Ford Acquisition: Automaker Purchases Mobile Robotics Company For Autonomous Vehicle Development

Ford Motor Company (F) has acquired mobile robotic company, Quantum Signal, for an undisclosed amount. The purchase, which was announced on Tuesday, will allow the automaker to continue its efforts in the autonomous vehicle segment, which the tech company has expertise in.

Quantum Signal, which was founded in 1999, has reportedly created robotic technology to remotely control vehicles from as far away as thousands of miles. The company has also developed robotic technology for use in military applications.

Ford said it has been eyeing Quantum Signal over the past few years as it looks to assemble a “team of uniquely qualified experts in software development, simulation and machine learning from all around the world as it accelerates autonomous vehicle development.”

Through the acquisition, Ford will move another step forward in its autonomous vehicle venture, using Quantum Signal’s real-time simulation and algorithms to further develop its Transportation as a Service (TaaS) platform. The company also said it will use the technology to engineer vehicle control systems in its other automotive models.

Quantum Signal’s ANVEL modeling and simulation systems were used by the military’s robotics program for unmanned and autonomous vehicle development. The company also has experience in software design, robotics, sensing, and perception systems, which Ford is banking on to support its self-driving vehicle program.