Ex-Google Engineers Form Startup to Develop Kit for Autonomous Driving Trucks
Otto, a startup led by former Google engineers, is working on getting the millions of trucks already on the road to drive themselves.
Founded by former Google engineers with employees from Tesla and Amazon, the San Francisco-based company is developing an autonomous driving aftermarket kit for trucks. The firm already has several trucks on the road testing the technology.
“We are developing a suite of sensors, software and truck enhancements coming together in a product that can be quickly outfitted on existing trucks," the company wrote on its website. "Testing the technology is currently underway on highways with our research fleet, and we recently completed an autonomous demo of the technology on a public highway.”
The company finished the first extensive test of its trucks May 14-15 on public highways in Nevada, where the state’s regulations allow the autonomous technology for big-rigs, the Associated Press reported.
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“We intend to enhance the capabilities of the Otto truck, collect safety data to demonstrate its benefits and bring this technology to every corner of the U.S. highway system,” the company said.
Otto is looking for 1,000 volunteer professional truck drivers to have the kits installed on their cabs, at no cost to them, to help fine-tune the technology, according to AP.
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“To speed the adoption of self-driving technology, we began by equipping existing trucks on the road with our unique self-driving kit, designed to empower truck drivers to drive more safely and efficiently,” Otto said.
