Railroads · Airports · Ports · Defense
COAST's proprietary AI and robotics software is the product — transforming vehicles into fully autonomous robots for initial deployments, then scaling through OEM manufacturing partners for large orders. We are a technology company at our core, not a vehicle converter.
Industrial operations run on tasks humans don't want to do — and increasingly can't fill. COAST makes these operations autonomous, reliable, and safe.
Railroads, airports and ports face chronic labor shortages for high-risk yard operations. Turnover is high, shifts are dangerous, and costs keep rising year over year.
Dense metal rail yards, airport aprons, and port facilities defeat conventional AV systems. COAST's 7-method localization navigates where others simply cannot operate.
A single Class I railroad spends over $400M annually on minivans for crew transport. These inefficiencies are systemic across every Class I railroad, every major airport, every port.
Railroads currently rely on human-driven vans to shuttle crews between trains, terminals, and staging areas — an expensive, labor-intensive, and often inefficient process. COAST replaces those vans with autonomous vehicles operating within rail yards and along fixed routes, transforming crew transport from a manual, on-demand service into a predictable, always-available autonomous system.
Goal: All 7 Class I Railroads in North America. Each railroad has dozens of yards. Each yard needs multiple robots. The result: a more consistent, scalable, and cost-effective crew transport system that integrates seamlessly into existing rail operations.
COAST's proprietary AI stack is the product. For our initial deployments we autonomize existing vehicles — but at scale, OEM manufacturing partners produce purpose-built platforms to fulfill large orders. This makes COAST a technology company first: asset-light, capital-efficient, and built to scale fast.
COAST robots perform mission-critical tasks in the world's most demanding industrial environments.
Airport ramps and cargo terminals spend most of their time on predictable, low-speed shuttle tasks — moving baggage, ULDs, pallets, and equipment between fixed points. These structured, high-frequency operations are ideal for autonomy. COAST's autonomous dolly platform replaces manually driven dollies with continuous, software-driven logistics — unlocking significant cost savings and keeping aircraft turnaround on schedule.
Every installation — domestic or deployed — faces the same three problems: dangerous work exposing personnel to serious risk, dirty tasks that are impossible to staff, and dull missions consuming warfighters who should be focused on the mission, not driving a minivan across base.
COAST brings its proven industrial autonomy platform to military base operations — the same technology already deployed with CSX Railroad and FAA-approved for airfields, now solving the base support layer on US installations and deployed worldwide.
Autonomous last-mile delivery across the installation — parts to maintainers, mail to barracks, supplies to ops centers, around the clock with no dedicated drivers.
Continuous crew transport between barracks, flight lines, motor pools, and operational facilities — eliminating dedicated shuttle drivers from the headcount entirely.
Autonomous patrol of installation perimeters with multi-sensor threat detection, real-time reporting, and zero personnel exposed in hazardous outer areas.
Autonomous grass cutting, FOD sweeping, and airfield upkeep. FAA-approved — the only autonomous system with this approval for both civilian and military airfields.
Autonomous movement of supplies, tools, fuel containers, and equipment between warehouses, depots, maintenance bays, and forward areas without personnel exposure.
Remote inspection, monitoring, and transport in areas where personnel exposure is unacceptable — fuel farms, EOD support zones, and contaminated or contested areas.
Replace the most expensive recurring costs in base support with a predictable monthly service fee.
| Cost Category | Traditional Approach | With COAST | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personnel Cost | Full-time staff for shuttle drivers, grounds crews, security patrol, and parts runners — salaries, benefits, housing, and rotation costs recurring at every installation. | → | One monthly service fee per robot. No headcount, no benefits, no rotation. Personnel redeployed to mission-critical roles. |
| Contracted Labor | Civilian contractors are expensive on CONUS installations and exponentially more costly at OCONUS and deployed locations — plus clearance overhead. | → | COAST replaces the contract, not the capability. One subscription covers all functions — at a predictable, scalable cost. |
| Incident & Liability | Workplace injuries, vehicle accidents, and personnel incidents in base support carry significant liability, medical, and administrative costs. | → | Autonomous robots eliminate personnel from hazardous zones entirely. Zero injury exposure on every task COAST performs. |
| Infrastructure | Conventional AV systems require GPS infrastructure, fixed beacons, dedicated networks, or physical modifications — significant upfront and ongoing cost. | → | Zero infrastructure required. COAST deploys anywhere using 7-method localization — no GPS, no beacons, no civil works, operational in days. |
While others chase consumer autonomy, COAST is purpose-built for industrial environments where ROI, safety, and reliability are non-negotiable.
Seven independent localization methods — GPS, LiDAR, vision, and more — deliver precise navigation between railcars, in harsh weather, and across dense industrial zones where competitors fail.
Zero beacons, magnets, or fixed systems. COAST deploys immediately without expensive site modification — eliminating installation costs, maintenance overhead, and cybersecurity exposure.
Not a pilot, not a prototype — actively deployed with CSX Railroad. While traditional AV companies remain in pilot stage, COAST robots are working today in real rail yards.
COAST is fundamentally a software and AI company. Initial deployments autonomize existing vehicles, proving the technology in the field. As orders scale — think hundreds or thousands of units — OEM manufacturing partners take over production, keeping COAST asset-light and focused on what matters: the intelligence layer.
20+ years in senior management. CEO of three companies with deep M&A experience. Former IndyCar driver. Proven leader in robotics and autonomous driving technology.
30+ years in automation, communications, and software. Competed in the 2007 DARPA Grand Challenge. Developed the first commercial driverless passenger vehicle.
Civil engineering (Edinburgh) and qualified chartered accountant. 30+ years in business and management. Represented world-class racing drivers including Dario Franchitti and Sergio Perez.
20+ years in product leadership across AI, automotive, and robotics. Former product director at LeddarTech and ECARX; senior product roles at Amazon and Bosch. Holder of 10+ patents and author of 40+ technical publications, with deep expertise in ADAS/AD, embodied AI, and software-defined vehicles.
PhD in automation and signal processing. Former head of robotics at Induct. Multi-sensor fusion expert with deep expertise in real-world autonomous systems deployment.
Motorsport legend and ambassador with global brand reach and strategic insight.
MIT PhD. Autonomous systems expert. Presidential Early Career Award recipient.
Corporate attorney. Two-term mayor. Smart city leadership and government access.
Formula One and endurance racing career. Strategic communications and global brand.
Whether you're a railroad, airport, port, logistics operator, or investor — we'd love to talk about what COAST can do for you.