Advances in using robots in forestry operations

Description

Forestry operations have a role to play in the supply of fossil-free raw material to present and future bio-economies. Advances in automation will enable forestry operations to be conducted in a more sustainable way, with better consideration of economic, ecological and ergonomic requirements. This chapter examines the challenges associated with using robots in forestry operations, focusing on the importance of knowing the state of the machine, where the machine is located, the location of surrounding objects and how to plan the work. The chapter looks at the challenges of moving around in the forest, reaching and handling the trees, converting trees into products and extracting logs or trees to roadside landings. The chapter also considers remote-controlled operations. Finally, the chapter looks ahead to future research trends in this area and makes detailed suggestions on further reading.

Table of contents

1 Introduction 2 Challenges to using robots in forestry operations 3 Knowing the state of the machine 4 Knowing where the machine is located 5 Knowing the location of surrounding objects 6 Knowing how to plan the work 7 Moving around in the forest 8 Reaching and handling the trees 9 Converting trees into products 10 Extracting logs or trees to roadside landings 11 Remote-controlled operations 12 Conclusion 13 Future trends 14 Acknowledgements 15 Where to look for further information 16 References