Nuro already has a third Driverless delivery vehicle on the move, and this model is designed to protect others as well as to transport goods. That new introduced Version, simply called Nuro, contains a large number of 360-degree sensors such as cameras, LiDAR, radar and thermals, but also a huge external airbag to protect pedestrians. We still wouldn’t risk stepping in front of this machine (you will still end up on the ground after all), but doing so should reduce the chance of serious injury.
The new vehicle also carries double the load and offers both temperature-controlled compartments and modular inserts to transport a wider variety of goods. Nuro didn’t say when this newest self-driving vehicle would be ready, but China’s BYD’s North American subsidiary will help produce units at a Nuro factory set to go online later in 2022. Kroger (an investor in Nuro) has already committed to using this latest hardware.
Nuro
The upgrade may be required. Nuro already has offers and tests with big brands like 7-Eleven, CVS, FedEx and Kroger, but faces tougher competition from Walmart, Over and automakers like Ford. The company risks losing business if prospects either need larger payloads or are concerned about liability in the event of a collision.
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