Eight, self-driving trucks by former employees of Google, Apple and Tesla

The areas of application of self-driving cars are varied and also include transport services for the transfer of goods by road. One usage scenario that Otto, a newly established company and is headquartered in San Francisco, is looking forward to kicking off, specifically, a series of autonomous driving trucks on a test.

The company consists of a forty-person team, including former employees of Google, Apple, Tesla and Cruise Automation. Some of Google's former employees who have chosen to support the activities of Otto include well-known names such as Anthony Levandowski, historical figure of the Google team who carried out the project of self-driving cars, and Lior Ron, a former executive leading the division of Google Map.

Eight will not produce trucks with guider, but aims to develop "conversion kits" that can be installed on existing vehicles at service centers or directly at the car companies - this last chance, right now, it is subordinated to the company's ability to enter into partnerships with vehicle manufacturers.

The design of vehicles with guider of Eight agrees with that of the similar Google need to pursue the necessary testing, but, in view of the intended use of the vehicle, change the priorities. Unlike the Google cars, which has already enabled the tests within urban centers, Otto is focusing on the trucks on highways test, the typical path for this class of vehicles.

Preliminary tests involve the use of Volvo VNL 780 truck, but in the projects of Otto figure the use of vehicles of "Class 8", or the larger trucks and heavy that can travel the American highways. For completeness, it is noted that the trucks with self-driving developed by Otto require the presence of an operator on board the vehicle. The advantage compared to trucks without this guidance system is nonetheless appreciated because, on paper, can alleviate the driver's task particularly during long journeys.

Otto has not yet announced within as it plans to kick off the marketing of the above mentioned "conversion kits", or what it will cost to integrate the system of self-help in the trucks already on the market. Executives simply stating that the price will represent a small fraction of the value of a truck of $ 100,000-300,000.

As with other projects related to cars to autonomous driving, the transposition of the prototypes into commercial products passes through a long phase of testing and to require them to combine new technologies with all regulations that restrict the movement of vehicles on the road. From this last point of view, Otto should not to encounter special problems in the United States, since, as said, to the autonomous driving truck that is developing require the presence of an operator on board.