Overview
Forests 
are extremely challenging for robotic perception as they are dynamic and typically unstructured, including varying weather and lightning conditions, the presence of wind, rough terrain, dense canopy, and foliage, limited GNSS signal, etc.
This book explores all aspects of artificial perception in forest environments, covering the latest advancements for
enhancing the robustness and reliability of robotic operation in
forestry. Beyond the technical challenges, the book also intends to discuss the practical needs and constraints of the forestry industry, and how perception technologies can address specific tasks such as harvesting, forest monitoring, and environmental management to bridge the gap between research and application, ensuring that the innovations in robotic perception can be translated into practical, effective, real-world solutions for the forestry sector
Additionally, it considers the broader societal and economic implications of robotics in forestry,
addressing the potential benefits and challenges of widespread automation. With the increasing demand for sustainable forest management practices and the challenges posed by labor shortages, robotics could play a key role in improving productivity while reducing the environmental impact of forestry operations. However, the deployment of autonomous robots in forestry also raises important questions related to safety, human-robot collaboration, and the ethical considerations of replacing human labor with machines.
By examining the field’s progress, the book provides valuable insights into how artificial perception can shape the future of robotics in forestry, including applications such as landscape maintenance, clearing of flammable material for wildfire prevention, precision forestry tasks including harvesting, monitoring, planting, pruning, tree measuring, inventory, etc.
Editor
David Portugal,
Senior Researcher,
Institute of Systems and Robotics,
University of Coimbra,
Coimbra, Portugal
