Advancements in Forestry Robotics: Autonomous Navigation, Sensing, and AI-Driven Applications for Precision Forestry and Forest Inventory Management

Authors

Ruchik Kashyapkumar Thaker

Abstract

This review paper synthesizes advancements in forestry robotics, emphasizing innovations in autonomous navigation, sensing, and AI-driven applications for precision forestry and forest inventory management. Traditional tasks in forestry, such as tree mapping, disease control, and live fuel material detection, are increasingly automated through robotic systems, UAVs, and edge AI, offering significant improvements in efficiency and environmental stewardship. Autonomous navigation in semi-structured forest environments, like poplar plantations, utilizes Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) for precise tree localization and path planning. UAV platforms excel in spatially extensive tasks, including species classification and wildfire management, due to their high resolution and versatility across diverse forestry environments. This paper also discusses model compression techniques for depth completion in neural networks, improving computational efficiency for real-time applications. Insights from early robotic deployments in forest inventory reveal promising applications for single-tree detection and operational forestry tasks. Additionally, the integration of individual tree detection and tracking technologies, complemented by blockchain and wearable sensors, bridges gaps in supply chain data flow. Addressing the challenges in artificial perception, this review highlights advancements in edge AI for tasks like tree trunk detection and explores future directions for improving mobility, sensory adaptation, and multi-robot coordination, underscoring the transformative potential of forestry robotics for sustainable forest management.

Keywords

Forestry Robotics, Autonomous Navigation, Precision Forestry, UAV Systems, Artificial Perception, Tree Trunk Detection, Edge AI, Forest Inventory Management

Advancements in Forestry Robotics: Autonomous Navigation, Sensing, and AI-Driven Applications for Precision Forestry and Forest Inventory Management. Ruchik Kashyapkumar Thaker. 2024. IJIRCT, Volume 10, Issue 4. Pages 1-7. https://www.ijirct.org/viewPaper.php?paperId=2410075