¶ FPInnovations / Kratos truck platooning system
Recommended Technology
.jpg)
Description: FPInnovations, working with Kratos Defense, is pursuing a leader–follower platooning model specifically tailored to forestry and natural‑resource haulage. A human‑driven lead truck provides navigation and decision‑making, while one or more driverless follower trucks replicate its actions using vehicle‑to‑vehicle communications, sensors, and onboard autonomy. This system has been demonstrated extensively on Canadian forestry roads, including gravel, steep grades, degraded GPS, dust, snow, night operations, and mixed loads, covering thousands of kilometres in real timber‑hauling conditions.
The key strength of this approach is deployable in the near‑term in harsh, off‑road environments with low regulatory friction, because a trained human remains in the loop. Strategically, it is conservative but practical: it reduces labour demand and improves safety without requiring full Level‑4 regulatory approval. The trade‑off is that it does not eliminate drivers, and scalability is bounded by the need for a lead vehicle.
Category: Autonomous Machinery & Robotics
FWPA RD&E: 4.3
¶ Details
| Company | Country | Type | Website | Available in Australia? | Year | Status | Remarks | TRL | Employees | Colour | Inventors | Patent Model. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FPInnovations | Canada | Company | Link | Model | 7-8 | Green |