Torc Robotics, an independent subsidiary of Daimler Truck and a pioneer in self-driving vehicle technology, has successfully completed advanced validation of its driverless trucks in a multi-lane closed-course environment in Texas, marking a significant step in the development and productization of autonomous trucking technology. The product acceptance test was conducted at full operating speeds of up to 65 mph, or approximately 105 km/h. The milestone demonstrates progress in Torc’s autonomous driving capabilities and supports the company’s objective of scaling and commercializing safe and robust autonomous trucking solutions by 2027.
The validation brings together Torc’s applied artificial intelligence technology, system architecture, production-intent embedded hardware and safety engineering on a unified platform. Unlike a technology demonstration, the product acceptance testing represents a step toward a scalable product release and reflects the company’s focus on moving autonomous trucking from advanced engineering and development into productization.
“This is a key moment in our mission to build a profitable, scalable business as the world’s leading autonomous solution,” said Torc CEO Peter Vaughan Schmidt. “We observed impressive reliability in our repeated driverless runs, which leveraged Torc’s unparalleled embedded and integrated platform on Daimler Truck’s Freightliner Cascadia. We look forward to unlocking the full value of autonomous driving software for customers who prioritize safety, operations costs, ease of use and reliability.”
The autonomous-ready Freightliner Cascadia used in the programme incorporates redundant safety features designed to support autonomous driving. Joanna Buttler, Head of Autonomous Technology Group at Daimler Truck, said: “The autonomous-ready Freightliner Cascadia with redundant safety features is an industry-first and lays the foundation for autonomous driving. Achieving driver-out capability on closed course is an outstanding achievement of the Torc and Daimler Truck teams. It demonstrates the progress and integrated development toward making autonomous trucking at scale a reality.”
The ability to operate a truck without a safety driver in the cab represents an important milestone in the development of autonomous trucking. Daimler Truck and Torc have previously tested and developed autonomous driving with a safety driver and an operator on board, whose role was to continuously monitor the vehicle and be prepared to take control when required. The companies have also demonstrated Torc’s autonomous driving software navigating highways, surface streets, ramps and turns at controlled intersections.
Torc Robotics was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Blacksburg, Virginia. The company is an independent subsidiary of Daimler Truck AG and has more than 19 years of experience developing safety-critical self-driving applications. Torc provides a complete self-driving vehicle software and integration solution and is focused on commercializing autonomous trucks for long-haul applications in the United States. Torc operates test facilities in Albuquerque, New Mexico, along with engineering offices in Austin, Texas; Stuttgart, Germany; and Montreal, Canada. Its stated purpose is to advance the future of freight through autonomous technology, with a focus on developing hub-to-hub autonomous trucking solutions designed around safety, reliability
