Kodiak Robotics has unveiled its first-ever autonomous military prototype, which is a Ford F-150 that it officially calls the Kodiak Driver. The builder went for this Ford because it has enough room to carry the necessary computers, and it comes with impressive off-road capabilities.
The vehicle is specifically designed to take part in high-risk situations without service members on board, which reduces down to zero the risk of them being involved in combat and getting injured. The Kodiak Driver is capable of tackling various surfaces on- and off-road since it is equipped with all the hardware and software that a military ground vehicle would require.
It took Kodiak six months to develop the prototype, which features an autonomous system, running the same software as the company’s long-haul trucks. The Ford F-150 is equipped with DefensePods, the protrusions that show up on each side of the F-150. They integrate a mix of radars, LiDARs, and cameras that help the vehicle operate without the necessity of a human operator on board.
But, when necessary, it can be controlled remotely or by an occupant in the driver’s seat. Kodiak claims that military personnel can maintain the DefencePods with minimal training. Replacing components would reportedly take around ten minutes or less, according to Kodiak.
It is, in fact, a modular technology that is able to operate on any military or civilian vehicle following several mechanical modifications. The technology is still in its development stage, but the team already knows that it is able to function in areas with weak GPS signals.
The Ford pickup truck underwent a suspension modification that enables it to perform better on rough surfaces such as rocks, dust, mud, and water.
Kodiak Robotics has been running tests on the prototype since November. The US Army is evaluating the technology for reconnaissance, surveillance, and high-risk missions. The first two units will be delivered to the Department of Defence by the robotics company.
The unit is focused on ramping up the development of autonomous technology. The tech does not need to comply with the rules and regulations that the street-legal vehicles need to follow.
Later on, the company intends to integrate the autonomous system into a purpose-built ground reconnaissance vehicle specifically designed for the armed forces. Kodiak Founder and CEO Don Burnette says that the system can be integrated into any vehicle, from a Class 8 truck to a pickup and a next-gen defense vehicle.
Last year, in December, Kodiak was awarded a two-year, $50 million contract with the Department of Defence. Based on the contract, the company had to develop a self-driving vehicle in line with the Army's Product Manager Robotic Combat Vehicle program. The vehicle must also be compliant with the Software Acquisition Pathways strategy.
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