Aurora Driver puts the safety of first responders and police first
Aurora says its self-driving systems have been designed from the outset to handle the presence of first responders, police officers and other public-service workers safely and predictably. The company presented how the system works, citing more than 500,000 driverless miles of experience and partnerships with public-safety agencies.
- Aurora held more than 50 training sessions involving 20 organizations and six states.
- Aurora Driver has completed more than 500,000 driverless miles.
- The system detected a police car stopped on the shoulder from about 1,300 feet away at night.
- The vehicle handled police stops, road closures and active police operations.
- Aurora says interactions with first responders were prioritized during the system's design.
Preparing together with public-safety agencies
According to Aurora, autonomous technology should support the work of emergency personnel, which is why the company works with public-safety and law-enforcement agencies across the country. These partnerships also influence the design and development of Aurora Driver.
The company has created an online First Responders Guide and training materials to help personnel working in the field understand how the technology works and how to interact safely with Aurora vehicles. Its teams have held more than 50 sessions involving 20 organizations and six states. Several hundred additional people have completed the online training modules, which are available to anyone on Aurora's website.
Emergency situations considered from the design stage
Aurora says it does not treat encounters with emergency vehicles as rare situations to be addressed after the fact. Safe, reliable and consistent behavior has been a priority from the beginning of the system's design, and this is documented in the Safety Case documentation.
The company says Aurora Driver is extensively tested and trained for situations involving first responders. The system must make way for emergency vehicles even when the Aurora vehicle is not directly involved in the incident. The company says these situations unfolded as expected during more than 500,000 driverless miles. The statement also notes that the US road-safety authority, the NHTSA, asked developers in a memo earlier this year to give priority to interactions with first responders.
Police stops and nighttime road closures
Aurora has also worked with law-enforcement agencies in Odessa, Texas, because the company's autonomous vehicle is currently hauling sand in the Permian Basin. In one demonstration, the system detected a police car approaching from behind and followed its movements before moving toward the shoulder when the officer gave a signal indicating that it should pull over. The vehicle stopped safely and on time.
In another nighttime situation, Aurora Driver passed through a road closure affecting multiple lanes, where several first responders were present, including a police officer directing traffic with a flashlight. With the assistance of a remote assistance specialist, the system interpreted the officer's signal and then proceeded cautiously.
Aurora says that in another nighttime incident, the system detected a police car stopped on the shoulder from about 1,300 feet away, or approximately 396 meters based on the distance given in the source. It changed lanes early, leaving ample room for the officer conducting the stop, and then safely returned to the far-right lane.
Making room for those involved in rescue operations
Aurora listed additional examples. On a congested highway, the system navigated around emergency vehicles working near a Class-8 truck stopped in a center lane, then used its signals to help the towing professional do their job.
During an active police stop, Aurora Driver followed a police car approaching at high speed, slowed down and maintained a safe following distance when the officer pulled over another vehicle on the shoulder. It then waited for traffic in the adjacent lane to pass before making a courteous lane change to provide additional room for the stop.
Aurora says encounters with first responders are inevitable for vehicles traveling on highways for long hours. The company's goal is for Aurora Driver to make roads safer through predictable and courteous behavior while also supporting the work of first responders.
