The Story
Aurora Innovation was founded in 2017 by some of the industry's most accomplished self-driving car engineers. Chris Urmson (former head of Google's autonomous vehicle program), Sterling Anderson (Tesla Autopilot engineer), and Drew Bagnell (roboticist and machine learning expert) came together with a mission: to develop the world's most capable autonomous driving technology.
The company's Aurora Driver platform represents a modular approach to self-driving technology—built to work across different vehicle types and use cases. Aurora chose Pittsburgh as its operational hub, conducting extensive real-world testing on the city's streets, bridges, and varied road conditions.
Pittsburgh's combination of complex driving scenarios, supportive regulatory environment, and proximity to world-class research institutions made it an ideal location for Aurora's development and testing. The company has grown to employ hundreds of engineers, researchers, and specialists in the city.
What Makes It Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh's transportation legacy runs deep—from the bridges designed by great engineers to the steel frames that built America's infrastructure. Aurora represents a new chapter in that legacy: autonomous vehicles tested and developed right here on Pittsburgh streets.
The presence of Aurora, Duolingo, and other advanced tech companies signals that Pittsburgh has successfully pivoted from extractive industry to innovation-driven economy. These aren't companies relocating temporarily; they're building lasting operations and investing in the city's future.