Textron Systems Corporation, a developer of crewed and uncrewed military ground vehicles, and Kodiak Robotics recently announced they 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 and reliable uncrewed robotic ground vehicle designed to keep service members out of harm’s way while meeting the mission of today’s military. With this vehicle, Textron Systems and Kodiak intend to explore future opportunities with both the U.S. Department of Defense and the militaries of allied nations as they look to accelerate automation into military ground vehicles.
“The Ripsaw M3 equipped with the Kodiak Driver is a transformative solution for military ground operations,” said Textron Systems’ David Phillips, SVP, land, air and sea systems. “Our collaboration will not only enhance the U.S. military’s ability to execute complex and high-risk missions but also provide a critical tool for keeping personnel out of harm’s way. This collaboration will help redefine, and perhaps accelerate, the future of uncrewed military ground vehicles, offering unparalleled capabilities and mission-readiness.”
The Kodiak Driver-equipped Ripsaw M3 vehicle can successfully execute a wide range of high-risk military missions, such as reconnaissance, surveillance, and tactical maneuvers, across a wide range of terrain types, from highways to dirt roads to fully cross-country.
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Through this collaboration, 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. This design ensures that the Kodiak Driver-equipped Ripsaw M3 remains operational even in the most challenging environments.
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 the best aspects of remote autonomy assistance and remote driving, allowing soldiers to ]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.
“Kodiak is building the world’s most capable and flexible autonomous system,” said Kodiak’s Don Burnette, founder and CEO. “No other autonomous system can drive everywhere, from on-highway to off-road, providing unique value to customers across the defense, trucking, and industrial industries. By collaborating with Textron Systems, we can offer unparalleled support to the warfighter at the speed of relevance.”
