Kodiak

Kodiak’s Summer Intern Crew is Here! This talented group has dived headfirst into the world of autonomous vehicles, working alongside the best team in the AV industry. What is the Kodiak Internship Program? At Kodiak, internships are about learning from the best experts in the industry while doing real, substantive work and making real progress. Interns work shoulder-to-shoulder with our team, working on cutting-edge projects across various disciplines, from Perception and Controls to Product and Simulation. From a Current Intern One of our summer interns, Sandeep Reddy Baddam, recently shared their learnings halfway through the program. They’ve been busy developing autonomy software features to navigate complex off-road environments and robot decision-making. Their experience highlights the collaborative and supportive environment we strive for at Kodiak. Here are some takeaways: - Don’t be afraid to ask questions - Your mentors and colleagues are here to help. - See an improvement? Make it happen - We encourage initiative and ownership. - Embrace diverse perspectives - Learn from your colleagues across disciplines. - Speak up - Your voice matters, even if you’re still learning. Seek feedback regularly - Stay aligned with project goals and expectations. - Safety first - We prioritize rigorous safety protocols in everything we do.

We’re honored to be named to the Silicon Valley Defense Group’s #NATSEC100 for 2024, ranking us among the top national security startups. The NATSEC100 spotlights innovative companies developing dual-use technologies—those with both commercial and military applications—that are crucial for our nation’s defense. These technologies keep us ahead of threats, accelerate innovation across sectors, and fuel economic growth. At Kodiak, we’re dedicated to creating adaptable and reliable autonomous ground technology for national security, and look forward to collaborating to build a safer future. #DualUseTech #NationalSecurity

As the battlefield evolves, the U.S. military is integrating advanced technologies to address increasingly complex challenges. With the proliferation of sensors, data, and threats, warfighters are inundated with information, making critical decision-making more difficult. Imagine facing a crucial decision while experiencing information overload; each new mission and patrol adds to the mental strain. The U.S. military recognizes that fatigue and cognitive load can slow reaction times and impair decision-making, which can be detrimental in combat. Our service members deserve every advantage on the battlefield, which is why Kodiak is committed to supporting our troops with advanced autonomous systems. We are developing autonomous ground vehicles to seamlessly integrate into military formations, managing both complex and repetitive tasks with our AI-powered KodiakDriver. Our system takes on mundane tasks such as resupply and logistics, as well as advanced operations like reconnaissance and tactical maneuver. This enables service members to focus on strategic mission objectives while our autonomous systems handle the heavy lifting. Kodiak’s self-driving vehicles act as a force multiplier, extending the battlefield by providing standoff for our service members and reducing their cognitive load. This ultimately results in a more effective fighting force.

Traffic merging can get hectic. The Kodiak Driver reacts instantly to slowdowns, changing lanes smoothly to avoid congestion. Its advanced AI keeps everyone on the road safer by anticipating traffic flow. Watch as the Kodiak Driver seamlessly changes lanes to avoid traffic stacking up on an exit ramp and starting to spill over onto the highway. Here's the tech behind it: Kodiak Vision continuously analyzes data from cameras, LiDAR, and radar, creating a real-time picture of traffic flow. This allows the Kodiak Driver to anticipate slowdowns and react much faster than a human driver. Imagine having superhuman reflexes and exceptional awareness of everything happening on the road—that's the power of Kodiak's AI. Always learning: The learning doesn't stop on the road. We test the Kodiak Driver in simulated traffic jams, allowing us to tweak its responses and ensure smooth, safe lane changes in even the most congested situations.

America is the home of innovation. We’re dedicated to providing autonomous solutions that strengthen the industries that power America. From keeping shelves stocked to safeguarding our freedom, Kodiak is committed to delivering the technology that underpins the American way of life. Happy 4th of July!

We spotted some amazing entries in the Women In Trucking Association's I ❤️ Trucking Photo Contest this year, and guess what? Kodiak’s in the mix! WIT’s dedication to empowering women in the industry is truly inspiring, and we’re proud to support their mission. At Kodiak, we have a fantastic cross-functional team of women, from safety drivers to engineers, building the future of trucking. Use the link in the comments to check out our photo (and all the fantastic entries from the trucking community!), and cast your vote for Kodiak. Your support will fuel the entire Kodiak team.

Over the last two years, legislators have introduced bills in a dozen states that would ban the deployment of autonomous trucks. Delaware’s SB 258 was the latest of these bills to be defeated. We understand the concerns some have about autonomous vehicles, and that’s a conversation we value. But we are incredibly optimistic about the potential of self-driving vehicles, and we’re glad that policymakers nationwide share our optimism. Safety is paramount – it’s at the core of everything we do at Kodiak. We’re committed to developing technology that makes our roads safer for everyone. Statistics show human error is the major factor in accidents. Autonomous vehicles, programmed to follow traffic laws and react faster than humans, will reduce crashes. The potential to revolutionize transportation and improve lives is undeniable. A big thank you to the Senators who voted against SB 258, and who have voted to keep America a leader in safety innovation.

What do Harpoon Ventures and The Fast and The Furious have in common? You know that scene in Fast 8, "The Fate of the Furious," where there's the climactic high-speed chase in the Arctic towards the end of the movie? You'll see one of the main protagonists zipping around in a futuristic-looking tank. Its blisteringly fast with eye-watering agility. It's perfect for the Fast franchise... Well, that's no movie prop - thats the Textron Systems Ripsaw. Kodiak Robotics, a Harpoon portfolio company, and Textron are working together to integrate autonomous technology into the Ripsaw light-tank. This partnership aims to leverage Kodiak's autonomous driving technology, known as the Kodiak Driver, which has been extensively tested and validated in their long-haul trucking operations. The system being developed will feature Kodiak’s DefensePods, which are robust, modular sensor enclosures adapted for defense and national security autonomy applications. These innovative pods can be easily swapped out by technicians without specialized training, facilitating maintenance and adaptability in field operations. This joint initiative not only enhances the capabilities of our military ground systems but also aims to bolster operational safety by deploying uncrewed vehicles to perform high-risk tasks, drastically reducing the risk to human operators on the battlefield. We are excited at the work that Kodiak and Textron are undertaking and look forward to seeing their technology hit the battlespace in the future. ⇀

Imagine you’re cruising down the highway at 65 mph and your phone vibrates as a text comes in. A quick glance to read takes just 4.6 seconds, according to studies. But at that speed, it’s the equivalent of driving more than the length of a football field, blind. The consequences can be devastating. In 2022 alone, distracted drivers caused crashes that tragically took over 3,000 lives and injured nearly 300,000 people. The road is no place for distractions. That’s why we’re building the Kodiak Driver. Our autonomous system is programmed to focus solely on the road, eliminating the risk of human error and keeping everyone safer.

Ever get blinded by the setting sun while driving? The Kodiak Driver doesn’t need a visor. Its advanced sensors, like LiDAR and radar, see clearly through glare, keeping the road ahead safe – no matter the time of day. Even its cameras are specially tuned to see as much as possible when looking directly into the sun. They don’t squint or look away, unlike us humans! Here’s the tech behind it: Unlike cameras, which struggle with bright sunlight, LiDAR uses lasers to create a 3D map of the environment. For its part, radar excels at detecting objects through rain, fog, and even glaring light. Kodiak Vision, our perception system, acts like a master conductor, constantly analyzing data from all these sensors simultaneously. This allows the Kodiak Driver to maintain a clear understanding of the road, even when human vision would be compromised. Always vigilant: Kodiak Vision is constantly scanning the environment, unaffected by temporary distractions like bright light. This vigilance is further enhanced by rigorous testing in simulations where we can recreate even the most challenging lighting conditions, ensuring the Kodiak Driver is prepared for anything.