IKEA joins forces with Kodiak to trial self-driving truck deliveries

As self-driving vehicles inch closer towards reality, furniture giant IKEA recently announced a partnership with Kodiak which specialise in AI and autonomous driving systems. What challenges does the trucking industry face, what will the new partnership aim to achieve, and how does Kodiak self-driving differ to Tesla?

What challenges does the trucking industry face?

Just about all supply chains around the world are at some point dependent on vehicle haulage whether it be a small delivery van, or a large truck carrying many tons of goods. But while smaller vehicles are easier to operate, larger trucks introduce numerous challenges to the logistics industry. 

By far the first major challenge faced is the need for drivers to hold specialist licenses which can see long delays for new drivers during shortages (as the UK recently experienced). As trucks are large vehicles with numerous controls, react very differently to road conditions compared to standard vehicles, and pose very serious dangers to others on the road, it is essential that only trained personnel operate them. While time estimates for a Class 1 license are between 6 to 8 weeks, this doesn’t take into account that drivers with experience are needed, the time taken to revise for tests, perfect driving skills, and pass tests. 

The second major challenge faced with trucking is the energy and stress experienced by drivers doing long journeys. The faster a driver can deliver their goods, the more profitable the delivery is, but the combination of increasing pressure from business owners combined with long journeys spanning hundreds of miles can be exhausting. To make matters worse, traffic rules prevent drivers from driving for too many hours in any one day, and this can make it difficult to meet deliveries on time when faced with traffic and other adverse conditions. 

Thirdly, drivers need to have absolute situational awareness when operating large vehicles due to the danger they pose, and this can be problematic for drivers that feel tired from the pressure to deliver goods. While numerous technologies are coming out to help drivers detect collisions and show blind spots, it is still up to the driver to make decisions regarding safety.

IKEA to trial Kodiak autonomous trucks

IKEA is famous for its range of flatpack furniture, one-way shop design, and meatballs, and considering that every IKEA outlet stocks large amounts of goods ready to be picked up, it no doubt requires heavily on trucking logistics. But as the world moves towards EVs and other smart technologies, IKEA needs to move towards modern technologies to help improve its operations as well as provide better customer service.

Recognizing the challenges faced by trucking, an IKEA outlet in the US has recently partnered with Kodiak, a startup that is developing autonomous trucks. The goal of the trial is to see autonomous vehicles transfer goods from an IKEA warehouse in Houston to a store in Dallas which puts the journey at around 300 miles. While human drivers will be present in the vehicles at all times, the trial will determine the effectiveness of Kodiak autonomous solutions, and whether it's possible for larger journeys to be done. Even though this is the first time IKEA has used Kodiak solutions, it is by no means the first use of Kodiak autonomous technologies. Their automated trucks have already been used in other logistical companies including Werner Enterprises and U.S.Xpress.  

One of the major benefits of choosing Texas for testing the first generation of autonomous driving systems comes down to two main factors; the lack of regulation and the environment. Texas is well known for its minimal government approach, low taxes, and desire to attract businesses, and this has created a state that is favourable to new startups (unlike states such as California which experience high tax rates, sky-high property prices, and poor living conditions). As such, Texas has been open to allowing companies to test autonomous vehicles on roads. The roads in Texas are also favourable as they consist mostly of long stretches of flat ground, and rarely see winding curves and difficult terrain. 

How does Kodiak self-driving differ from Tesla?

Undoubtedly, the most famous company in the world for self-driving is Tesla which announces that full self-driving will be ready in a year, every single year (just like how fusion will always be 20 years away). But giving credit where it is due, the autonomous features that Tesla vehicles can perform truly is impressive with the ability to park itself, allow the driver to summon the vehicle, and even do entire journeys fully autonomous (but this is with strict limitations such as having the driver at the wheel at all times, and that many of these features are still in the beta phase).

But unlike every other autonomous driving company, Telsa is trying to move away from the use of multiple sensors in favor of relying solely on cameras. In contrast, Kodiak has specifically mentioned that their vehicles rely on numerous sensing technologies including cameras, LiDAR, and RADAR so that their vehicle maintains situational awareness in all conditions. This is particularly important when considering that long-distance haulage vehicles are at increased risk of accidents from environmental conditions and other drivers on the road. Furthermore, such vehicles are likely to operate at night due to the lower volumes of traffic, but the reduced visibility makes camera-only driving ineffective compared to RADAR and LiDAR that can see at day and night.

While Tesla continues to push for electric trucks and self-driving, companies such as Kodiak continue to demonstrate potential self-driving technologies effectively and safely.