Starsky Robotics: the driverless truck startup putting humans to work

Starsky Robotics is a self-driving truck startup with a unique business model. Its CEO and co-founder Stefan Seltz-Axmacher took on the challenge to solve the primary logisitcal challenge for the trucking industry.

This startup has a dual vision: use software, radar, and computer vision cameras to allow long haul trucks to drive autonomously on the highway, then turn the job over to trained drivers using remote controls to bring the truck from the exit to its final destination.

The vision of its founders was to  go beyond existing advanced driver assistance technologies: the long-term aim is to solve the human cost caused by stressful conditions in the trucking industry, especially long haul services. The team believes that it could in parallel solve the high staffing turnover that trucking companies have to increasingly deal with.

"The vision of its founders was to  go beyond existing advanced driver assistance technologies"

The company aims to have contracts with trucking companies and employ drivers, who will be able to instantly take control and monitor from their home between 10 to 30 trucks at a time. The technical details include the set up of a retrofit kit including robotics control in the truck, which will physically push the pedals, turn the steering wheel and change gear. The team is hoping to be able to take safety drivers out of the trucks altogether by the end of 2017.

Find out more about Starsky Robotics here.