Atlas Energy Solutions Inc. and Kodiak Robotics, Inc. announced an agreement to equip Atlas’s new high-capacity trucks with Kodiak’s autonomous driving technology. The collaboration has already seen success with the first driverless delivery of frac sand in West Texas’s Permian Basin. This strategic move aims to revolutionize logistics in the oilfield sector by introducing autonomous trucks for reliable, last-mile delivery solutions.
Key Highlights
- First driverless delivery completed: 21-mile delivery of frac sand with no one inside the cab.
- Commercial operations launch: Planned for early next year with two Kodiak-equipped trucks.
- Driver-as-a-service licensing agreement: Kodiak provides technology, Atlas owns trucks.
- Operational support from Kodiak: Includes remote monitoring from Lancaster, Texas.
- Challenging conditions in Permian Basin: Kodiak Driver handles harsh conditions like dust storms and extreme heat.
- Expansion plans: Potential scaling of autonomous trucking beyond the Permian Basin.
Under this agreement, Kodiak will supply its autonomous driving technology via a driver-as-a-service licensing agreement. Atlas will own the trucks, while Kodiak provides the fully-redundant, platform-agnostic hardware and software stack designed for scalable deployment. Kodiak will also offer operational support, including remote monitoring from its operations center in Lancaster, Texas.
John Turner, CEO of Atlas, highlighted the innovation within Atlas, saying, “Atlas’s partnership with Kodiak is another example of the unique culture of innovation that is pervasive inside our organization.”
The Permian Basin’s harsh environment poses significant challenges for truck drivers, but the Kodiak Driver is designed to navigate such conditions effectively. Chris Scholla, Chief Supply Chain Officer of Atlas, emphasized the strategic advantage, noting, “With average traffic speeds of under 20 MPH on these large swaths of private roads, we can safely deliver a more reliable last-mile solution to our customers in the Permian Basin. This truly represents a step-change in oilfield logistics.”
Don Burnette, Founder & CEO of Kodiak, stated, “Deploying driverless trucks with Atlas marks the beginning of a new era for autonomous vehicles. Our partnership with Atlas will make us the first autonomous semi-truck company to establish commercial driverless operations, and the first company to make autonomous trucking a real business.”
About Atlas Energy Solutions
Atlas Energy Solutions Inc. is a leading proppant producer and logistics provider, primarily serving the Permian Basin. With 12 production facilities and a combined annual production capacity of 28 million tons, Atlas operates both large-scale and smaller mining units. The company’s logistics assets include the 42-mile Dune Express conveyor system, scheduled to come online in late 2024, and a fleet of 120 custom-manufactured trucks.
Atlas focuses on leveraging technology, automation, and remote operations to drive efficiencies in proppant production and logistics. The company’s approach aligns with a lower emissions economy while maximizing value for stockholders and optimizing outcomes for broader stakeholders.
About Kodiak Robotics, Inc.
Founded in 2018, Kodiak Robotics is a leader in autonomous ground transportation. The company develops an AI-powered technology stack for driverless military and long-haul trucking applications. Kodiak’s modular hardware approach integrates sensors into a streamlined structure for optimized perception, scalability, and maintainability. The company delivers freight daily using its autonomous technology and leverages its commercial self-driving software for the U.S. Department of Defense.
For more information, visit Kodiak Robotics.
This partnership between Atlas and Kodiak represents a significant advancement in the field of autonomous trucking, aiming to enhance efficiency and safety in oilfield logistics.
Sign up for our weekly emails to stay up to date on the latest news!