Volvo and Aurora are just a few steps away from kick-starting a new age of autonomous driving on the roads of North America. The companies have come together to unveil the prototype self-driving semi truck that will be meant for “long haul” trips.

The variant of Volvo’s VNL looks familiar, but features a host of sensors that can detect the surrounding environment and navigate on its own using the virtual Aurora Driver. The automaker did not divulge the technical details but said the big rig expanded on existing VNL safety features such as Volvo Dynamic Steering and automated transmission to create a “redundant” system.

Now launch date revealed yet

This truck might not face any issues on the highway. The companies previously noted they hope for Level 4 autonomy or completely human-free driving in some scenarios. Volvo has already put autonomous trucks into service in the countries such as Sweden and Norway.

However, they’ve been limited until now, narrowly defined routes. The new prototype can handle the longer distances and different conditions necessary to shuttle payloads between North American cities.

Volvo didn’t reveal when the prototype will hit the public roads, let alone when you might see a production truck in action. The company might also require regulations enabling self-driving trucks, not just the testing you see in some states.

Autonomous driving is the future

Speaking of autonomous driving, Tesla recently showcased its massive supercomputer to train its self-driving system. As per the figures released, it could be the fifth most powerful supercomputer in the world. The company is using it to train the Autopilot feature on its vehicles. Besides, it will also train the unreleased self-driving artificial intelligence systems.

Besides, Lockheed Martin and General Motors have come together to develop a self-driven electric vehicle that will allow astronauts on the Moon. The two automakers hope to develop vehicles that can carry astronauts to far away distances on the lunar surface.