The Department of Transportation (DoT) has given the all-clear for self-driving car company Nuro to begin using its driverless local delivery truck. The approval marks the first time that the regulatory agency has given the go-ahead for self-driving cars without steering wheels, pedals, and other typical vehicle features to operate on public roads.
Nuro's R2 model trucks were unveiled in conjunction with news of the DoT approval. Restaurants, grocery stores, and other businesses will be able to use the company's driverless trucks to deliver goods locally, and Nuro's regulatory win looks like a meaningful step forward in the autonomous vehicle space and signals near-term opportunity for a wide range of robotic delivery applications.
Image source: Nuro.