Periodic Reporting for period 2 - Forest Maker (Autoforestation Mode: ON)
Reporting period: 2023-08-01 to 2024-07-31
In this project, we created a new type of (re)forestation platform called Forest Maker. It consists of a highly automated machine combining several silviculture stages into one. This can lower the costs of tree planting up to 5-10x compared to the state of the art, digitize forests into an individual tree level and create a digital twin of the forest, increase worker safety (less tripping, heat, and animal hazards), planting quality and tree survival rates, enable planting where or when it wasn’t earlier possible (too dry, hard or dangerous landscape, etc), reduce erosion and enable planting of a multitude of species.
All these can lead to a systematic change in silviculture and in climate change. Our Forest Maker will provide the most cost-efficient way to bind carbon. For example, to plant a trillion trees that would be roughly equivalent to two-thirds of all human-made emissions would cost 50-100 billion with Forestmaker. It’s a significant amount of money, but still minuscule compared to what should be available for mitigating climate change. In addition to the costs, Forest Maker will bring full transparency into operations, enabling easier operations and traceability, which in turn can help fund those reforestation actions.
In practice, in this project, we have engineered, manufactured, and tested a machine that can execute all these actions. We have made it to be operated on top of a common, commercially available forwarder that is designed to travel in the ground and carry heavy loads. Our Forest Maker is highly automated and connected to the cloud and can be operated by only one person. We tested it in close cooperation with players in the forestry market to gain valuable knowledge on top of the knowledge we have acquired during our almost two decades of forestry machinery manufacture and global operations. In addition, through this project, we have further enhanced our operational capabilities across all corporate functions, ensuring we are well-prepared to meet the growing demand of the market.
All these can lead to a systematic change in silviculture and in climate change. Our Forest Maker will provide the most cost-efficient way to bind carbon. For example, to plant a trillion trees that would be roughly equivalent to two-thirds of all human-made emissions would cost 50-100 billion with Forestmaker. It’s a significant amount of money, but still minuscule compared to what should be available for mitigating climate change. In addition to the costs, Forest Maker will bring full transparency into operations, enabling easier operations and traceability, which in turn can help fund those reforestation actions.
In practice, in this project, we have engineered, manufactured, and tested a machine that can execute all these actions. We have made it to be operated on top of a common, commercially available forwarder that is designed to travel in the ground and carry heavy loads. Our Forest Maker is highly automated and connected to the cloud and can be operated by only one person. We tested it in close cooperation with players in the forestry market to gain valuable knowledge on top of the knowledge we have acquired during our almost two decades of forestry machinery manufacture and global operations. In addition, through this project, we have further enhanced our operational capabilities across all corporate functions, ensuring we are well-prepared to meet the growing demand of the market.
During this project we have designed and manufactured a new type of (re)forestation machine that can handle as many operations as possible simultaneously with a small workforce.
First we defined and implemented machine specifications to meet market requirements to design easy to operate, modular, and versatile, highly automated planting machine. We engineered, upscaled and sourced various components, software and manufacturing partners based on our experiences with earlier Risutec equipment. We created calculations, simulations, manufacturing drawings, evaluated manufacturers and manufacturability. We also manufactured the Forest Maker, assembled the equipment and installed it onto a forwarder.
Then we tested and optimised all of the interactions between parts and optimised the control system. We made more tests on soil cultivation and planting actions with successful results, but also found things to improve further and implement on the final design.
Towards the end of the project, we drove and tested the Forest Maker in a few trials and in actual planting sites. All of the tests have been conducted in the local area. We identified opportunities to enhance both the manufacturing and maintenance of the equipment, implemented several key improvements, and successfully brought the system to a sellable state.
First we defined and implemented machine specifications to meet market requirements to design easy to operate, modular, and versatile, highly automated planting machine. We engineered, upscaled and sourced various components, software and manufacturing partners based on our experiences with earlier Risutec equipment. We created calculations, simulations, manufacturing drawings, evaluated manufacturers and manufacturability. We also manufactured the Forest Maker, assembled the equipment and installed it onto a forwarder.
Then we tested and optimised all of the interactions between parts and optimised the control system. We made more tests on soil cultivation and planting actions with successful results, but also found things to improve further and implement on the final design.
Towards the end of the project, we drove and tested the Forest Maker in a few trials and in actual planting sites. All of the tests have been conducted in the local area. We identified opportunities to enhance both the manufacturing and maintenance of the equipment, implemented several key improvements, and successfully brought the system to a sellable state.
Now with the commercial product, we are in the critical stage of presenting the Forest Maker to the real-life customers. We aim to enhance the machine constantly, and the customer are expected to identify areas that need further improvements to enhance cost efficiency, manufacturability, speed, durability, maintenance, and other technical aspects, as well as to increase features and software integrability. Similarly, as we will have physical components to show and record in action, it will also be considerably easier for us to discuss them with other market players and project partners in more detail. For all of these, we will continue to discuss with all the relevant stakeholders and acquire outside consultative help and get potential recruits. We have also observed that we need to gain more knowledge about the carbon capture market which is growing, and our background has been historically more in commercial forestry. As a part of this growth, we are also seeking additional sources of funds to be able to scale our operations faster and execute world-wide demonstrations to potential customers in different environments and locations. This will improve our market presence and learning more about the market specifics, reflecting that further into a modular technical, commercial and operative choices.