The self-driving truck is the brainchild of San Francisco-based startup Otto, which Uber bought in August for about $680 million.
Otto’s system, which works with any truck containing an automatic transmission, allows for true “level four” autonomy, meaning once the vehicle hits the highway, it can completely take over driving mechanisms, allowing the driver to look through paperwork or use his or her phone, according to the report.
Right now, the system works exclusively for highway driving, with trucks programmed to maintain a safe driving distance and change lanes only when necessary.
“The technology is ready to start doing these commercial pilots,” said Otto co-founder Lior Ron. “Over the next couple of years, we’ll continue to develop the tech, so it’s actually ready to encounter every condition on the road.”
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