Kodiak Robotics, a provider of AI-powered autonomous vehicle technology, has integrated NXP Semiconductors’ automotive processors and in-vehicle networking solutions into its autonomous system, aiming to improve the performance, robustness, and reliability of its self-driving trucks.
The integration includes NXP’s S32G3 vehicle network processor, S32K3 microcontroller, VR5510 high-voltage power management integrated circuit, and PF53 core supply regulator, all embedded in Kodiak’s Actuation Control Engine (ACE). The ACE is designed to manage vehicle actuation independently from the main autonomous system, allowing Kodiak’s AI system to perform safe fallback maneuvers and bring vehicles to a controlled stop in case of safety-critical failures.
Kodiak’s system evaluates more than 1,000 safety-critical processes and components ten times per second, and the NXP solutions also enable critical vehicle functions such as performance monitoring and on-vehicle power management.
Don Burnette, Founder and CEO of Kodiak, said, “Safety is the foundation of everything we do at Kodiak, and a responsibility we have taken seriously since day one. By incorporating NXP’s automotive solutions into the Kodiak Driver, we are positioned to incorporate the highest classification of automotive safety into our autonomous system more efficiently, and at scale.”
NXP’s high-performance processors are compliant with the ISO 26262 safety integrity level ASIL-D, corresponding to fewer than ten failures per billion hours of operation. The company highlighted that the processors are designed to support real-time performance, subsystem integration, and functional safety critical for autonomous driving.
Robert Moran, GM and VP of Automotive Processors at NXP, added, “Autonomous driving systems demand a level of safety and reliability that leaves no room for compromise. Our ISO 26262-compliant S32 compute solutions are designed to support that level of rigor—delivering the real-time performance and functional integrity needed to help companies like Kodiak bring advanced autonomous capabilities to market with confidence.”