Kodiak Trucks Utilize Vay's Remote Driving Technology

Kodiak Robotics Integrates Vay’s Remote Driving Technology

Kodiak Robotics, a developer of self-driving trucks, is incorporating remote-driving capabilities sourced from Vay, a Berlin-based driverless car-sharing company. This collaboration leverages Vay’s expertise in teleoperations to enhance the safety and operational efficiency of Kodiak’s autonomous trucking system.

Partnership Details and Implementation

The companies have been collaborating since last year, initially focusing on driverless deliveries for Atlas Energy Solutions within the Permian Basin region of West Texas and New Mexico. This partnership is poised to become crucial as Kodiak prepares for commercial driverless deliveries on Texas public highways, anticipated in the latter half of 2026, following its planned merger with a special purpose acquisition company.

Remote driving, also known as teleoperations, is increasingly recognized as a valuable transitional technology for autonomous vehicles. It finds applications in various areas, including sidewalk delivery robots, low-speed shuttles, and even automated forklifts, with growing interest spurred by the development of robotaxis.

How the Technologies Work Together

Vay’s remote-driving technology is designed to complement, not replace, Kodiak’s existing autonomous driving system. Both systems operate with redundancy and safety measures, allowing a human operator to remotely control a Kodiak truck in specific, low-speed situations.

The German company’s teleoperations setup includes essential vehicle controls – a steering wheel, screen, and software – enabling a human driver to operate the Kodiak truck from a remote location with minimal latency.

However, Kodiak’s assisted autonomy technology remains the primary control system. It actively monitors and limits the actions of the remote driver, ensuring the truck stays on a safe and predetermined course.

The Role of Assisted Autonomy

“The autonomous system handles the majority of the driving tasks,” explains Andreas Wendel, Kodiak’s CTO. “The remote driver provides guidance, but our system continuously verifies and regulates the vehicle’s movements.”

This approach ensures consistency across different vehicle configurations and load conditions. Regardless of whether the truck is hauling a full or empty trailer, the remote assistance personnel experience a uniform operational feel.

Operational Scenarios and Training

Kodiak’s employees, all holding commercial driving licenses and undergoing extensive training, utilize Vay’s system in low-speed scenarios. This includes navigating complex construction zones or responding to directions from law enforcement personnel.

The investigation into remote-driving technology began in 2022 when Kodiak received a contract from the U.S. Army. The Army required a system capable of transitioning to remote operation when necessary.

“Military vehicles often encounter situations where full autonomy is insufficient,” Wendel notes. “For example, a vehicle might need to quickly change course and conceal itself, a task that is challenging for autonomous systems to interpret.”

Vay’s Evolution and Expansion

Initially, Kodiak considered developing its own remote-driving technology, but ultimately chose to partner with Vay, which had already successfully deployed its system in real-world applications.

This partnership represents a significant achievement for Vay, which initially focused on using teleoperations as a core component of its car-sharing service. The company began as a driverless car-sharing provider, employing remote drivers to position vehicles for customers.

Customers then take manual control for their journey, and a teleoperations driver pilots the vehicle back upon completion. Founded in 2019, Vay has completed over 10,000 commercial trips.

Expanding into B2B Services

Vay’s co-founder and CEO, Thomas von der Ohe, envisions expanding the company’s reach beyond its consumer-facing service. Last September, Vay began offering its technology to commercial and business-to-business clients.

“We aim to replicate Amazon’s success with AWS by building a global remote driving platform,” von der Ohe states.

Benefits for Kodiak Robotics

Don Burnette, Kodiak’s founder and CEO, emphasizes that the assisted autonomy system enhances the company’s flexibility in delivering freight across a wider range of locations and scenarios.

“Regardless of the advancements in autonomous driving, there will always be situations where human assistance is beneficial, even as a safety net,” Burnette concludes.