The aim of the AI4FOREST project is to design and implement an autonomous robotic system capable of navigating into a forest to create a Digital Twin (DT) of the environment under the canopy of a forest. The proposed system is built on a sensorized mobile robot with an artificial intelligence (AI) based controller.

The key elements of this project are:

• The development of a robotic system capable of monitoring a forestry environment by means of sensors, such as Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), Inertial Measurement Units (IMU), Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), stereo camera.
• The implementation of a navigation controller for the unstructured forestry environment based on an AI decisional model and Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) data.
• The creation of a virtual model of the forest, for simulating the robot during the development of the controller.
• The application of the robotic system to mapping and censing a real forestry scenario, to obtain information on the environment, to evaluate the effects of climate change and the risk of possible disasters.

The AI4FOREST project is developed in collaboration with the University of Trieste and the Free University of Bolzano-Bozen.

The National Center for the Development of New Agricultural Technologies (Agritech) is based on the use of enabling technologies for the sustainable development of agri-food productions, with the aim of promoting adaptation to climate change, reducing environmental impact in the agri-food sector, developing marginal areas, and ensuring safety, traceability, and security of supply chains. 

The robotics research group is involved in the work package 4.2 “Smart-climate and resilient agriculture and forestry: from sustainable products to the bioeconomy”. The task research activity are focused on the development and implementation of advanced monitoring techniques and novel management practices for saving soil and water, optimizing carbon balance, and maximizing the efficiency of used resources and mitigating impacts.

The role of the research group is the development of an mobile autonomous robotic system with embedded self- and ambient-awareness for 3D canopy monitoring, and vegetative indices computation.

The Interconnected Nord-Est Innovation Ecosystem (iNEST) project is funded by the Ministry of University and Research within the framework of investments outlined in the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). The robotics research group is involved in the research topic 2 “Smart Manufacturing, Mechatronics and Robotics” of the Spoke 3 “Green and Digital Transition for Advanced Manufacturing Technology”.

The research activities are focused on dynamic modelling and trajectory planning for mechatronic and robotic systems for energy efficiency and collaborative robotics applications.