Daimler autonomous subsidiary Torc Robotics enters Michigan

Torc Robotics has expanded its autonomous truck testing to public roads in Michigan, marking the latest step in its push toward commercializing self-driving technology for long-haul freight.

The company has begun testing in the greater Ann Arbor area using its latest-generation autonomous system integrated on a Daimler Truck chassis based on the Freightliner Cascadia, according to today’s Torc release. The Michigan deployment builds on Torc’s existing public-road testing operations in Dallas-Fort Worth and Blacksburg, Va.

Torc opened an engineering office in Ann Arbor last year, according to the release. The move to public-road testing in Michigan allows the company to validate its next-generation software and hardware in new environments and seasonal conditions.

The expansion is supported by ongoing collaboration with the Michigan Economic Development Corp., the Michigan Department of Transportation and Ann Arbor SPARK, according to the release. In addition to its headquarters in Virginia and Michigan engineering office, Torc operates a fleet operations facility in Texas.

Torc, an independent subsidiary of Daimler Truck, focuses on developing autonomous trucking solutions for hub-to-hub, long-haul applications in the United States, according to the release. Michigan testing will help validate its artificial intelligence models, improve simulation accuracy and advance safety and reliability goals ahead of commercialization.