Driverless truck companies plan to ditch human copilots in 2024

A driverless Gatik delivery box truck operates in Bentonville, Arkansas, US. After years of testing, Aurora Innovation Inc, Kodiak Robotics Inc and Gatik AI Inc expect to remove safety drivers from trucks that are being guided by software and an array of sensors including cameras, radar and lidar, which sends pulses of light that bounces off objects. — Gatik/Handout via Reuters

Driverless trucks with no humans on board will soon cruise Texas highways if three startup firms have their way, despite objections from critics who say financial pressures, not safety, is behind the timetable.

After years of testing, Aurora Innovation Inc, Kodiak Robotics Inc and Gatik AI Inc expect to remove safety drivers from trucks that are being guided by software and an array of sensors including cameras, radar and lidar, which sends pulses of light that bounces off objects. The companies have already hauled cargo for big names such as Walmart Inc, Kroger Co, FedEx Corp and Tyson Foods Inc.