Kodiak integrates autonomous technology into commercial trucking fleets
10.1.2023
Kodiak Robotics long-haul trucking autonomous technology, the kodiakDriver, includes a modular hardware system, known as SensorPods™, that integrate the majority of sensors needed to “see” its environment using the truck’s traditional mirror-mount points.
Kodiak Robotics Ushers in a New Era of Autonomous Long-Haul Transportation
Kodiak integrates autonomous technology into commercial trucking fleets
LONDON, UK – 10th January 2023 Commercial trucking is the backbone of the U.S. economy. That has never been more evident than in the past few years, as Covid-19-related supply chain disruptions gripped the country. At the same time, it’s becoming harder and harder to find people who want to drive trucks. The average American truck driver is about 48 years old and for long haul truckers, the average age is even higher, which may help explain why there was a shortage of 80,000 drivers in the U.S. last year, according to the American Trucking Association.
Kodiak Robotics long-haul trucking autonomous technology, the kodiakDriver, includes a modular hardware system, known as SensorPods™, that integrate the majority of sensors needed to “see” its environment using the truck’s traditional mirror-mount points.
Many industry analysts believe long haul commercial trucking is likely to be the first major use case of autonomous vehicle technology as highway driving is a less complicated problem to solve compared to the many nuances of negotiating secondary roads and city streets.
Additionally, from an economic standpoint, the trucking industry can benefit more from vehicle autonomy. The cost of an autonomous driving system is more easily amortized in a truck that operates for between one million and two million miles. Plus, the average human-driven truck is only used for 7.5 hours a day, due to hours of service limitations. An autonomous truck can double or even triple truck utilization, only stopping to refuel, receive, and pick up new loads.
Kodiak Robotics targets long-haul trucking autonomy
Against that backdrop Kodiak Robotics was launched in 2018 with a focus of developing autonomous technology for the long-haul environment that can be integrated into carriers’ fleets. Kodiak’s autonomous solution, the kodiakDriver, includes a modular hardware system, known as SensorPods™, that integrate the majority of sensors needed to “see” its environment using the truck’s traditional mirror-mount points. The pods’ modular design allows them to be swapped on and off within minutes, which maximizes fleet uptime without the need for specially-trained technicians to install the devices and recalibrate the sensor network.