California-headquartered autonomous mobility specialist Kodiak AI has announced that it is to begin international operations with a new pilot operation at West Fraser Timber‘s log-hauling operations in Alberta, Canada, where trucks will be deployed equipped with its Kodiak Driver AI-powered autonomous driving system.
In the initial phase of work, Kodiak will pilot the use of its self-driving technology to transport timber from forest sites to one of West Fraser’s Alberta processing facilities in Western Canada later this year. Results of the pilot will be used to inform any future long-term deployment of Kodiak Driver-equipped trucks for commercial driverless operations.
Logging truck routes often involve challenging, remote resource roads with uneven and rough terrain. By leveraging the Kodiak Driver, West Fraser hopes to improve the safety of its logging transportation operations, address the industry-wide shortage of drivers and increase the consistency of its raw material supply to mills.
“Innovation that improves safety and sustainability has long been central to how West Fraser operates,” said Mark Cookson, woods operations manager, West Fraser. “This pilot gives us the opportunity to test autonomous technology that can help address driver shortages and enhance safety by reducing human exposure to the risks of remote, rough-terrain resource roads.”
The Kodiak Driver is designed to handle the complex variables seen in industrial trucking environments. Its modular technology is built to withstand the dust, vibration and extreme weather conditions typical in industrial environments, including the oil and gas and forestry sectors.
“We built the Kodiak Driver to be the most versatile autonomous system on the market, capable of handling everything from interstate highways to the toughest industrial environments, from arid West Texas to the forests of Western Canada,” added Don Burnette, founder and CEO of Kodiak. “Our work with West Fraser is the perfect opportunity to support our expansion into logging, because it is an industry leader with a deep understanding of the logistical complexities of timber. By bringing the benefits of autonomous trucking to the wood products industry, we are demonstrating that our technology can thrive in even the most demanding settings.”
FPInnovations, a private non-profit research and development center, facilitated the collaboration between Kodiak and West Fraser. Supported by federal and provincial governments as well as over 50 forest-product companies, FPInnovations brings decades of expertise in advancing transportation solutions that address the unique challenges of the Canadian forest sector.
“This is an important step toward making autonomous transportation in Canada’s forests a reality. The adoption of new key technologies is critical for the Canadian forest sector to remain competitive,” said Christoph Schilling, program manager transportation for FPInnovations. “Deploying these technologies strategically, safely, with real operational purpose and in close collaboration with industry, technology providers and regulators will be crucial for its adoption.”
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