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.
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.
Our self-driving semi-trucks are currently on the road in a testing capacity. With a just-in-case safety driver behind the wheel and a safety conductor in the passenger seat, our trucks are driving through Arizona, Virginia, New Mexico, and Texas.
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!
(Blacksburg, Va./Stuttgart, Germany – January 16, 2023) – As Torc Robotics and Daimler Truck AG enter their fifth year of partnership, the companies are focused on bringing top talent into the organization and building and innovating through industry collaboration and partnerships. The goal of the collaboration is to commercialize Level 4 autonomous trucks for long-haul applications closer to a reality in the U.S.
“Over the past four years, we have seen the results of our strong collaboration with Daimler Truck and look forward to continuing to build upon the momentum and successes to bring us closer to the clear path of commercialization and safe deployment of autonomous trucks for long-haul applications,” said Peter Vaughan Schmidt, Torc Robotics CEO.
Joanna Buttler, Head of Global Autonomous Technology Group at Daimler Truck, adds: “Working with Torc, we have always managed to combine our ideas for the right solutions. The result is a fully integrated state-of-the-art autonomous truck that can safely handle highly complex traffic situations. In this spirit of authoring the future, we are looking forward to bringing SAE Level 4 autonomous trucks for hub-to-hub operations to the US market by 2027 together.”
Milestones
Team Growth
Over the past year, Torc has brought on some of the brightest innovators in the autonomous technology space with the goal of continuing to build out a dynamic leadership team that positions Torc and Daimler as leaders in autonomous driving system development, innovation, and fleet testing.
King joins as Chief Engineering Officer
In May, C.J. King joined the Torc leadership team as chief engineering officer. King, who was previously vice president of software engineering at HERE Technologies, brings more than 18 years of engineering, software, hardware, and autonomous expertise to the company. His leadership is driving the unification of all Torc’s engineering efforts to align with the company’s roadmap and key milestones. King’s experience on a global scale also supports Torc’s engineering team in its preparations for the commercial launch of Torc’s autonomous truck solution. King has extensive expertise in product development, managing global, diverse teams, technology optimizations, and new-system implementations as a result of his previous roles at HERE Technologies, Amazon, Ford, and Toyota.
Scanlon joins as Vice President of Product Management
In August, Sheila Scanlon joined Torc as the new vice president of product management. Scanlon brings over 20 years of experience in the technology and autonomous driving industry to the Torc team. In her role, she works alongside Torc leadership to foster a customer-centric culture and data-driven mindset, leading the product planning and prioritization activities in alignment with engineering. Scanlon’s experience covers a broad range of applications across the autonomous driving space, including leadership roles at Aptiv, HERE Technologies, Mercedes Benz, and RRAI.
Capabilities and Technology
Torc acquires leader in computer vision and machine learning
In an effort to strengthen core competencies required for commercialization of Level 4 autonomous trucking, Torc acquired Algolux, a leader in computer vision and machine learning, in February 2022. The acquisition brought together Algolux’s end-to-end artificial intelligence (AI) stack, along with Torc’s groundbreaking autonomous-driving technology. Robust perception technology is key to helping Torc’s autonomous system correctly identify objects during difficult visual conditions such as low light, fog or bad weather. Algolux’s software is currently running on autonomous ready Freightliner Cascadia test vehicles.
Partnerships and Collaboration
Torc and C.R. England join forces on long-haul autonomous trucking pilots
Early this year, Torc announced a strategic collaboration with C.R. England, one of North America’s premier transportation companies. The partnership allows Torc to implement a pilot program leveraging C.R. England’s temperature-controlled loads and Torc’s fleet of Level 4 autonomous test trucks for long-haul applications. The collaboration is Torc’s first expansion into refrigerated freight. The pilot will provide select customers with temperature-controlled capacity and world-class service, while giving unique insights to help guide the development and ongoing commercialization of autonomous trucks for long-haul applications.
Dutch organization joins Torc for scenario-based safety validation
In late 2022, Torc announced a partnership with the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) that would allow Torc and TNO to work together to substantiate the safety of self-driving trucks using scenario-based safety validation. TNO’s StreetWise, a safety validation methodology based on a real-world scenario database, provides a large collection of “driving events” designed to test and validate autonomous driving systems’ performance according to the latest safety requirements. The resulting scenario information enables Torc to apply thorough, virtual validation, according to state-of-the-art international safety assessment processes.
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.
About Daimler Truck Daimler Truck is the pioneer of truck automation. 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 customers and society. In 2015, Daimler’s Freightliner Inspiration Truck obtained the first-ever road license for a partially automated commercial vehicle demonstrating the promise of automated driving on the highways of Nevada. Today, Daimler Truck offers partially automated driving features (SAE Level 2) with the Mercedes-Benz Actros, the Freightliner Cascadia and the FUSO Super Great.
Daimler Truck North America has developed the autonomous-ready Freightliner Cascadia – the foundation of a smart autonomous driving system. The Class 8 truck is equipped with redundant functions that enable the deployment of autonomous trucking and are ideal for the integration of autonomous software, hardware, and compute. Designed and developed with a second set of critical systems, such as steering and braking, the vehicle meets Daimler Truck’s uncompromising safety standards. As part of the Autonomous Technology Group, DTNA is also researching the infrastructure required for the operational testing of initial application cases. DTNA is contributing to the successful development of autonomous driving technology and vehicle integration for heavy-duty trucks.
Our first market-available generation of self-driving trucks will exclusively drive on highway roads and interstates. Our Torc trucks are targeting middle mile journeys, or any route over 250 miles in length. We’ve identified this as the scalable, commercially viable choice for our technology.
Torc is pleased to announce we have been named a winner of Glassdoor’s 16th annual Employees’ Choice Awards, honoring the Best Places to Work 2024 in the category of Small and Medium Businesses. Unlike other workplace awards, the Glassdoor Employees’ Choice Awards are based on the input of employees who voluntarily provide anonymous feedback on Glassdoor by completing acompany review about their job, work environment and employer over the past year.
“Without our results-driven team, our purpose to drive the future of freight with autonomous technology wouldn’t be a reality. I’m proud of the award-winning team we have here at Torc and look forward to continuing to provide exceptional workplace experiences for our team members,” commented Marnie Young, Torc’s Chief People Officer. “As life at work is constantly evolving, this recognition symbolizes our commitment to efficiency and safety both at work and on the road.”
The news comes on the heels of strategic new hires to the Torc Robotics team over the last year including Summer Craze Fowler, Chief Information Security Officer (CISO); Sheila Scanlon, Vice President of Product Management; and C.J. King, Chief Engineering Officer.
“Worklife is rapidly changing, and professionals are turning to Glassdoor to share their experiences about working for some of the most competitive employers in the world,” said Christian Sutherland-Wong, Glassdoor Chief Executive Officer. “The Best Places to Work award is a stark reminder of the power of Glassdoor, from arming professionals with career insights and real-time conversations about all things work and life, to providing employers with feedback to improve. Glassdoor has evolved to make sure that transparency isn’t a fad, but rather, a foundational component in the future of work.”
When employeessubmit reviewsabout their employer on Glassdoor, they are asked to share their opinions on some of the best reasons to work for their employer (pros), any downsides (cons) and are encouraged to provide advice to management. In addition, employees are asked to rate how satisfied they are with their employer overall, rate their CEO and key workplace attributes including career opportunities, compensation and benefits, culture and values, diversity and inclusion, senior management and work-life balance. Employees are also asked whether they would recommend their employer to a friend and whether they believe their employer’s six-month business outlook is positive, negative or if they have no opinion.
Employees’ Choice Award winners for the Best Places to Work 2024 are determined using Glassdoor’s proprietary awards algorithm, and each employer’s rating is determined based on the quantity, quality and consistency of Glassdoor-approved company reviews submitted by U.S.-based employees between October 18, 2022 and October 16, 2023. To be considered for the U.S. small and medium company list, a company must have had fewer than 1,000 employees and received at least 30 ratings across each of Glassdoor’s nine workplace attributes (overall company rating, career opportunities, compensation and benefits, culture and values, diversity and inclusion, senior management, work-life balance, recommend to a friend and six-month business outlook).
The final list is compiled using Glassdoor’s proprietary algorithm, led by itsEconomic Research Team, and considers quantity, quality and consistency of reviews. Complete awards methodology can be foundhere.
For the complete list of the Glassdoor Best Places to Work winners in 2024, please visit: gldr.co/BPTWSMB.
Some quotes from our Glassdoor reviews and valued colleagues!
“Best place I have ever worked”
“Great company culture, great benefits, people are driven/kind/ care for others, safety culture, working on exciting technology, hybrid work environment.”
“Outstanding People”
“People are very approachable and welcoming. Your thoughts and ideas are considered and your opinions are valued. State of the art development so a big area for personal growth.”
“Nerds: you have found your people.”
“Lots of incredibly neat projects, Never a dull moment. Most people genuinely care about the work they’re doing and the quality of the product. Flexible hours as long as you’re working effectively. You can walk up to anyone’s desk and ask a question: no need to communicate through an unwieldy branching management structure. This place is a nerd trap. Nerds: you have found your people. Welcome to the club of like-minded and extremely interesting individuals.”
