Kodiak Robotics, Inc. today unveiled its first autonomous test vehicle designed specifically for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)
<p><strong><span class="legendSpanClass"><span class="xn-location">MOUNTAIN VIEW</span></span></strong> &#8212; Kodiak Robotics, Inc., a self-driving technology developer for the trucking and defense markets, has unveiled its first autonomous test vehicle designed specifically for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).</p>
<p>This vehicle is a Ford F-150 upfitted with <span class="xn-location">Kodiak&#8217;s</span> autonomous system, the Kodiak Driver, and contains both the autonomy hardware and software required to operate a military ground vehicle. The Kodiak Driver-equipped vehicle 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 Kodiak Driver also provides the Army the ability to remotely operate vehicles when necessary.</p>
<p>&#8220;<span class="xn-location">Kodiak&#8217;s</span> new autonomous vehicle shows the maturity and portability of our autonomous system, which we call the Kodiak Driver,&#8221; said <span class="xn-person">Don Burnette</span>, Founder and CEO, <span class="xn-location">Kodiak</span>. &#8220;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 <span class="xn-location">Kodiak&#8217;s</span> 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.&#8221;</p>
<p><span class="xn-location">Kodiak</span> demonstrated the portability of the Kodiak Driver by integrating it into a new vehicle in less than six months. This rapid development is possible due to the versatility of <span class="xn-location">Kodiak&#8217;s</span> modular and vehicle-agnostic autonomous system. The vehicle runs the same software as <span class="xn-location">Kodiak&#8217;s</span> autonomous long-haul trucks, and features Kodiak DefensePods, an adapted version of <span class="xn-location">Kodiak&#8217;s</span> modular, swappable <u>SensorPods</u>, designed for defense applications. A technician can swap out a DefensePod in the field in 10 minutes or less, with no specialized training required.</p>
<p>In <span class="xn-chron">December 2022</span>, <span class="xn-location">Kodiak</span> <u>announced</u> contract award with options up to <span class="xn-money">$50 Million</span> with the U.S. Department of Defense, specifically Defense Innovation Unit in support of the U.S. Army to develop demonstrator prototype autonomous ground vehicles. As part of this contract, <span class="xn-location">Kodiak</span> designed its vehicle in line with the Army&#8217;s Product Manager Robotic Combat Vehicle program&#8217;s unique Software Acquisition Pathways strategy. The Software Acquisition Pathways strategy allows the DoD to acquire hardware and software solutions separately, to ensure that DoD gets the best possible combination of hardware and software for persistent modernization.</p>
<p>As part of this program, <span class="xn-location">Kodiak</span> will build and deliver two off-road-capable vehicles based on the Ford F-150 vehicle. <span class="xn-location">Kodiak</span> began testing the vehicles at a U.S. military base this <span class="xn-chron">November 2023</span>. Once the testing is successfully completed, <span class="xn-location">Kodiak</span> plans to put its autonomous system into a purpose-built ground reconnaissance vehicle for military use.</p>
<p>Prior to testing the F-150 vehicles, <span class="xn-location">Kodiak</span> used its semi-trucks to test its autonomous system in off-road environments. Testing the Kodiak Driver in off-road environments also helps <span class="xn-location">Kodiak</span> improve its on-road long-haul trucking technology. For example, testing on off road terrain has helped <span class="xn-location">Kodiak</span> further harden its hardware platform while improving the Kodiak Driver&#8217;s handling of dust, rocks, and other small obstacles.</p>

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