Kodiak Robotics Secures Investment & Partnership with Bridgestone

Bridgestone Invests in Autonomous Trucking with Kodiak Robotics

Bridgestone, a leading tire manufacturer, has made a minority investment in Kodiak Robotics, a Silicon Valley startup focused on developing autonomous trucking technology. This investment is part of a larger collaborative effort to test and refine intelligent tire solutions.

The financial details of the agreement were not revealed. However, Don Burnette, co-founder and CEO of Kodiak Robotics, confirmed to TechCrunch that the arrangement constitutes a direct financial contribution. Furthermore, Nizar Trigui, Bridgestone’s Chief Technology Officer, will join the Kodiak board as a non-voting observer.

Strategic Partnership for Advanced Tire Technology

Beyond the financial aspect, this collaboration establishes a strategic partnership aimed at enhancing Bridgestone’s tire technology and fleet management capabilities. Kodiak Robotics will integrate Bridgestone’s sensor-equipped tires and fleet management system into its autonomous trucks.

These trucks are currently utilized for freight transport between Dallas and Houston as part of the company’s ongoing testing procedures. Recent announcements indicate an expansion of these freight pilot programs to include San Antonio. Kodiak also conducts testing of its self-driving trucks, always with a human safety operator present, in the Mountain View, California area.

Semi-trucks typically accumulate between 100,000 and 150,000 miles annually, according to Burnette. He emphasized that maintaining tire integrity and implementing effective tire monitoring are crucial for trucking safety, regardless of whether the vehicle is operated by a human driver or an autonomous system.

The Importance of Tire Performance in Autonomous Systems

“The safety of an autonomous system is fundamentally linked to our capacity to control the tires that interact with the road during acceleration, braking, and steering,” Burnette explained. “Reliable tire performance is essential; otherwise, the safety parameters of the system cannot be assured.”

Kodiak will leverage these smart tires to monitor key parameters such as pressure, temperature, and wheel load. This data is vital for understanding vehicle dynamics and maneuverability. The collected data will be shared with Bridgestone, enabling the company to refine the composition of its tires.

Data Collection and Predictive Modeling

Bridgestone currently gathers basic data from telematics providers, including truck location, road types, tire pressure, and temperature. This information is used to develop predictive models. However, autonomous vehicle companies offer additional value to tire manufacturers.

Kodiak’s self-driving trucks are equipped with a comprehensive suite of sensors, allowing for the collection of extensive driving data. This data will provide Bridgestone with a deeper understanding of how its tires are being utilized in real-world conditions.

“Autonomous providers like Kodiak possess detailed data on how trucks are driven,” Burnette stated. “We can record the forces involved, steering angles, and braking pressures in real-time. This allows us to gather a wealth of data previously unattainable for companies like Bridgestone.”

This enhanced data collection will enable Bridgestone to create more accurate predictive models for tire lifespan and potentially provide early warnings of potential tire failures. “Ultimately, this is the primary benefit Kodiak seeks to achieve,” Burnette added.

Expanding Partnerships in Asia

This announcement follows Kodiak’s May announcement of a partnership with South Korean conglomerate SK. The goal of this collaboration is to explore the deployment of Kodiak’s autonomous vehicle technology in the Asian market.

The SK partnership aims to facilitate the sale and distribution of Kodiak’s self-driving technology throughout the region. Kodiak will also evaluate the integration of SK’s products, components, and technologies – including artificial intelligence microprocessors and advanced emergency braking systems – into its autonomous system. The two companies also plan to jointly offer fleet management services to customers in Asia.