Kodiak Robotics, Inc., a developer of autonomous technology for trucking, has announced that it has been awarded a 24-month contract worth US$49.9m (£41m) by the United States Department of Defense (DOD) to automate future army ground vehicles.
The automation process will reportedly be led by the army’s Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) program, and is intended to target vehicles designed for reconnaissance, surveillance and other high-risk missions.
The contract means Kodiak will be expected to leverage its commercial self-driving software to develop, test and deploy autonomous capabilities for driverless vehicles, with the DOD hoping this will provide benefits to national security.
What’s more, Kodiak will also be asked to develop autonomous vehicle technology for the army to navigate complex terrain, diverse operational conditions and GPS-challenged environments, while also providing remote operation capabilities where necessary.
“I started Kodiak because I believe autonomous technology can save lives, and helping the US Army develop driverless vehicles for the most challenging operating environments fits perfectly with that goal,” said Don Burnette, founder and CEO, Kodiak Robotics.
“We are proud to have the opportunity to leverage our cutting-edge self-driving technology for defence applications, and believe our work with DIU and the US Army will both help strengthen national security and hasten our path to commercial deployment.”
In year two of this contract, Kodiak will reportedly build upon its main product offering by implementing its autonomous driving system on off-road vehicles capable operating on complex terrain and in unpredictable conditions.
