MISTRA DIGITAL FOREST 2019 1
MISTRADIGITALFOREST How will forestry work be don
e in the future – when will the robots arrive? Concepts such as robots, digitalisation, AI and big data are generally hot right now – and so are they in forestry. However, this wave reached forestry later than many other industries – why is it like that, and what’s the current situation in terms of robots and automation in forestry? Ola Lindroos and his colleagues at SLU discuss this in the chapter “Advances in using robots in forestry operations” in the book Robotics and automation for improving agriculture. “The path to automation is at least as interesting as the goal” There are several explanations for forestry being one step behind many other industries in terms of automation, says Ola Lindroos. One is that the forest environment is varied and changes rapidly, for example due to heavy rain, or snow or fallen leaves. This is extremely challenging for automation development, as it makes for difficult decisions. Another explanation is that funding for the new technology is poor, especially in comparison to space research and military research for example, which both have similar challenges. In order for the forest industry to have the incentive to invest, it is essential to demonstrate profitability, as compared to current technology. Although the journey to achieving a level of fully automated machinery in Swedish forestry is still a long one, Ola Lindroos believes that the path to getting there is at least as relevant and interesting. Advances in methods for collecting, managing and using data are important steps on the road to smart machines, and eventually to automation. The path forward will benefit machine operators by improving working methods and facilitating performance. And there are already several interesting advances to study. – To be able to automate, we need to be able to calculate decisions about where the machine should run, and about which trees to fell. That sort of information is already beginning to be available, and it assists the machine operators, says Ola Lindroos. When will the robots arrive in forestry? – Getting there, the development will be incremental, where the simpler tasks will first be partly automated and remotely controlled. But it will be a long time before we see fully independent robots in the forest, carrying out all the work themselves, says Ola Lindroos. He continues; – And by the time that is introduced, robots will be such a natural part of society that it will not be considered strange that they are also used in forestry. Just as in previous mechanisations, people will not be replaced completely, but it will enable them to avoid work that is repetitive, boring and dangerous. Development will lead to the creation of new jobs, monitoring, servicing and repairing the robots. – It might not be the first thing that strikes us, but the ones deciding how automation technology is used to make OLA LINDROOS our work and life fun and meaningful, is in fact people ourselves. So even in the future, it will be up to employers and employees to cooperate in creating appropriate organisations and relevant tasks, Ola Lindroos continues. And this is something that Ola Lindroos emphasises: – Robots must facilitate work for human beings, making it more efficient, safer and more fun to work in forestry – otherwise we might as well leave them out! 9 Photo: Andreas Palmén