Press release
Kratos Unmanned Systems Demonstrates Leader Follower Platooning Technology in Quebec's Forestry Sector in a Timber Hauling Operation
Driverless Vehicle Initiative Focused on Mitigating Driver Shortages, Improving Safety Protocols, Boosting Rural Economic Vitality, and Contributing to the
About this update from Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"Driverless Vehicle Initiative Focused on Mitigating Driver Shortages, Improving Safety Protocols, Boosting Rural Economic Vitality, and Contributing to the Development of a Regulatory Framework for Autonomous Vehicles\n SAN DIEGO, Jan. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq: KTOS), a technology company in the defense, national security and global markets, announced that Kratos Unmanned Systems Division successfully executed a multi-week demonstration of its self-driving truck platooning system technology with FPInnovations, a Canadian research and technology organization that assesses, adapts and delivers solutions to Canada’s forest industry’s total value chain. 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. 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 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b5d5d804-ccab-46f1-a6e1-9a4d876a91e2 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. 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 ...