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BIONÆR-Bionæringsprogram

ForestValue - AVATAR - Advanced Virtual Aptitude and Training Application in Real Time

Alternative title: AVATAR - Smartere innstilling og -kjøring av skogsmaskiner

Awarded: NOK 3.7 mill.

Project Number:

298353

Application Type:

Project Period:

2019 - 2024

Funding received from:

Modern timber harvesters collect vast amounts of data that can be used to improve forest management. Tree sizes, species, species mixes, taper, and quality parameters are continuously recorded. In Europe, over 400 million m3 of timber suitable for modern harvesters are cut each year. Knowing detailed information on each tree would improve scientific understanding and management of Europe's forest. But timber harvesters have high investment costs, high running costs, and one of the most complex user interfaces of any industrial process. Research shows that it takes 3 years of constant use before a harvester operator reaches their full production potential. Through joystick and button controls, around 3600 actuations are needed per hour, for up to 10 hours per shift. Even amongst experienced operators, productivity can differ up to 40%. In order to reduce stress, increase productivity, and help to make the machine operator profession attractive to a broader segment of the population, the RECO (Rational Efficient Cost Optimization) programme was created by Skogforsk of Sweden and migrated to Norway. Here, a skilled and experienced instructor spends time in the cabin, observing the way the operate the controls, the way they plan the operation, and the way machine settings are adjusted. The RECO instructor then follows up with subtle suggestions as to how things might be done differently. This has been perceived to be so beneficial that over 600 Norwegian operators have participated in the programme. The AVATAR project sets out to replace the RECO instructor with a full-time digital assistant, essentially an AVATAR that will generate constructive advice on the basis of machine data analysis. In addition to NIBIO, Skogkurs and Optea AS participate from Norway, Skogforsk from Sweden, and the University of Göttingen and the Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors participate from Germany.

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More than 400 million m3 of timber are harvested in Europe each year. Modern cut-to-length (CTL) machines (harvester and forwarder) collect significant amounts of data while working, including details of each tree, potentially providing a cromprehensive data foundation for the management of European forests. Further, these mechanized harvesting systems provide an improved work environment and lower impact on the forest. However, operating this sophisticated machinery efficiently within a range of forest conditions requires high skill levels fostered by continuous training and learning. Still, graduates of current training programmes and even experienced operators show productivity differences of up to 40%. In order to overcome the high entry barrier, and further enhance safe and efficient machine operations, the project develops new cognitiv mentoring and assitance applications for new and experienced operators of timber harvesting and extraction machinery. Methods of cognitive science will be applied in providing directed feedback in formats and at identified periods which promote cognition of the operator to guide him/her towards more balanced working methods and techniques. Through this the project contributes to efficiency improvements, improved timber resource utilization, and a better and safer workplace with lower environmental impact, all while improving the knowledge base for a sustainable and competitive bio-economy in Europe.

Publications from Cristin

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Funding scheme:

BIONÆR-Bionæringsprogram