Organization: Kodiak Robotics
Country: U.S.
Website: https://kodiak.ai/
Year Founded: 2018
Number of Employees: 101-500
Innovation Class: Application & Market
Kodiak Robotics unveiled in late 2023 its first autonomous test vehicle for the U.S. Department of Defense. A Ford F-150 pickup truck is outfitted with the Kodiak Driver system for autonomy. 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 truck can be teleoperated if needed.
Since its founding in 2018, Kodiak has primarily focused on developing autonomous trucks. But the road to scaling autonomous vehicles has turned out to be longer than many expected.
Working with the military could be a quicker path to revenue for the company, which won a two-year, $50 million contract with the Army in December 2022.
Kodiak Robotics said it took less than six months to build the autonomous Ford F-150. If all goes well, the company could become one of the Army’s future technology partners.
The self-driving pickup truck introduces new possibilities for enhancing military logistics and operations. Unmanned transportation of supplies and personnel offers the military greater flexibility, efficiency, and safety in fulfilling its mission-critical objectives, according to Kodiak.
This work also highlights the importance of a modular, vehicle-agnostic autonomous driving system. The F-150 runs the same software as Kodiak’s autonomous long-haul trucks. The test vehicle features Kodiak DefensePods, an adapted version of Kodiak’s swappable SensorPods.
Mountain View, Calif.-based Kodiak Robotics said finding multiple use cases for its autonomous driving system is key to its future.
“Finding applications of technology that can apply to military use simultaneously with civilian and commercial use cases is the future,” the company said. “That’s where the efficiency is. That’s where the iteration is.”
Now accepting session submissions!
Explore the RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards 2024.
RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards 2024
| Organization | Innovation |
|---|---|
| ABB Robotics | Modular industrial robot arms offer flexibility |
| Advanced Construction Robotics | IronBOT makes rebar installation faster, safer |
| Agility Robotics | Digit humanoid gets feet wet with logistics work |
| Amazon Robotics | Amazon strengthens portfolio with heavy-duty AGV |
| Ambi Robotics | AmbiSort uses real-world data to improve picking |
| Apptronik | Apollo humanoid features bespoke linear actuators |
| Boston Dynamics | Atlas shows off unique skills for humanoid |
| Brightpick | Autopicker applies mobile manipulation, AI to warehouses |
| Capra Robotics | Hircus AMR bridges gap between indoor, outdoor logistics |
| Dexterity | Dexterity stacks robotics and AI for truck loading |
| Disney | Disney brings beloved characters to life through robotics |
| Doosan | App-like Dart-Suite eases cobot programming |
| Electric Sheep | Vertical integration positions landscaping startup for success |
| Exotec | Skypod ASRS scales to serve automotive supplier |
| FANUC | FANUC ships one-millionth industrial robot |
| Figure | Startup builds working humanoid within one year |
| Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics | evoBot features unique mobile manipulator design |
| Gardarika Tres | Develops de-mining robot for Ukraine |
| Geek+ | Upgrades PopPick goods-to-person system |
| Glidance | Provides independence to visually impaired individuals |
| Harvard University | Exoskeleton improves walking for people with Parkinson’s disease |
| ifm efector | Obstacle Detection System simplifies mobile robot development |
| igus | ReBeL cobot gets low-cost, human-like hand |
| Instock | Instock turns fulfillment processes upside down with ASRS |
| Kodama Systems | Startup uses robotics to prevent wildfires |
| Kodiak Robotics | Autonomous pickup truck to enhance U.S. military operations |
| KUKA | Robotic arm leader doubles down on mobile robots for logistics |
| Locus Robotics | Mobile robot leader surpasses 2 billion picks |
| MassRobotics Accelerator | Equity-free accelerator positions startups for success |
| Mecademic | MCS500 SCARA robot accelerates micro-automation |
| MIT | Robotic ventricle advances understanding of heart disease |
| Mujin | TruckBot accelerates automated truck unloading |
| Mushiny | Intelligent 3D sorter ramps up throughput, flexibility |
| NASA | MOXIE completes historic oxygen-making mission on Mars |
| Neya Systems | Development of cybersecurity standards harden AGVs |
| NVIDIA | Nova Carter gives mobile robots all-around sight |
| Olive Robotics | EdgeROS eases robotics development process |
| OpenAI | LLMs enable embedded AI to flourish |
| Opteran | Applies insect intelligence to mobile robot navigation |
| Renovate Robotics | Rufus robot automates installation of roof shingles |
| Robel | Automates railway repairs to overcome labor shortage |
| Robust AI | Carter AMR joins DHL's impressive robotics portfolio |
| Rockwell Automation | Adds OTTO Motors mobile robots to manufacturing lineup |
| Sereact | PickGPT harnesses power of generative AI for robotics |
| Simbe Robotics | Scales inventory robotics deal with BJ’s Wholesale Club |
| Slip Robotics | Simplifies trailer loading/unloading with heavy-duty AMR |
| Symbotic | Walmart-backed company rides wave of logistics automation demand |
| Toyota Research Institute | Builds large behavior models for fast robot teaching |
| ULC Technologies | Cable Splicing Machine improve safety, power grid reliability |
| Universal Robots | Cobot leader strengthens lineup with UR30 |
Tell Us What You Think!