Depending on how much time you spend watching the news, you may hear a lot about “self-driving vehicles,” and you may even hear speculation about how they can do everything from drive themselves to rescuing and altering the American economy. Those are lofty goals to set for any piece of technology, let alone one that is still in its infancy. Rather than focusing on the benefits of this technology, this article will define what we mean by “self-driving” or “autonomous” technology, as well as the several types of autonomous technology that are currently being developed.
An autonomous driving system is any system that is partially or fully capable of driving a vehicle without the aid, assistance, or intervention of a human driver. SAE International created the SAE Levels of Driving Automation in 2014 as a classification system for autonomous vehicles with the goal of providing greater clarity and transparency on the subject of autonomous technology for the benefit of everyone.
An Introduction to the Levels of Autonomy
Autonomous Driving Systems at Level 0 Autonomy: Manual Driving
At Level 0 Autonomy, the vehicle is incapable of autonomous driving and is solely controlled by a human driver. All driving decisions and movements are the responsibility of the driver. In the event of an emergency, a warning or help system may be employed to provide assistance or advice. Prior to the development and commercialization of advanced driver assistance features, all vehicles were Level 0 Autonomy. Even today, with technology pervading every aspect of our lives, the vast majority of vehicles are still Level 0 Autonomy.
Autonomous Driving Systems at Level 1 Autonomy: Assisted Driving
Level 1 Autonomy is characterized as follows: one aspect of the driving process is taken over in isolation, using data from sensors and cameras, but the driver retains entire control of the vehicle. When the driver activates the driving automation system, it can execute either longitudinal or lateral vehicle motion control, depending on the scenario. The driver must always keep an eye on the system and be prepared to take control of the vehicle if necessary. The development of Level 1 Autonomy and autonomous driving technology began in the late 1990s with the creation of the world’s first radar-controlled cruise control and the debut of lane-keep assist in 2008. These were the initial stages in releasing commercially viable autonomous technology for the masses. They were also the first steps to placing less on the driver and developing vehicles with enhanced active safety features.
Autonomous Driving Systems at Level 2 Autonomy: Partially Automated Driving
At this level, computers take on many of the driver’s responsibilities. Today, there are many commercially available vehicles capable of running at Level 2 Autonomy. Their technology makes them intelligent enough to combine speed and steering systems together by relying on multiple data sources, including cameras, radar, LiDAR, and GPS. However, a driver always must be present in the vehicle to take control of the vehicle in the event of an emergency, must keep a continual eye on the system, and best be ready to take over the delegated tasks if necessary. The driver simply must activate the autonomous driving system to use it.
Under specific scenarios, the driving automation system supports the driver with a portion of the active driving duties by steering the vehicle laterally and longitudinally through traffic flow. This complex form of cruise control combines directional, throttle, and brake operations. It uses sophisticated sat-nav data to autonomously brake for curves ahead, maintain a fixed distance from the car in front, and resume driving when traffic jams clear, all while the driver remains sitting. When the driver makes requests, the system will immediately disengage and allow the driver to resume control of the vehicle.
In the next part of this series, we will continue learning about the remaining Level 3 to Level 5 of autonomous driving. We will also discuss which level of autonomy Torc is pursuing and why.
Learn More
For more information, read Torc’s Vehicle Safety Self-Assessment (VSSA) Report. It gives an overview of our safety culture, our technology, and describes how we are collaborating with industry experts to assure the safe development and commercialization of our autonomous driving systems for autonomous freight trucks.
As the autonomous vehicle industry races towards our self-driving future, we’re meeting countless challenges every day. From software development to finding the best test routes, the self-driving world has overcome many trials in the name of autonomy – and there are hundreds of these trials yet to be solved.
One of the biggest challenges that the autonomous vehicle industry is facing is in information sharing. Whether we’re connecting with the general public or with government officials, we’re always thinking about the best way to communicate big ideas about AV.
When we start disseminating those big ideas, we turn to organizations like PAVE, or Partners for Autonomous Vehicle Education, to help us level the playing field of autonomous information. From helping to create a library of resources on AV to ensuring that accessibility as at the forefront of our information-sharing, we’re banding with our fellow software, operations, and fleet professionals to face the information challenge.
PAVE x Torc
PAVE is a coalition of industry partners and nonprofit groups with one goal: to bring the conversation about automated vehicles (AVs) to the public so everyone can play a role in shaping our transportation future. PAVE’s mission is purely educational—they don’t advocate for a particular technology or specific public policies. PAVE members believe that we will best achieve the potential benefits of driverless technology if the public and policymakers know the honest facts of what is on the roads today and what is possible for the future.
As a proud part of PAVE, Torc plays a key role in the greater conversation about autonomous trucking. Alongside our fellow members in the self-driving car and truck industry, we shape standardized terms for the various components of our technology, identify consumer pain points, and more. Today, we’re continuing to develop the conversation by doing a deep dive into the PAVE Q&A series, #AVAnswers.
AVAnswers
Visit PAVE.org. https://pavecampaign.org/
Torc is taking the time to answer as many questions as possible in our mission to educate on self-driving freight trucks and provide as much information on this new mode of transportation.
About #AVAnswers
As part of their membership program, PAVE provides a list of in-depth questions that those curious about AV want answered. From ADAS impact on roads today to simulation differences based on vehicle size, this comprehensive list offers insight into where consumer, hobbyist, and AV professional minds are on the subject of driverless technology. This Q&A list, or #AVAnswers list, offers an incredible opportunity for us to communicate our unique perspective on hundreds of issues, challenges, and prospects in driving-related robotics.
What sort of questions the public is asking about autonomous vehicles reveals an incredible amount of insight into how we can continue moving the needle on public information about self-driving technology.
From fellow software developers to government officials, we’re hopeful that our contributions to this initiative will help move the needle towards a more informed future. We’re tackling these questions on our blog – and we’ve already answered a few, in case you’re eager to get a sneak peek of what’s to come.
Broadening the Conversation
It’s no secret that the autonomous vehicle industry is plagued by misinformation, confusion, and a host of other issues. Headlines about autonomous driving are part of our everyday reading, but are those headlines telling the full story?
At Torc, we’re pursuing #AVAnswers to ensure that the full story is at the forefront of our headlines. In order to get the whole picture of the autonomous world before vehicles like ours hit self-driving semi-truck dealerships, we’re providing context behind our technology, our logic, and our outlook on AV as a whole. To do this, we also have to understand where our audiences are coming from. Whether you’re involved in the autonomous trucking industry as a hobbyist or don’t know much about it beyond the big stories, we want to connect all levels of audience with accessible information.
We’re pursuing #AVAnswers with a renewed spirit for a few reasons. First and foremost, we know that our autonomous driving technology has the opportunity to be life-saving. By minimizing trucker driver deaths, reducing the shipping time behind goods like food and medication, and increasing efficiency for freight fleets, our self-driving semi truck software has the potential to save lives.
Secondly, we’re pursuing access to information because we know it’s an integral part of ensuring that this technology succeeds. Our self-driving trucks will launch when it’s safe to do so, but we also know that insurance companies, the general public, and our government officials need to meet us in the middle. Together, we must create reasonable regulations, operating procedures, and standards that keep both our technology and those that interact with it safe.
With these goals in mind, we join groups like PAVE in our mutual mission to shape the future of freight. Together, we can connect people with the possibilities the autonomous future has to offer.
We’re dedicating time and resources towards the PAVE List because we recognize the need for context around these questions. There’s a lot of information about AV out there, but few of those informational pieces include the context necessary to get the full understanding of an issue. At Torc, we seek to marry context to this list of questions to provide insight on what’s myth, what’s possible, and what’s probable.
Kannan officially joins Torc’s executive leadership team to head financial operations in support of the company’s go-to-market strategy
BLACKSBURG, Va – March 14, 2024 – Torc Robotics, an independent subsidiary of Daimler Truck AG and a pioneer in commercializing self-driving vehicle technology, today announced the appointment of Richard Kannan as the organization’s new Chief Financial Officer. In his role, Kannan will manage all financial operations and lead the development of Torc’s overall financial strategy as it moves to bring its autonomous trucking technology to market. He will also oversee all reporting, enterprise risk management and compliance obligations for the business.
“Richard has proven himself to be an invaluable asset to Torc during his time as interim CFO, and I am thrilled to welcome him as a permanent member of our executive team,” said Peter Vaughan Schmidt, Torc Robotics’ CEO. “Richard helps shape our operational and business decisions using a data-driven approach. This will be essential as we work toward scalable market entry in 2027.”
After serving as interim CFO for Torc Robotics over the last several months, Kannan now becomes a permanent member of the executive leadership team. This prior integration empowered him to better understand and model Torc’s budgeting and forecasting for the business’s short- and long-term goals. It also provided invaluable context on the most significant reporting needs for the CEO, Board of Directors, and other key stakeholders.
“Being able to contribute to Torc’s vision of transforming the trucking industry with autonomous technology is an incredible opportunity, and one that I look forward to taking on as Chief Financial Officer,” said Kannan. “To collaborate with such smart people here at Torc, alongside our partner Daimler Truck AG, is an honor. I look forward to helping create value for our many stakeholders as we drive the future of freight.”
Spanning several industries during his career, Kannan generated multimillion-dollar cash flow and savings improvements. This timeframe included the pandemic and 2008 financial crisis. Kannan’s leadership style is nimble and data driven. With decades of prior experience coaching and mentoring teams in senior roles for General Electric and Genworth Financial, Kannan has lent his skills in the C-suite both as a fractional and full-time CFO for online retail companies spanning the U.S. He is a licensed CPA in the state of Virginia and holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
About Torc Robotics
Torc Robotics, headquartered in Blacksburg, Virginia, is an independent subsidiary of Daimler Truck AG, a global leader and pioneer in trucking. Founded in 2005 at the birth of the self-driving vehicle revolution, Torc has over 18 years of experience in pioneering safety-critical, self-driving applications. Torc offers a complete self-driving vehicle software and integration solution and is currently focusing on commercializing autonomous trucks for long-haul applications in the U.S. Torc operates test facilities in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and engineering offices in Austin, Texas; Stuttgart, Germany; and Montreal, Canada. Torc’s purpose is driving the future of freight with autonomous technology. As the world’s leading autonomous trucking solution, we empower exceptional employees, deliver a focused, hub-to-hub autonomous truck product, and provide our customers with the safest, most reliable, and cost-efficient solution to the market.
With 18 years of experience, Ramachandran will leverage her skillset in delivering complex integrated systems to lead the development and deployment of autonomous driving technology
BLACKSBURG, Va – March 7, 2024 – Torc Robotics, an independent subsidiary of Daimler Truck AG and a pioneer in commercializing self-driving vehicle technology, today announced the appointment of Bhuvana Ramachandran as the vice president of engineering in the Product Engineering and Release organization. In her role, Ramachandran will be responsible for developing a comprehensive approach to the safe development, systematic testing and deployment of autonomous driving technology in Level 4 freight trucks.
“Bhuvana’s background and expertise in AI-based autonomous vehicle solutions coupled with her passion for innovation will be crucial for us on our journey towards commercialization of autonomous trucking,” said Peter Vaughan Schmidt, Torc Robotics’ CEO. “Bhuvana is a seasoned leader in the industry, and we are fortunate to have her aboard the Torc Robotics team.”
Along with system level testing, Ramachandran will lead simulation validation, with a goal of building a realistic, high-fidelity virtual environment while meticulously replicating real-world driving scenarios, enabling rigorous qualification and refinement of self-driving algorithms and systems. Virtual validation allows for the systematic exploration of various road conditions, traffic scenarios and unexpected events, helping to uncover potential challenges and vulnerabilities in the autonomous system.
Having spent more than five years establishing the team and directing autonomous vehicle software quality for Zoox, Ramachandran’s expertise extends across various domains from networking hardware, embedded software for virtualization and data storage products, to artificial-intelligence-based autonomous vehicles and their validation. She has successfully led teams through the analysis and implementation of verification and validation processes for driverless operational design domains and has experience in orchestrating seamless product releases.
“Throughout my career, I have been dedicated to driving innovation, ensuring the highest quality in products, and fostering a collaborative engineering culture to achieve transformative results,” said Ramachandran. “Torc’s commitment to advancing autonomous technology in a safe and sustainable way aligns perfectly with my passion for pushing the boundaries of what is possible in engineering.”
For more information on Torc, please visit www.torc.ai.
About Torc Robotics
Torc Robotics, headquartered in Blacksburg, Virginia, is an independent subsidiary of Daimler Truck AG, a global leader and pioneer in trucking. Founded in 2005 at the birth of the self-driving vehicle revolution, Torc has over 18 years of experience in pioneering safety-critical, self-driving applications. Torc offers a complete self-driving vehicle software and integration solution and is currently focusing on commercializing autonomous trucks for long-haul applications in the U.S. Torc operates test facilities in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and engineering offices in Austin, Texas; Stuttgart, Germany; and Montreal, Canada. Torc’s purpose is driving the future of freight with autonomous technology. As the world’s leading autonomous trucking solution, we empower exceptional employees, deliver a focused, hub-to-hub autonomous truck product, and provide our customers with the safest, most reliable, and cost-efficient solution to the market.
Part 1 of 3 in Torc’s series about how to prepare for a career creating autonomous vehicles.
Imagine creating a machine that can perform all the complex decisions and behaviors that a human can while operating a motor vehicle.
A human driver on the highway at 70 mph must navigate safely to their destination all while tracking and adapting to multiple lanes of traffic. The driver has to adjust for the speed of surrounding vehicles, anticipate the actions of other drivers, zipper into traffic while entering and exiting the highway, and pay attention for variables like lane closures and construction – all while covering the length of a football field every three seconds.
Creating a system that is capable of all these capabilities is a complex task – one that requires a team of dedicated individuals to create the eyes, brain, and behaviors the system needs to handle all the unexpected corner cases on a road.
At Torc, we believe the challenge is worth taking on. AVs will allow more freedom and accessibility for travel, a more efficient way to move goods, and a much safer roadway.
Autonomous technology is developing so quickly that it’s difficult to create a roadmap, leaving a lot of aspiring engineers to wonder, “how do I become a self-driving vehicle engineer?”
In this three-part blog series, we’ll share experiences from current Torc engineers as well as general knowledge we’ve gained from 14 years in the autonomous vehicle business.
Develop core engineering knowledge and skills
We look for engineers who have built their knowledge around a solid foundation of engineering and software skills. What do we mean by core skills?
Critical thinking skills that will allow you to approach a problem from multiple angles
Core knowledge of how components interact so that you can anticipate how your role affects the entire system
An understanding of the best practices for software development
The ability to work with a team to bring a project from conception to execution
Many engineers who started at Torc have evolved their roles as the technology and projects have evolved. Their core skills allowed them to adapt to the ever-changing environment.
Build experience with academic projects and team competitions
In 2005, a small group of Virginia Tech engineering students entered their autonomous vehicles into a series of competitions and won. Inspired, they decided to form a company called TORC. From there, they partnered with more VT engineering students and entered the DARPA Challenges – now a legendary set of competitions that launched many of the AV companies today. Twelve years after the challenges, Torc is working with top companies in the public transportation, defense, and trucking industries to create Level 4 autonomous solutions that we believe will change the world.
Joining a team of dedicated people toward a common goal can jump-start your career in AV engineering.
Not in college yet? Try looking for FIRST Robotics Competitions and school projects in STEM. Seek out mentors and teachers in the field.
If you’re in college, join robotics projects and competitions in areas of your interest to build experience and progress with a team. Someday, these may be your future colleagues.
If you’re pursuing a secondary degree, consider a master’s project that pushes you to learn something specialized related to the field of autonomy.
Torc’s story exemplifies the power of joining a team to work toward solutions that have never been created before. We asked Torc engineers to talk about their journey working on autonomous systems and give advice to those looking to enter the world of AV engineering.
Scott Schlacter, Embedded and Controls Team Lead
The two major academic activities that shaped my desired to build robots was my participation in CUAir (a student-run competition team that builds unmanned aerial vehicles and competes at an annual AUVSI competition) and my work for the Autonomous Systems Laboratory during my senior year and graduate school.
My advice for someone who wants to work on self-driving vehicles would be to find as many people to learn from as you can and listen to them. No one person is going to have all the right answers, but if you can effectively combine as much knowledge as possible, you’ll get a leg up.
Parissa, Director of Operations
I started my career as an optical engineer, which was my undergrad degree. Then, I decided to do my master’s degree in Systems Engineering because I like seeing how everything comes together in the bigger picture. I was at my last job for about eight years, so I went from being an optical engineer to a project engineer, which is more of a systems engineering role.
When I came into Torc as a project manager, I was able to leverage that background of understanding the technical development and the big picture and planning side of things. Over the years, I have gone from managing the project managers to taking on a bigger role as Director of Operations. My role is leveraging a lot of my engineering background. I think understanding how the R&D engineering process works and how engineers would go about developing the system has helped me to see how all the different pieces work and put them all together.
David Anderson, Principal Mechnical Engineer
My first project in unmanned systems was in a CAD class as a junior at Virginia Tech. Our group project was to design the drive-by-wire steering system for Cliff, Virginia Tech’s entry vehicle for the 2004 DARPA Grand Challenge.
I continued working on the DARPA Challenges for my senior keystone design project and throughout my master’s work. I’m proud to say that everything visible on VT’s Urban Challenge vehicle “Odin” was my responsibility, from the paint scheme and sponsor logos, to all sensor mounts and interior bracketry.
Focused knowledge in your specific area of development (whether it be software, mechanical, wiring etc.) is critical to being successful. However, the ability to understand how the entire system works together is even more important. What does this system need to do to make it successful?In what situations does that sensor perform well, and in what situations is it not optimal?Then, how is that data communicated to the computer?
You will benefit from being able to see the “30,000-foot view” as well as drilling down to the specifics. This allows for the whole system to integrate with much more fluidity.
Rohit Salem, Software Engineer in Perception
I received my master’s degree in Robotics at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). Robotics is one of the most diverse fields one can find in engineering. If you are unsure of what specialization you’d like to work on (like I was), or which field of robotics you want to choose – because all of them are pretty darn cool – you have to try out a few different things.
I decided to explore one course for each specialization in the program. After doing those projects, I felt I was more inclined towards perception. Taking more courses and doing more projects in perception helped me land in an internship where I worked on deep-learning and perception. I’m continuing to work in the same field at Torc.
Next Steps – Languages and Skills
At Torc, we develop our own end-to-end software stack and integration solutions for every project we take on. This requires a diverse team with different skill sets and backgrounds to create the next level of transportation.
In part two of our blog series, we detail the specific teams that bring our autonomous projects to life and engineers explain which coding languages and skills will help you be successful as an autonomous vehicle engineer.
Looking for jobs in autonomous vehicles? You came to the right place. Torc is one of the most experienced autonomous software companies and we are growing our team of dedicated engineers. See our careers page for more and check out part two!
