Starsky Robotics
About
About Starsky Robotics
Starsky Robotics divided an autonomous freight journey into two operating modes. Cameras, radar and onboard software handled the relatively structured highway portion, while a remote driver took control for depot approaches, surface streets and other complex segments. This removed the driver from the cab without requiring the automated system to solve every part of a long-haul route, and allowed trained operators to supervise trucks from a central facility.
The company operated freight while developing the technology and used public-road testing to validate the handoff model. In June 2019, one of its heavy trucks travelled 9.4 miles on Florida’s Turnpike without a person onboard, including merging, lane changes and highway-speed operation. Starsky shut down in 2020 after failing to secure further capital, and its assets and patents were subsequently sold. The system remains an historical example of combining highway autonomy with teleoperation rather than a current trucking service.
Funding
- 2018-03-08 - Series A - $16.5M - Starsky Robotics closes USD 16.5 million Series A
Starsky Robotics closed a USD 16.5 million Series A led by Shasta Ventures. - source: axios.com
Timeline
Events
- 2020-03-19 - Org Change - Starsky Robotics ends operations after financing failure
The founder publicly confirmed the company's closure in March 2020. A planned USD 20 million Series B had fallen apart in November 2019. Starsky laid off most employees and attempted to sell its autonomous-trucking assets and patents.
Source - 2019-06-16 - Deployment - Starsky completes unmanned Florida Turnpike test
The truck navigated a rest area, merged onto the highway, changed lanes and passed through a toll booth. No person was inside the vehicle during the 55-mile-per-hour public-highway test. A remote driver supervised the vehicle from approximately 140 miles away.
Source - 2018-03-08 - Funding - Starsky Robotics closes USD 16.5 million Series A
Shasta Ventures led the USD 16.5 million financing. Y Combinator, Trucks Venture Capital, 50 Years and 9Point Ventures also participated. Starsky planned to use the capital to bring its autonomous and remotely supervised trucking system to market.
Source
Notes
Profile notes
- Starsky proved remote-assisted driverless trucking milestones but sold its assets after the operating company failed
reviewed 2026-07-20 - Starsky combined highway autonomy with remote driving for difficult segments and completed a public-road trip without a person in the cab. It shut down in 2020 and put its remaining assets and patents up for sale.
Source