Dr. Sterling Anderson is a pioneer and leading expert in self-driving technology, known for his instrumental roles at both Tesla and Aurora. His career is defined by successfully taking complex autonomous systems from early development to commercial launch, establishing him as a crucial figure in the emergence of autonomous vehicles and human-machine cooperation.
Anderson's tenure at Tesla was marked by significant product leadership. He oversaw the entire Tesla Model X program through its launch and directed the company’s Autopilot program from the debut of its first-generation platform through the design, development, and launch of its second generation. This experience provided him with a unique, high-stakes understanding of bringing cutting-edge technology to the mass consumer market.
Following his work at Tesla, Anderson co-founded Aurora in 2016 alongside two other self-driving experts from the Google and Uber self-driving programs. Aurora is now a major self-driving technology business that created the Aurora Driver, a computer system designed to enable autonomous driving across various vehicles. The company’s influence is substantial, supported by collaborations with industry giants like Uber, Nvidia, Toyota, and Denso.
A Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from MIT, Anderson’s work on shared autonomy in the late 2000s paved the way for significant advancements in the cooperative control of human-machine systems. As a speaker, he leverages his engaging style and deep expertise to entertain, inform, and motivate corporate audiences around the world, providing invaluable insight into the innovative, complex, and rapidly evolving future of autonomous vehicles and technology trends.
