Automation for autonomous terrain mobility (Auto2)
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Stift Skogsbrukets Forskningsinstitut Skogfor - Skogforsk Stiftelsen Skogsbrukets Forskningsinstitut Uppsala |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 9 998 000 |
| Project duration | December 2018 - December 2020 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | Challenge-driven innovation - Phase 2 Collaboration |
| Call | Challenge-driven innovation - Stage 2 Collaboration 2018 (autumn) |
Important results from the project
The project has enabled autonomous terrain transport by preparing for social acceptance, influencing the regulatory landscape and identifying and developing three key functions; personal detection, navigation and planning as well as remote control. Camera-based personal detection has maintained the security around the machine with high credibility. Algorithms for navigation and planning in terrain have been implemented in the machine with satisfactory functionality, and an operator station has been developed from where the machine can be operated remotely.
Expected long term effects
The forwarder drives autonomously, it plans its route roughly with the help of national data over the terrain and fine-tunes with the help of camera sensors. Person detection algorithms search for people in the machine´s risk zone and stop the machine when needed. All this can be monitored from an operator station with a 360 degree view around the machine. The technology from AUTO2 is proven and will be used in new investments in automation in the forest sector. AUTO2 has also affected the regulations and will continue to do so after the project.
Approach and implementation
It is very hard to create a fully autonomous work machine. The way forward is to automate sub-functions until we achieve full automation, according to the project. By working in the distributed application framework, each party has been able to develop sub-functions independently of each other, in order to integrate the solutions into a whole at the end of the project. This approach makes it possible for others outside the project to test AUTO2´s sub-functions. The project has also gathered a working group that will proceed the work on standardization and regulatory issues.