Aeva delivers LiDAR technology for autonomous Daimler trucks

Daimler Truck has selected Aeva as the LiDAR supplier for the series production of autonomous trucks in the USA. The latest generation of Atlas Automotive Grade 4D will be installed. Additionally, Aeva will collaborate with Torc Robotics, an independent subsidiary of Daimler Truck, to enable SAE Level 4 autonomous driving functions. The Freightliner Cascadia as a platform marks the beginning.

Autonomous Trucks Directly from the Factory

Daimler Truck intends to integrate the installation of LiDAR sensors directly into its production process. This allows customers to receive autonomous trucks directly from the factory without the need for retrofitting the sensors. Torc, in turn, will sell its autonomous driving software and mission control services to customers as a subscription. The driving software utilizes Aeva’s object recognition software, which enables faster, longer-distance, and more accurate object detection. The multi-year collaboration begins in the first quarter of 2024, with Aeva's production start scheduled for 2026. Daimler Truck aims to commence series production of autonomous trucks in 2027.

Special Feature: Continuous Laser Beam

LiDAR is a key technology for autonomous driving. While conventional LiDAR sensors use laser pulses to measure distances to objects, Aeva's frequency-modulated, continuous wave (FMCW) 4D LiDAR technology uses a continuous laser beam to simultaneously measure distance and speed for each point. This enables autonomous vehicles to immediately distinguish between static and dynamic points and to recognize the precise speed of dynamic objects.

Joanna Buttler, Head of Global Autonomous Technology Group at Daimler Truck: "We are convinced that Aeva, with its groundbreaking and reliable technology, is the right production partner for LiDAR sensors and has the manufacturing capacity to scale with us."

Peter Vaughan Schmidt, CEO of Torc Robotics, adds:

"Aeva is a leader in the development and commercialization of so-called FMCW LiDAR technology, a groundbreaking technology for the detection and identification of objects at long distances. This means that Torc's virtual driving software can now rely on significantly higher resolution and clearer object recognition at greater distances, as well as instantaneous speed detection. Both are of great importance for the safe operation of autonomous trucks."