Remote-controlled forest machines included in the IVA 100 List
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The project "Robust wireless infrastructure for remotely controlled timber management," where SCA is one of the participants, is seen as a project with potential. This is the view of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA), which has listed the project on its annual 100 list. The list highlights the most promising research projects with a focus on innovations through interdisciplinary collaboration.
IVA's annual 100 list highlights current research deemed to have the potential to create value through commercialization, business and method development, or societal impact. Carefully selected research projects from Swedish universities are listed, with all participants interested in increased contacts with the business sector to be able to apply and further develop their projects.
Important projects
On the 2024 list, the cross-industry research project “Robust wireless infrastructure for remotely controlled timber management” led by the Mid Sweden University and involving participants such as SCA, Telia, Ericsson, Volvo CE, Skogforsk, and Biometria can be found. The goal is to solve the problem of limited 5G coverage at remote timber terminals and other hard-to-reach areas. These locations often lack sufficient infrastructure to enable remote control of heavy forestry machinery.
“It is pleasing that this important project is being recognized by IVA”, says Magnus Bergman, Head of Technology and Digitalization at SCA Skog.
Opens up for opportunities
It started with the Remote Timber project where, in 2022, a wheel loader was successfully remotely controlled at SCA's timber terminal in Torsboda. This was followed by a project focusing on the challenges related to 5G connectivity and communication.
“This led to us, last summer, being able to remotely control a forestry machine using a 5G-equipped drone, essentially an airborne mobile mast, in terrain with limited connectivity”, explains Magnus. “If we can make it possible to use reliable remote control in these types of environments, it opens up for opportunities for other operational forms and improved working conditions for machine operators.”
The next step is to further develop and scale up the solution for commercial use. The remaining challenges include ensuring technical robustness on a larger scale and establishing collaborations for broader implementation.
For SCA, testing and developing this type of technology is important and something that has been requested in dialogue with Telia.
“We need to find out how we can create better local coverage in areas where we are not currently reached by the existing network, emphasizes Magnus. The demand for secure communication to and from forestry machines with good positioning has only increased over time, and we are increasingly moving towards real-time data. As we constantly move forestry machines, a mobile solution to create better coverage is an excellent solution.”
