embark's self-driving trucks want to ease drivers fatigue

embark—a developer of self-driving technologies for commercial transportation—announced that they have raised USD$15 million following their launch earlier this year. the company’s technology allows trucks to drive completely autonomously from exit to exit on the freeway without the need of human touch. to do so, the trucks use a combination of radars, cameras, and depth sensors to become aware of the world around them. 

the truck will drive itself on the freeway and by a driver once they reach the city 

embark’s self-driving trucks would drive themselves only during the freeway, where the roads tend to be more predictable and with less potential for unexpected obstacles like cyclists and pedestrians. this is also the part of the trip where drivers are most vulnerable to distraction and drowsiness. once they reach the city, the professional driver will take over and navigate the truck.

the trucks use a combination of radars, cameras, and depth sensors to become aware of the world around them

‘self-driving vehicles will completely change how we organize our roads, our cities, and our lives,’ says embark. ‘this technology promises to save lives, reduce emissions, and free up billions of hours for better working, playing and living. while most of the spectacle has been around passenger vehicles, we believe that commercial trucking, the backbone of our economy, stands to reap untold benefits by deploying automated trucks – particularly during the long haul stretches.’

the startup just raised USD$15 million

embark is currently testing a level 2 autopilot system

the garage where the trucks are being built