Trucks being loaded to 80,000 lbs in preparation for deployment along forestry routes transporting timber to the sawmill.
A US company that specialises in the defence, national security and global markets has successfully executed a multi-week demonstration of its self-driving truck platooning system technology with a Canadian research and technology organization that assesses, adapts and delivers solutions to Canada’s forest industry’s total value chain. Source: Timberbiz
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions’ Unmanned Systems Division worked with FPInnovations on the project.
The Kratos developed self-driving system “kit”, which enables vehicles to be capable of autonomous driving, was deployed for evaluation in forestry operations in northern Québec, Canada.
Deployment of this technology is intended to mitigate driver shortages, improve safety protocols, boost rural economic vitality, and contribute to the development of a regulatory framework for autonomous vehicles.
The automated platooning technology performed exceptionally well in the challenging forestry environment and hauled both unloaded and loaded timber trailers.
The Kratos system demonstrated precision navigation in automated platooning mode along complex off-pavement roadways with degraded access to GPS, steep grades, severe visibility-limiting dust, sub-freezing temperatures, rain, and under variable day/night/twilight lighting conditions.
The Kratos platoon deployment featured two class-8 tractor-trailers, with one human-driven Leader truck collecting navigation data along the way and transmitting the data to one self-driving Follower truck.
Trucks operating in automated platooning mode with a human-driven lead truck paired to a driverless follower hauling timber along forestry supply chain routes in Québec Canada.
Both trucks were retrofitted with Kratos automated driving systems, enabling the Follower to follow the Leader’s navigation data with only a Safety Rider onboard for this initial testing/demonstration. The human driver in the Leader truck plays a critical role optimizing performance of the driverless follower by adjusting vehicle speeds, gaps, and maneuvers to adapt to rapidly changing environmental or operational conditions. This human-in-the-loop decision-maker provides added safety and deployment flexibility by enhancing navigation performance of the driverless vehicle versus relying solely on complex and often unpredictable AI and Machine Learning algorithms, as employed by other systems.
The combination of a human-driven Leader and a driverless Follower, powered by advanced sensors, navigation, Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication, and automated systems, has proven to be an effective driverless truck deployment model across multiple industries.
“The successful deployment of our self-driving truck platooning technology in the Canadian forestry industry demonstrates the ability of the system to navigate complex situations in challenging environments,” Maynard Factor, Vice President of Business Development for the Kratos Unmanned Systems Division, said.
“This is a game-changing effective and viable solution for maintaining critical business continuity even under the current driver shortage situation.
“By pairing a human-driven leader truck with a driverless follower, we’ve developed a flexible deployment model that prioritizes both safety and productivity.
“The human driver of the Leader can adjust driving behavior in real-time as needed to optimize performance of the self-driving Follower to navigate complex edge- and corner-case situations safely,” he said.
“We are driving innovation for our clients by leveraging a unique deployment model using field-proven technology to offer real solutions for ensured supply chain reliability.”
Regulatory agencies, trucking contractors, and industry stakeholders were welcomed to evaluate the technology and ride along in Leader and Follower vehicles to see first-hand how the system performed on the forest roads within the operational environment. Feedback was very positive, with many highlighting the system’s performance and potential to support forestry and other industries across Canada.
Discussions regarding follow-on deployment opportunities are already underway, reflecting strong interest and confidence in the capability of the Kratos platooning technology.
