Humble Robotics raises $24M to build driverless electric truck tractor A new wave of AV funding is gathering momentum as experienced founders return to the sector. The stakes for freight autonomy are rising. As reported by Techcrunch The autonomous vehicle sector is once again reminiscent of the 2016 peak: investors are picking up momentum, and those who rode out that wave are now helping shape the next phase of development. Money is returning, and it is the people who were in the thick of it who are shaping the future. Among them is Eyal Cohen, founder and CEO of Humble Robotics. He has walked the path from Otto to Pronto: when Uber came with an offer, and later he joined the company together with Anthony Levandowski. After more than two decades in the world of advanced technologies, his new company emerged from stealth in April with $24 million in funding to develop a fully autonomous, cabless electric tractor for freight trucks. Cohen took part in a conversation with Kirsten Korosec on TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, where they discussed AV déjà vu and the lessons learned from 15 years building startups in electrification, solar energy, and robotics. Hallmark signals of a new AV hype cycle The idea behind Humble Robotics is to make driverless freight transportation safer and more efficient through full autonomy and electric propulsion oriented toward commercial freight. The role of Cohen and his team is seen as evidence that the previous talent pool and investments are returning: now new funding and interest from players who were previously in the swirl of the auto manufacturing and robotics markets are emerging. The Equity podcast continues to serve as a platform for discussing how the experience of the past years can influence the development of autonomous freight systems, alongside current challenges and