Aurora

Aurora Innovation builds autonomous vehicle technology. The company has developed the Aurora Driver, a self-driving system designed to operate a range of vehicle types, from passenger cars to Class 8 freight-hauling trucks. Built on a common core of proprietary software and modular hardware, the Aurora Driver integrates a suite of sensors—lidar, radar, and cameras—to achieve a 360º perception of its environment. Its FirstLight Lidar technology offers visibility up to 400 meters, enabling safe and efficient highway driving. The system continuously improves through high-fidelity simulation and real-world feedback, creating a self-reinforcing learning loop. Aurora partners with industry players such as FedEx and Uber Freight to bring its autonomous freight capabilities to life.

Aurora’s pricing model is built around subscription-based services that provide access to the Aurora Driver’s capabilities, including vehicle autonomy, real-time operations monitoring, and remote support. The subscription includes both hardware (sensor suites and onboard computers) and a comprehensive software stack that handles perception, planning, and mapping. Much like a hardware-as-a-service (HaaS) model, Aurora bundles physical components with ongoing software access, support, and updates, enabling customers to adopt cutting-edge technology without upfront hardware investments. Aurora also offers fleet management tools, safety monitoring systems, and over-the-air updates, positioning its solution as a full-stack platform for autonomy delivered as an ongoing, service-based model.