What's Your Problem? From Desert Robots to Driverless Trucks
Nov 6, 2025
Chris Urmson, co-founder and CEO of Aurora, has nearly two decades of experience in autonomous vehicles, including pioneering work at Google. He shares thrilling tales from the DARPA Challenge, including lessons from building a Humvee robot. The discussion dives into the future of autonomous trucking, focusing on the benefits of Class 8 long-haul vehicles, real-world testing milestones, and the intricate technology like new FMCW LiDAR. Urmson also reflects on his journey from Google to founding Aurora, highlighting the societal benefits of autonomy.
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Desert Robot Nearly Caught Fire
- Chris Urmson built a Humvee-based robot for the 2004 DARPA Grand Challenge that nearly burst into flames during the run.
- The failure was crushing but still an order-of-magnitude improvement and motivated return attempts that advanced the field.
Urban Challenge Victory And GPS Jumbotron Panic
- In 2007 Aurora's precursor team won the DARPA Urban Challenge by driving 60 miles and interacting with staged traffic.
- A jumbotron at the start once interfered with GPS, causing a panic that was solved by turning it off.
First Public Ride With A Blind Passenger
- Google’s self-driving project drove a blind passenger, Steve Mann, demonstrating real human impact.
- Seeing the emotional effect convinced Urmson the technology mattered beyond academic interest.