Torc and Daimler executives celebrate the formation of a technical powerhouse for automated trucks (March 29, 2019). From left: Ritchie Huang, Executive Manager -Advanced Safety Systems and Autonomous Driving for Daimler AG; Andrew Culhane, Director of Corporate Strategy and Automative Program Manager at Torc Robotics; Wilfried Achenbach, Senior Vice President of Engineering and Technology, Daimler Trucks, North America; Ben Hastings, Chief Technology Officer for Torc Robotics; Roger Nielsen, CEO, Daimler Trucks, North America; Michael Fleming, CEO of Torc Robotics; Peter Vaughan Schmidt, Head of Daimler Trucks Strategy and Head of Highly Automated Driving Project; John O’Leary, CFO, Daimler Trucks, North America; Greg Reiter, COO/CFO at Torc Robotics; and Michael Avitabile, Engineering Manager at Torc Robotics.
BLACKSBURG/STUTTGART/PORTLAND— Daimler Trucks, a division in the Daimler Group, the inventor of the truck and world’s largest manufacturer of heavy and medium trucks, and Torc Robotics, a pioneer in autonomous driving solutions, are joining forces in a one-of-a-kind combination to commercialize highly automated trucks (SAE Level 4) on U.S. roads. Going beyond an OEM/supplier relationship, the companies signed an agreement today for Daimler AG’s subsidiary Daimler Trucks and Buses Holding Inc., to acquire a majority stake in Torc Robotics for an undisclosed sum. Closing of the acquisition is subject to approval from U.S. authorities.
Michael Fleming, Founder of Torc Robotics, Martin Daum, Member of the Board of Management Daimler AG, responsible for Trucks and Buses, and Roger Nielsen, CEO of Daimler Trucks North America LLC, announced the strategic move today at Torc headquarters in Blacksburg, Virginia.
“With the ever rising demand for road transportation, not the least through e-commerce, there is a strong business case for self-driving trucks in the U.S. market and I believe the fastest path to commercialization for self-driving trucks is in partnership with Daimler Trucks, the OEM market leader. This move is in line with our mission of saving lives and represents another major milestone for Torc since crossing the finish line in the DARPA Urban Challenge 12 years ago,” said Michael Fleming, CEO of Torc.
“Bringing Torc Robotics within the Daimler Trucks family creates a unique and powerful team of innovators to put highly automated trucks on the road. Daimler Trucks and Torc Robotics complement each other perfectly in terms of resources, expertise, and skill sets. We are forming the ideal combination between Torc’s expertise on agile software development and our experience in delivering reliable and safe truck hardware,” said Martin Daum, Member of the Board of Management Daimler AG, responsible for Trucks and Buses. “Together, we will provide a sustainable way for our customers to meet the ever-growing freight demand and benefit both the economy and society,” he said.
“Torc is not a start-up, but one of the world’s most experienced companies for vehicle automation. Torc takes a practical approach to commercialization and offers advanced, road-ready technology, plus years of experience in heavy vehicles. Torc’s Level 4 system has been shown to operate well for both urban and highway driving in rain, snow, fog, and sunshine,” said Roger Nielsen, CEO of Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA), which includes the market-leading Freightliner brand.
As part of the overall agreements, the Torc team will work closely with Daimler Trucks’ developers, particularly with the Research & Development team of Daimler Trucks North America in Portland, Oregon. Torc will continue to develop its Asimov self-driving software and testing at its Blacksburg facility. At the same time, DTNA will focus on further evolving automated driving technology and vehicle integration for heavy-duty trucks at its Automated Truck Research & Development Center in Portland. The Daimler team is working on a truck chassis perfectly suited for automated driving, particularly the redundancy of systems needed to provide the maximum level of reliability and safety.
Under the agreement, Torc will remain a separate entity retaining its name, team, existing customers, and facilities in Blacksburg. The partnership with Daimler Trucks will enable Torc to expand significantly its team, engage into the trucking market and service its growing customer base in other markets.
Continued strong collaboration with Mercedes-Benz Cars
In addition to the partnership with Torc, Daimler Trucks will continue to work very closely across the Daimler Group for maximum synergies regarding automated vehicle technology. Specifically, Daimler Trucks is drawing on the activities and experiences of Mercedes-Benz Cars regarding sensor technology and operational aspects of vehicle automation.
Daimler Trucks pioneer of automated trucks
Daimler Trucks is the pioneer of truck automation. Its global business includes not only Daimler AG in Germany, but other companies worldwide, including Daimler Trucks North America LLC in the U.S. In 2014, the world’s leading truck manufacturer presented the Mercedes-Benz Future Truck 2025, the world’s first automated truck, and was the first to demonstrate the technological opportunities and great potential that automated trucks offer the economy and society.
In 2015, Daimler’s Freightliner Inspiration Truck obtained the first-ever road license for a partially automated commercial vehicle and the world premiere of the Mercedes-Benz Actros with Highway Pilot took place on public roads.
Level 2 automated driving now a reality at Daimler Trucks
With Active Drive Assist (Mercedes-Benz Actros, FUSO Super Great) and Detroit Assurance 5.0 with Active Lane Assist (Freightliner Cascadia), Daimler Trucks is the first to bring partially automated driving features (SAE level 2) into series production. The new system can independently brake, accelerate and steer. Unlike systems that only work above a certain speed, Active Drive Assist / Detroit Assurance 5.0 make partially automated driving possible in all speed ranges for the driver, also another first in a series production truck. This revolutionary active lateral and longitudinal assistance package is powered by a new state-of-the art radar and camera fusion system.
About Torc Robotics
Torc Robotics, headquartered in Blacksburg, Virginia, offers a complete autonomous software solution for mobility applications including self-driving cars and transit vehicles by working with partners in automotive, transit and technology. Torc also provides self-driving technology in safety-critical applications, including defense, mining, and agriculture. Founded in 2005, Torc has integrated its self-driving solutions on ground vehicles ranging from SUVs to 300-ton mining trucks. The company employs around 100 people.
Torc has tested its on-road and traffic capabilities in demo self-driving cars that successfully logged robotic testing in more than 20 states while operating on both public roads and closed courses with zero accidents. The testing included a coast-to-coast trip across the United States and extensive driving in densely-packed streets such as those located in Las Vegas, Nevada. Torc’s inclement weather capabilities were featured at CES 2019.
Michael Fleming, CEO of Torc Robotics, and Roger Nielsen of Daimler Trucks North America announce an agreement for Daimler Trucks to acquire a majority stake in Torc to commercialize highly automated (Level 4) trucks. (March 29, 2019)
Las Vegas (USA) – January 7, 2019 – Torc Robotics, a leading autonomous technology provider, and Transdev, operator and global integrator of mobility solutions, are partnering on a fully autonomous shuttle platform. The partners are integrating Torc’s L4 Asimov self-driving software into the i-Cristal’s embedded intelligence system.
The companies announced their partnership Monday during a news conference at CES19 in Las Vegas, with accompanying video showing on-road testing in France.
Torc is licensing its Asimov self-driving software stack and sensor suite architecture for the i- Cristal autonomous shuttle. The partners agree that shuttles and smaller vehicles will provide complementary mobility to existing public transportation networks around the world. The shuttles also provide an ideal opportunity to introduce autonomous vehicles into public use.
“Our partnership brings together two companies with a similar vision for the future of autonomous mobility,” says Michael Fleming, Torc CEO. “We believe that shared mobility will be one of the cornerstone applications that lead the way to mass adoption of self-driving consumer vehicles.”
Transdev, through its global Autonomous Transport System (ATS by Transdev), is providing its supervision system, connected infrastructure and client application, and embedded technology. The companies say their first priority is to ensure the safety and comfort of passengers as well as provide high-quality service.
The Transdev/Lohr i-Cristal electric shuttles are SAE Level 4 (fully-autonomous in select areas) and operate without a steering wheel or pedals. The integration of this latest technology will allow i-Cristal to seamlessly blend into urban traffic while maintaining the highest safety standards at speeds of up to 19 mph/30 kph.
“At Transdev, we believe the future of mobility is increasingly P.A.C.E.: Personalized, Autonomous, Connected and Eco-Friendly,” says Yann Leriche, Transdev’s North America CEO and Head of Autonomous Transportation Systems. “We believe that public transport will lead and be the first place real autonomous services will be developed. With Torc’s expertise in autonomous technology, we will accelerate our capability to develop innovative solutions.”
The i-Cristal autonomous shuttle was first unveiled in September 2018 by Transdev and Lohr, a leading French industrial company with more than 50 years of worldwide industrial experience in manufacturing vehicles. The i-Cristal has a maximum capacity of 16 passengers and is designed for ease of access, interior design, and passenger experience.
The partners have already begun testing on closed courses, while testing on public roads will proceed after obtaining successive safety authorizations and before providing public service trials in two locations in France: Paris-Saclay1 and Rouen2.
In Paris-Saclay, the shuttles will operate in a dedicated lane offering a shared-ride mobility service at night and off-peak hours between the Massy transit station and the Paris-Saclay campus. In Rouen, the shuttles will operate on public roads offering a shared-ride mobility service throughout the business park and connecting to the tramway station.
The objective is to integrate fleets of autonomous i-Cristal shuttles into existing Transdev public transportation networks as a complement to extend the geographical coverage or time schedule.
The Torc and Transdev partnership combines the expertise of one of the oldest autonomous technology firms and one of the world’s largest mobility providers.
Torc has been developing self-driving vehicle technology since 2005 in on-road and off-road applications. Most recently, the company has implemented its Asimov self-driving car technology in Lexus RX and Chrysler Pacifica vehicles. The vehicles successfully logged robotic testing in more than 20 U.S. states while operating on both public roads and closed courses with zero accidents. Torc’s autonomous vehicle technology has successfully navigated heavy urban traffic, aggressive tailgating, heavy rains, snow and highway detours.
“Ultimately our goal with developing self-driving technology is to save lives and make transportation more affordable and efficient,” Fleming says.
Transdev, which provides 11 million passenger trips per day, operates in 20 countries and is committed to leading the way in mobility services by using fleets of shared autonomous vehicles that meet the highest standards for safety, quality of service and customer experience. With 3.5 million passengers transported in autonomous shuttles and 1.6 million km (1 million miles) traveled across Australia, Canada, France, Netherlands and the United States, Transdev is the leader in operating shared autonomous mobility services.
“We are committed to testing out new kinds of mobility and giving our customers the best possible solutions to meet their travel needs”, Leriche says. “With autonomous transport services, we aim to develop flexible, clean and accessible mobility solutions to empower passengers to move freely.”
Torc Robotics, headquartered in Blacksburg, Virginia, offers a complete autonomous software solution for mobility applications like self-driving cars and transit by working with partners in automotive, transit and technology. Torc also provides self-driving technology in safety-critical environments like defense, mining, and agriculture. Founded in 2005, Torc has integrated its self- driving solutions on ground vehicles ranging from SUVs to 300-ton mining trucks.
Torc’s self-driving cars successfully logged robotic testing in more than 20 states while operating on both public roads and closed courses with zero accidents. The testing included a coast-to- coast trip across the United States and extensive driving in densely-packed streets such as those located in Las Vegas, Nevada. Torc recently announced a new demo platform with commercially viable components implemented on a Chrysler Pacifica. For more information: torc.ai
About Transdev
As an operator and global integrator of mobility, Transdev – the mobility company – gives people the freedom to move whenever and however they choose. Transdev is proud to provide 11 million passenger trips everyday thanks to efficient, easy to use and environmentally-friendly transportation services that connect people and communities. The company’s approach is rooted in long-term partnerships with businesses and public authorities, and in the relentless pursuit of the safest and most innovative mobility solutions. Transdev has 82,000 employees in 20 countries and generated total revenues of 6.6 billion euros in 2017. For more information: www.transdev.com
BLACKSBURG, VA – Santa’s reindeer aren’t the only ones nimbly navigating snowy roads.
Torc Robotics challenged its Asimov self-driving software system by driving multiple routes in the Blacksburg area during a snowstorm. The trips included everything from highways to downtown streets and country roads.
Driving in snow can be treacherous for even the most experienced driver.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, 24 percent of weather-related crashes occur on snowy, slushy or icy pavement.
Torc’s self-driving software system was successful despite snow-covered road markings, tracks from previous vehicles that weren’t centered in the lane, and frozen precipitation that obscured the roof-mounted cameras. Torc’s sensor system also was able to distinguish falling snow from actual objects in the road.
Torc has been developing self-driving vehicle technology since 2005. The company previously implemented its technology in two Lexus RX vehicles, nicknamed Asimov. The vehicles successfully logged robotic testing in more than 20 states while operating on both public roads and closed courses with zero accidents. Torc’s autonomous vehicle technology has successfully navigated heavy urban traffic, aggressive tailgating, heavy rains, snow and highway detours.
Torc’s technology is based on commercially-proven systems the team has developed over the past decade for safety-critical applications such as mining and defense.
About Torc Robotics
Torc Robotics, headquartered in Blacksburg, Virginia, offers a complete autonomous software solution for mobility applications like self-driving cars and transit by working with partners in automotive, transit and technology. Torc also provides self-driving technology in safety-critical environments like defense, mining, and agriculture. Founded in 2005, Torc has integrated its self-driving solutions on ground vehicles ranging from SUVs to 300-ton mining trucks.
Torc’s self-driving cars, nicknamed Asimov, successfully logged robotic testing in more than 20 states while operating on both public roads and closed courses with zero accidents. The testing included a coast-to-coast trip across the United States and extensive driving in densely-packed streets such as those located in Las Vegas, Nevada. Torc recently announced a new demo platform with commercially viable components implemented on a Chrysler Pacifica.
Video compiled using footage from Torc team members’ cameras, cell phones, and Asimov’s roof-mounted camera.
Torc Robotics, a self-driving technology company, and Transdev, an operator and global mobility provider, will be making an announcement at CES19.
A press conference will be held during a Media Days Power Session at 9 a.m. Monday, January 7 in Mandalay Bay, Level 3, Palm A. The companies are also scheduling joint media interviews following the press conference.
Torc is exhibiting its technology at booth 1801 in the Westgate Pavilion and Transdev is exhibiting at booth R421 in Tech East – Westgate.
To schedule a joint interview following the press conference or an interview with Torc, please contact Sara Hansen at press@torc.ai. To schedule an interview with Transdev, please contact: Coralee Renard at coralie.renard@transdev.com.
About Torc Robotics
Torc Robotics, headquartered in Blacksburg, Virginia, offers a complete autonomous software solution for mobility applications like self-driving cars and transit by working with partners in automotive, transit and technology. Torc also provides self-driving technology in safety-critical environments like defense, mining, and agriculture. Founded in 2005, Torc has integrated its self-driving solutions on ground vehicles ranging from SUVs to 300-ton mining trucks.
Torc’s self-driving demo cars, nicknamed Asimov, successfully logged robotic testing in more than 20 states while operating on both public roads and closed courses with zero accidents. The testing included a coast-to-coast trip across the United States and extensive driving in densely-packed streets such as those located in Las Vegas, Nevada. Torc recently announced a new demo platform with commercially viable components implemented on a Chrysler Pacifica. For more information: torc.ai
About Transdev
As an operator and global integrator of mobility, Transdev – the mobility company – gives people the freedom to move whenever and however they choose. Transdev is proud to provide 11 million passenger trips everyday thanks to efficient, easy to use and environmentally-friendly transportation services that connect people and communities. The company’s approach is rooted in long-term partnerships with businesses and public authorities, and in the relentless pursuit of the safest and most innovative mobility solutions. Transdev has 82,000 employees in 20 countries and generated total revenues of 6.6 billion euros in 2017. For more information: www.transdev.com
BLACKSBURG, VA – Torc Robotics and AAA Northern California, Nevada & Utah have pitted Torc’s self-driving system against some of the most unpredictable traffic hazards in their effort to develop and evaluate safety criteria for self-driving vehicles.
During two weeks in November, the partners challenged Torc’s Asimov self-driving system in scenarios that included pedestrians, cyclists, and animals in a safe, controlled environment at Ohio’s Transportation Research Center (TRC). The scenarios simulated the complexity of actual driving situations, such as driving at night, handling complex intersections that include pedestrians or debris, and maneuvering around multiple vehicles on the road.
The challenges were designed using robotic pedestrians, animals, and dummy vehicles. The data is being studied from multiple perspectives to understand how to evaluate self-driving vehicles and how to determine safety metrics.
“The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports human error is a contributing factor in 94 percent of crashes. We see the potential to nearly eliminate traffic accidents by leveraging self-driving vehicles, but only if they are deployed in a safe way,” says Tim Condon, President & CEO of AAA Northern California, Nevada & Utah, who also oversees operations for AAA in Alaska, Arizona, Montana and Wyoming. “By developing a safety assessment for self-driving vehicles and testing them before they are deployed on public roads, we can help technology providers to focus on delivering safety and building the public’s confidence in this new technology.”
The biggest question for commercializing self-driving vehicles on public roads is when will they be safe enough and what safe enough looks like, according to Torc CEO Michael Fleming. “Torc’s mission is to save lives through the commercialization of our Asimov self-driving software stack.”
Asimov driving at night.
The ultimate goal of AAA Northern California, Nevada & Utah is to provide an unbiased, independent assessmentof self-driving vehicles and to help manufacturers improve safety before public deployment. AAA Northern California, Nevada & Utah is seeking additional partners in the industry willing to collaborate to achieve this goal.
In addition to its partnership with AAA Northern California, Nevada & Utah, Torc will use the data from the Ohio challenges to push its system capabilities and to seek challenging corner cases as part of its ongoing commitment to develop the safest system for the road. “Since our 2005 founding in the DARPA Challenges, Torc has been stress testing our self-driving software stack in some of the most challenging environments in the world,” Fleming says. “Disruptive technologies are not invented in short order and we are positioned to disrupt the mobility space.”
Torc has converted more than 100 vehicle platforms to autonomous or teleoperation for real-world testing and use. The company’s self-driving vehicle technology has successfully navigated heavy urban traffic, aggressive tailgating, heavy rains, snow and highway detours. The company is commercializing self-driving car technology with automotive, transit, and technology partners in multiple countries.
About Torc Robotics
Torc Robotics, headquartered in Blacksburg, Virginia, offers a complete autonomous software solution for mobility applications like self-driving cars and transportation – working partners in automotive, transit, and technology. Torc also provides self-driving technology in safety-critical environments like defense, mining, and agriculture. Founded in 2005, Torc has integrated its self-driving solutions on ground vehicles ranging from SUVs to 300-ton mining trucks. Torc’s self-driving demo cars, nicknamed Asimov, successfully logged robotic testing in more than 20 states while operating on both public roads and closed courses with zero accidents. The testing included a coast-to-coast trip across the United States and extensive driving in densely-packed streets such as those located in Las Vegas, Nevada. Torc recently announced a new demo platform with commercially viable components implemented on a Chrysler Pacifica.
About AAA Northern California, Nevada & Utah
AAA Northern California, Nevada & Utah offers a wide array of automotive and DMV services, and discounts to almost 6 million members. For more than 100 years, AAA Northern California, Nevada & Utah has been dedicated to saving lives on the road by focusing on traffic safety. As the mobility landscape evolves, it works to ensure self-driving vehicle safety and build consumer confidence by partnering with Keolis and the City of Las Vegas to launch the nation’s first public self-driving shuttle in downtown Las Vegas. It also just assumed management and operation of GoMentum Station, one of the largest testing facilities for self-driving vehicles in the U.S., with the ultimate goal of developing it into a premier Autonomous Vehicle testing facility for industries, academia, cities, and transportation agencies; and revolutionizing mobility for the next hundred years.
About Transportation Research Center
Transportation Research Center Inc. (TRC Inc.) has provided turnkey testing solutions to the automotive industry for over 40 years, and continues to provide 24/7, comprehensive services for passive and active safety, efficiency, durability and performance, at their home site in East Liberty, Ohio. Through our history of working hand-in-hand with OEMs, Suppliers and Technology Companies, TRC Inc. has kept pace with technological advancements in the automotive industry, through the development and deployment of Airbags and Electronic Stability Control, and is excited to apply this depth of experience to the next great revolution in mobility. TRC Inc. continues this history by providing tailored solutions for the evaluation and validation of Automated Driving Systems.
