Torc Robotics

Are SPACs redirecting blank check love to self-driving truck startups?

As the special purpose acquisition companies’ (SPACs) love affair with electric vehicle startups cools, infatuation backed by blank check-writing investors may blossom for self-driving truck startups.

After several months of stock price run-ups in SPAC-sponsored electric vehicle and infrastructure companies, prices have fallen dramatically in recent weeks. In some cases, they are edging close to their original $10-per-share offering price.

One target in the shift from electrification appears to...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/are-spacs-redirecting-blank-check-love-to-self-driving-truck-startups?

9 questions with Daimler Trucks North America CEO Roger Nielsen

Freightliner dealers in the American Southwest should be on the lookout for Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) CEO Roger Nielsen. He is taking one final motor-home tour and playing secret shopper before officially retiring April 30.

“I usually just show up and go into the parts department, and usually something’s broken. Nothing major, like lost hub nut covers,” he said. “But, hey, you can always use DEF (diesel exhaust fluid).”

Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp. builds the chassis on which the...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/9-questions-with-daimler-trucks-north-america-ceo-roger-nielsen

Truck Talk: Autonomous range-finding edition

This week we’re looking at the plethora of lidar companies chasing autonomous vehicle business; asking three questions of Torc Robotics CEO Michael Fleming; and circling the globe with new business announcements. Plus, some people, places and things. Starting next Friday, Truck Talk will be delivered by email if you subscribe at: https://www.freightwaves.com/truck-talk.

Business for all?

Lidar, which stands for light detection and ranging, is a critical element of autonomous vehicles. The...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/truck-talk:-autonomous-range-finding-edition

The Daily Dash: Hair testing for drugs faces hurdles; Mississippi mulls parking solution

The Daily Dash is a quick look at what is happening in the freight ecosystem. In today’s edition, a proposal to use hair testing for drug detection may not see the light of day under the Biden administration. Plus, Mississippi is considering a plan to increase truck parking in the state, and the Postal Service sets a path toward profitability.

Failed testing strategy?

Proposed federal guidelines to use hair testing as a means for identifying potential drug users may not go into effect under the...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/the-daily-dash:-hair-testing-for-drugs-faces-hurdles;-mississippi-mulls-parking-solution

Torc Robotics gets help to analyze self-driving Freightliner data

Torc Robotics generates millions of gigabytes of data testing self-driving Freightliner Cascadias for Daimler Truck AG. Now it is contracting with Amazon’s cloud business for faster analysis.

Amazon Web Services Inc. (AWS) will manage data transfer, storage and compute capacity as Torc prepares to deploy its second generation Class 8 self-driving trucks in New Mexico and Virginia. 

The size of the fleet is growing. More data is being created. Engineering teams in the U.S. and Germany need help...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/torc-robotics-gets-help-to-analyze-self-driving-freightliner-data

Daimler partners with Luminar in autonomous truck pursuit

Daimler Truck AG is partnering with Luminar Technologies to integrate LiDAR sensing and perception software into Level 4 autonomous long-haul heavy-duty trucks. It is Daimler’s third move to acquire hardware and software expertise in driverless truck technology.

Earlier this week, Daimler announced a partnership with Alphabet’s Waymo autonomous vehicle unit to use Waymo Technology. Daimler purchased Torc Robotics, a Virginia-based automated driving technology company, in March 2019.

Daimler also...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/daimler-partners-with-luminar-in-autonomous-truck-pursuit

Daimler takes deliberate approach to driverless trucks

As more startups announce testing for highly automated trucks, Daimler Trucks remains comparatively quiet.

Even in celebrating a year of partnering with Torc Robotics, which Daimler Trucks purchased in March 2019, the focus is on safe automation ahead of promotion.

The parent of Freightliner, the top-selling Class 8 truck brand in the U.S. and Canada, is  collaborating with Torc to put series-produced Level 4 trucks on the roads within the decade. That includes a Level 4 test fleet, a redesigned...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/daimler-takes-deliberate-approach-to-driverless-trucks

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