AI advancements and expanding its testing into the Bay Area.
  • Nuro's R3 offers significant improvements, including faster speeds and Level 4 autonomy.
  • The company is exploring a path to market outside of autonomous delivery, hinting at a broader vision for the future.

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