AGRIForward - Lifecycle-efficient agricultural machinery in a future robot environment

The purpose of the project is to enable the autonomous and resource-efficient operation of tractor-based machine combinations. In the project, the concept and autonomous devices will be explored.

The project's aim is that Finland has a strong agricultural and forestry machinery sector, and manufacturers of tractor-based work machines can compete internationally.

The growing autonomy of machines is needed to be able to meet the challenges of the future. Three megatrends are booming in agriculture and forestry sector. There is a need to increase food production because of the growing population. At the same time, skilled labour is less and less available for agriculture and forestry work. At the same time, environmental requirements, and the increase in input costs force to be more efficient and save the environment. The same trends affect almost all work done in rural areas, such as the maintenance of the lower road network.

Rising the level of automation and autonomy of the machines is needed to meet the challenges. With automation it is possible to improve the efficiency and sustainability of the work cycles and improve and enhances the user's work efficiency and working conditions.

The project is implemented through case studies, where real prototypes are built for real-world problems. A concept for future automation solutions is created from these cases. Far-reaching automation is of course already being implemented, but a model for brand-independent cooperation between many actors is still missing. It is necessary to ask to share responsibilities and agree on the technologies to be used and the ways to utilize the technologies. Therefore, international cooperation and standardization play a central role in the project.

The project is implemented in cooperation with Natural Resources Institute Finland and Aalto University, and a significant part of Finland's tractor-related machine manufacturers are involved.