Daimler Trucks and Torc Robotics are working together to develop and test automated trucks with SAE Level 4 intent technology on Virginia’s public roads, following months of testing and safety validation on closed-loop tracks.
Initially, testing will take place on the highways of southwest Virginia, near the Torc Robotics headquarters. For testing, an engineer and a safety driver certified by Daimler Trucks and Torc Robotics will oversee the system. This follows the acquisition of a majority stake in Torc Robotics by Daimler.
“Torc Robotics is a leader in automated driving technology,” Martin Daum, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, said. “Daimler Trucks is the market leader in trucks and we understand the needs of the industry. Bringing Level 4 trucks to the public roads is a major step toward our goal to deliver reliable and safe trucks for the benefits of our customers, our economies and society.”
Torc Robotics is now part of the newly created Autonomous Technology Group within Daimler Trucks. In this new role, it — and by extension Daimler — will turn its automated push into a global endeavor based in the U.S. as well as Germany.
“As we pair Daimler’s expertise in building safe and reliable trucks with Torc’s genius in engineering Level 4 vehicles, we have no doubt we will do great things in the future,” Roger Nielsen, president and CEO of Daimler Trucks North America LLC, said. “We look forward to writing history together. The U.S. highways are the perfect place to develop automated driving technology.”
Within the Autonomous Technology Group, DTNA is also building an infrastructure required for the operational testing of initial application cases. This consists of the main control center and logistics hubs. These hubs are located along high-density freight corridors where many customers operate and within close proximity of interstates and highways.