Kalmar and Coast Autonomous Partner on Robotic Solutions Development
Kalmar, part of Cargotec, has signed a joint development agreement and become a minority shareholder in Coast Autonomous to accelerate robotic solutions.
Kalmar, a provider of cargo handling solutions and part of the Cargotec Corporation, has announced a joint development agreement with US-based autonomous driving technology company Coast Autonomous Inc. Kalmar has also acquired a minority stake in Coast Autonomous, signaling a strategic partnership to accelerate the development of robotic solutions across Kalmar's mobile equipment offerings.
The collaboration follows Kalmar's recent introduction of its Kalmar Robotic Portfolio, a range of intelligent, flexible, and autonomous mobile equipment designed for ports, terminals, and distribution centers. The initial phase of the partnership will concentrate on developing the autonomous driving functionality for the Kalmar RoboTractor, an autonomous terminal tractor. Coast Autonomous specializes in proprietary autonomous vehicle systems for urban and industrial environments.
Lasse Eriksson, Vice President of Technology at Kalmar, highlighted the significance of the partnership. "Coast Autonomous's unique technology and broad experience in autonomous driving solutions provide us with a great opportunity to accelerate our robotisation journey," Eriksson stated. He emphasized Kalmar's focus on safety, noting that the collaboration will enable the development of autonomous operations in mixed-traffic environments.
Coast Autonomous executives viewed the collaboration as an ideal application for their technology, anticipating a rapid proliferation of autonomous vehicles in industrial settings. They consider the partnership with Kalmar, a leader in port and terminal operations, as a strong endorsement of their approach to safe autonomous vehicle systems.