Page 25 - PEN eBook October2023
P. 25
AUTOMOTIVE
Self-Driving
Semi-Trucks Increase
Safety, Efficiency
By Maurizio Di Paolo Emilio, editor-in-chief of Power Electronics News
The future of goods transportation is being transformed by self-driving technology developed by
Kodiak Robotics. Founded in 2018, the company has been working toward developing innovative
solutions that help businesses transport goods more efficiently and safely.
Kodiak Robotics has developed self-driving systems for semi-trucks (Figure 1), enabling them to
operate safely on highways without requiring a human driver. The company uses various technologies,
including radar, LiDAR and artificial intelligence, to develop cutting-edge autonomous systems.
Kodiak is trying to spread the adoption of self-driving technology, which it believes will ultimately
save lives and enhance the quality of life of truck drivers. There is an ongoing shortage of qualified
truck drivers today. The average American truck driver is about 48 years old, and for long-haul
truckers, the average age is even higher. Fewer people are choosing trucking as a career because of
the long, fatiguing hours on the road and the pressure to deliver. Kodiak’s vision is to bring relief to
drivers and redirect the industry onto a better path.
52 OCTOBER 2023 | www.powerelectronicsnews.com
