Kodiak Launches its First Autonomous Military Prototype Vehicle
F-150 features a comprehensive autonomous system & can be operated remotely…
Kodiak Robotics Inc., a self-driving technology developer for the trucking and defense markets, unveiled its first autonomous test vehicle designed specifically for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).
The Ford F-150 upfitted with Kodiak’s autonomous system, the Kodiak Driver, contains both the autonomy hardware and software required to operate a military ground vehicle, according to the company.
It is designed to handle complex military environments, diverse operational conditions and areas with degraded GPS, as well as off-road variables like rocks, dust, mud and water, the company stated. The Kodiak Driver also provides the Army the ability to remotely operate vehicles when necessary.
“Kodiak’s new autonomous vehicle shows the maturity and portability of our autonomous system, which we call the Kodiak Driver,” said Don Burnette, Kodiak founder and CEO. “We have built a comprehensive autonomous system that can be integrated into any vehicle, from a Class 8 truck, to a pickup, to a next-generation defense vehicle. Integrating Kodiak’s technology into an off-road-capable vehicle shows the potential for commercial and dual-use technology to revolutionize national security, just as the Department of Defense is looking to ramp up its focus on autonomous technology. We are proud to support the military and look forward to the day that Kodiak Driver-powered vehicles can provide the U.S. military with more mission options and technical superiority, all while keeping our servicemen and women out of harm’s way.”
Kodiak demonstrated the portability of the Kodiak Driver by integrating it into a new vehicle in less than six months. The rapid development is possible due to the versatility of Kodiak’s modular and vehicle-agnostic autonomous system, officials explained.
The vehicle runs the same software as Kodiak’s autonomous long-haul trucks, and features Kodiak DefensePods, an adapted version of Kodiak’s modular, swappable SensorPods, designed for defense applications. A technician can swap out a DefensePod in the field in 10 minutes with no specialized training required, the company noted.
