New company to embark on autonomous driving

Embark is a US company that is aiming to challenge Uber’s Otto in the world of autonomous trucks

Another young company in the US is heading down the autonomous highway.

Embark is currently running trucks that drive themselves, but the company doesn't want its technology to replace drivers, it wants to work with them.

According to Embark, the trucks will drive autonomously from on-ramp to off-ramp or on long and boring stretches of highway. Then, when things get busy, the human driver will take over.

"The long haul stretches of open interstate between cities tend to be the most predictable, with less potential for unexpected obstacles like cyclists and pedestrians," says the company's website.

"It’s also where professional drivers are most vulnerable to distraction and drowsiness. An existing truck, equipped with the right sensors and the right software, can safely navigate this stretch without succumbing to boredom or tiredness. The human driver’s time and energy would be much better spent doing other things.

"Getting back into the city — where there are more obstacles, more congestion, more unexpected construction — the professional driver will take over and safely navigate the truck to its final destination."

Embark’s truck uses a combination of radars, cameras and depth sensors known as LiDARs to perceive the world around it. The millions of data points from these sensors are processed using a form of artificial intelligence known as Deep Neural Nets (or DNNs) that allow the truck to learn from its own experience—much like humans learn from practice.

Embark is already authorised to run its trucks in Navada and says that when the legislation is ready, Embark-equipped trucks will be running all over the country

"Autonomous vehicles will completely change how we organise our roads, our cities, and our lives. This technology promises to save lives, reduce emissions, and free up billions of hours for better working, playing, and living," the company says.

"Embark is working to make the self-driving future a reality," it concluded.

New company to embark on autonomous driving

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