Daimler AG unit Torc Robotics said on Wednesday it has picked Amazon’s cloud computing division for handling a huge amount of data in real-time as it prepares to test self-driving test trucks in New Mexico and Virginia.
Purchased by Daimler in 2019, Torc is developing level 4 autonomous technology – where the automobile operates itself under specific operating conditions – which Daimler Trucks believes will fundamentally modify the trucking and logistics business.
“The problem we’re trying to solve is the most difficult technical problem of our generation,” Torc Chief Executive Michael Fleming informed Reuters. “In order to solve that, you must partner with the best in class.”
Torc’s software collects and processes huge volumes of raw data from multiple sensors such as lidar, radar, and cameras on its self-driving trucks. Amazon Web Services (AWS) will provide engineers with tools to design tests and run simulations, the two companies stated.
The tests on Torc’s second generation of trucks will start this quarter.
Self-driving technology for freight trucks has caught the attention of investors as it should be easier and cheaper to present than in self-driving cars and robotaxis, while offering a clearer path to profitability.
Self-driving freight services run on fixed routes between predefined points – mainly on major highways without intersections or pedestrians. That needs far less mapping than shuttling consumers between random points in robotaxis.
Wendy Bauer, global head of automotive at AWS, said 90% of the cloud computing division’s innovations come from working with consumers and by partnering with Torc that will push the company to further advance their service offering.
Amazon has invested in self-driving software startup Aurora and looks forward to a major role in self-driving technology, connected cars, electric vehicles, and management of the data generated by automakers and drivers.
In December, AWS and BlackBerry said they have developed a cloud-based software platform for helping automakers standardize vehicle data and quickly deploy revenue-generating services.
And BMW has built a data hub with AWS to improve performance.
