Kodiak has announced that it will equip Textron Systems’ Ripsaw M3 military vehicle with its self-driving tech. The Ripsaw M3 is an uncrewed robotic ground vehicle designed to keep service members out of harm’s way.
With this vehicle, Textron Systems and Kodiak intend to explore future opportunities with the US Department of Defense and the militaries of allied nations. The Ripsaw M3 is the first autonomous tracked vehicle on which Kodiak has collaborated, and the first Kodiak Driver-equipped vehicle without room for a human.
The vehicle can execute a wide range of high-risk military missions, such as reconnaissance, surveillance and tactical maneuvers across a wide range of terrains, from highways and dirt roads to fully cross-country.
Kodiak will strategically place its DefensePods in each corner of the Ripsaw M3, ensuring 360° visibility while maintaining a stealth profile. DefensePods are an adapted version of Kodiak’s modular, swappable SensorPods. They are pre-calibrated, pre-built hardware enclosures that include the sensors necessary for autonomous driving. These pods can be easily swapped in the field in under 10 minutes using standard tools and with minimal training.
“The Ripsaw M3 equipped with the Kodiak Driver is a transformative solution for military ground operations,” said Textron Systems’ David Phillips, senior vice president of land, air and sea systems.
Kodiak’s approach unlocks full off-road autonomy, leveraging an advanced perception system to identify surroundings. The 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 the vehicle remotely when necessary. This reduces the risk of vehicles becoming disabled in new environments.
Don Burnette, Kodiak’s founder and CEO, said, “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.”