Ford Motor Company
has acquired Quantum Signal, a defense contractor that has helped the military develop software that allowed it to remotely control robotic vehicles.
Quantum Signal has worked to develop
algorithms to help guide autonomous vehicles.
"To further advance its goal of launching a self-driving vehicle business, Ford has acquired Quantum Signal and will make use of its extensive
experience in real-time simulation and algorithm development to develop its Transportation as a Service (TaaS) platform, as well as vehicle controls that support the customer experience, functional
safety and other vehicle systems," states Randy Visintainer, chief technical officer, Ford Autonomous Vehicles.
The group is expected to support Ford in numerous areas as it develops self-driving,
including software development and hardware prototyping, according to Visintainer.
Terms of the acquisition of the Michigan-based company were not disclosed.