Nuro had a third driverless delivery vehicle and this model focuses heavily on protecting others as well as transporting goods. New introduce version, known simply as Nuro, includes a series of 360-degree sensors including camera, LiDAR, radar and thermal, but also includes a giant external air bag to protect pedestrians. We still won’t risk stepping in front of this machine (you’ll still hit the ground anyway), but it will reduce the risk of serious injury.
The new vehicle can also carry twice as much cargo and offers both temperature-controlled compartments and modular inserts to help transport a wider range of goods. Nuro doesn’t say this at the latest self-driving car will be available, but the North American branch of Of China BYD will help manufacture the units at the Nuro plant that is expected to come online in 2022. Kroger (an investor in Nuro) has committed to using this latest hardware.
Upgrades may be necessary. Nuro has had deals and experiments with major brands like 7-Eleven, CVS, FedEx and Kroger, but it faces stiffer competition from Walmart, Uber and car manufacturers like Ford. The company risks losing business if the customer is a customer who needs a larger tonnage or worries about liability in the event of a collision.
This article originally appeared on Engadget.
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