Daimler AG going to acquire a majority stake in self-driving truck Torc Robotics to develop autonomous truck vehicles. The Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Based in Blacksburg, Virginia, Torc will help Daimler to accelerate software development by giving the German manufacturer access to 120 skilled staff, Daimler Trucks Chief Executive Martin Daum said.
“You cannot have enough expertise in this area. Our Achilles’ heel is the ability to quickly develop software,” Daum said.
Torc has developed technology that allows vehicles to operate at a high level of automation, known as level 4, helping Daimler to accelerate its own plans for commercialising self-driving vehicles.
Torc’s Level 4 system has been shown to operate well for both urban and highway driving in rain, snow, fog, and sunshine.
Daimler currently offers a level 2 automation system on its trucks, which can automatically brake, accelerate and steer using radar and camera systems that make partially automated driving possible.
“Bringing Torc Robotics within the Daimler Trucks family creates a unique and powerful team of innovators to put highly automated trucks on the road,” Daum said.
Torc will continue to be run on an arms-length basis from Daimler but the Torc team will work closely with Daimler Trucks’ developers, Daimler said.
Torc will continue to develop its Asimov self-driving software and testing at its Blacksburg facility. At the same time, Daimler Trucks will focus on further evolving automated driving technology and vehicle integration for heavy-duty trucks at its Automated Truck Research & Development Center in Portland.
Daimler Trucks will also use know-how about sensors and automation from the group’s Mercedes-Benz passenger car brand, the car and truck maker said.
Torc Robotics has partnerships to develop self-driving technology with Caterpillar with mining and agricultural applications and competed in the DARPA self-driving vehicles challenge 12 years ago.