Heavy Duty Trucking Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

New Autonomous Startups Have Different Takes on Self-Driving Tech

Startup companies Starsky Robotics and Drive.ai are the two latest additions to the burgeoning autonomous vehicle market, each offers a unique take on self-driving technology.

by Staff
March 3, 2017
New Autonomous Startups Have Different Takes on Self-Driving Tech

Screenshot via Starksy Robotics YouTube Video

2 min to read


Screenshot via Starksy Robotics YouTube Video

Startup companies Starsky Robotics and Drive.ai are the two latest additions to the burgeoning autonomous vehicle market.

Hot on the heels of last week’s introduction of the autonomous vehicle startup Embark, Starsky and Drive.ai each offer a slightly different take on self-driving technology.

Ad Loading...

Starsky is aiming to bring an autonomous truck to market as soon as possible, but it is also testing a method in which a driver would remotely control a vehicle once it is done driving on the highway. That would tie a single driver to several trucks, when needed. The company said that it has already used a truck with its autonomous technology to make a 140-mile delivery in the real world, according to a TechCrunch report.

Drive.ai is trying to reimagine autonomous technology by creating a system that is able to learn from its surroundings and adapt to different situations, the company detailed in a blog post. While its technology makes use of cameras and sensors, Drive.ai said that the best way to create a safe self-driving vehicle is to use software that can learn experience in the same way that voice assistants from Google and Apple learn from listening to humans.

Refelcting how the field of players in autonomous vehicles technology is growing, these two companies have received millions of dollars in investments so far.

Ad Loading...

Starsky received $3.75 million in funding and Drive.ai received $12 million in a round of funding last year.

More Equipment

Gray Volvo tractor pulling trailer on open highway
Fuel Smartsby Deborah LockridgeMay 1, 2026

New High-Horsepower Natural Gas Engine Could Expand Fleet Options

Westport and Volvo are demonstrating a 500-hp truck with diesel-like efficiency — one that also offers what Westport says is a better pathway to using hydrogen fuel in trucks.

Read More →
Aurora Innovation self-driving truck.
Equipmentby News/Media ReleaseApril 30, 2026

Hirschbach Announces Plan to Deploy 500 Aurora Autonomous Trucks

Hirschbach and Aurora Innovation have inked a non-binding deal outlining a path to deploy 500 Aurora Driver-powered trucks into fleet operations.

Read More →
Bosch-Kodiak self-driving truck partnership.
Equipmentby News/Media ReleaseApril 30, 2026

Bosch, Kodiak AI Advance Toward Scaled Production of Autonomous Truck Hardware

New sensor integrations and component validation signal a shift from strategy to execution as Kodiak and Bosch push toward high-volume driverless truck deployment.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Great American Trucks: REO
Equipmentby Jack RobertsApril 29, 2026

Great American Trucks: REO

The evolution of the modern truck was a long, slow affair. But perhaps no other company did more to establish the template for what a modern truck should be, and how it should perform, than REO.

Read More →
Western Star's Star Nation customer event.
Equipmentby News/Media ReleaseApril 27, 2026

Western Star Doubles Down on Driver Pride With 2026 Star Nation Experience

Western Star has expanded its operator-focused Star Nation competition and outreach to spotlight skill, attract new drivers, and strengthen industry ties.

Read More →
HDT Spotlight: Volvo VNR test drive.
Equipmentby Jack RobertsApril 23, 2026

Is the All-New VNR Volvo's Safest Truck Ever?

The all-new Volvo VNR is jam-packed with advanced safety features. Join HDT for a first-hand look at how Volvo is keeping drivers safer and productive on the road.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
2026 Volvo VNR
Equipmentby Jack RobertsApril 22, 2026

Volvo Redesigns the VNR With Drivers and Tight Turns in Mind

At Volvo’s New River Valley customer center, the all-new VNR proves that maneuverability, safety, and driver confidence can coexist in a regional-haul workhorse.

Read More →
Great Dane trailer.
Equipmentby News/Media ReleaseApril 21, 2026

FTR: Trailer Orders Jump in March, but Demand Still Lags

March trailer orders posted an unexpected monthly jump, but demand still trails historical norms as fleets prioritize power units over trailing equipment.

Read More →
Humble cabless autonomous freight hauler.
Equipmentby News/Media ReleaseApril 21, 2026

Autonomous Start-Up Humble Announces Cabless Autonomous Electric Hauler

A new autonomous truck startup company is targeting yard, port, and short-haul freight with a lighter, fully autonomous platform designed for dock-to-dock moves.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Circles with trucks demonstrating sustainable features and Top Green Fleets logo
Fuel Smartsby Deborah LockridgeApril 16, 2026

Top Green Fleets of 2026: Nomination Deadline Extended

Is your company a leader in sustainability efforts among trucking fleets? If so, Heavy Duty Trucking's editors want to hear from you.

Read More →