Kodiak Robotics Reveals Fully Driverless Military Ground Vehicle

Textron Systems Corporation and Kodiak Robotics have integrated the Kodiak Driver, Kodiak’s self-driving system, into Textron’s Systems’ RIPSAW M3 vehicle. The RIPSAW M3 vehicle, equipped with the Kodiak Driver, is a rugged uncrewed robotic ground vehicle designed to keep service members out of harm’s way. 

Integrating the Kodiak Driver into Textron Systems’ RIPSAW M3 Vehicle

The Kodiak Driver-equipped RIPSAW M3 vehicle is the first autonomous tracked vehicle on which Kodiak has collaborated, and the first Kodiak Driver-equipped vehicle without room for a human.

The Kodiak Driver-equipped RIPSAW M3 vehicle is capable of executing a range of high-risk military missions, such as reconnaissance, surveillance, and tactical maneuvers across various terrain types, from highways to dirt roads to fully cross-country. 

Kodiak integrated its modular DefensePods into each corner of the RIPSAW M3 vehicle, ensuring 360-degree visibility while maintaining a low profile. 

• DefensePods are an adapted version of Kodiak’s modular, swappable SensorPods, designed for military use.
• DefensePods are pre-calibrated, pre-built hardware enclosures that include the sensors necessary for autonomous driving.
• DefensePods can be easily swappable in the field in 10 minutes or less, using standard tools and with minimal training.

Combining remote Autonomy Assistance and Remote Driving

Kodiak’s approach to autonomy leverages an advanced perception system to identify what is around the vehicle, recognizing drivable surfaces, and then navigating the vehicle as a human would, allowing for full off-road autonomy.

The Kodiak Driver-equipped RIPSAW M3 also contains Kodiak’s Assisted Autonomy technology, which combines autonomy with human-in-the-loop path planning. Assisted Autonomy combines remote autonomy assistance and remote driving, allowing soldiers to seamlessly control a vehicle remotely when necessary, reducing the risk that vehicles become disabled in novel environments.

When operated in Assisted Autonomy, the autonomy system combines human-driven planning with the Kodiak Driver’s safety controls, ensuring safe operations while enabling human intervention for mission-critical tasks.