| Authors | Löfroth and Svenson |
| Country | Skogforsk (Projects) |
| Paper (PDF) | View paper |
| Category | Logistics & mills interface › Remote sensing & mapping |
idea: longer and heavier trucks for better fuel efficency and less labour
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The Electrical Terrain Transporter (ETT) is a concept for an autonomous, electrically powered timber transport vehicle designed to move harvested logs from the felling site to a roadside landing or processing point without direct human intervention. The ETT system emerged from research into reducing the environmental footprint and operational costs of in-forest haulage, which has historically relied on diesel-powered forwarders operating over sensitive forest soils. By using electric drive systems, the ETT aims to lower both greenhouse gas emissions and ground disturbance, addressing two of the most pressing sustainability challenges in commercial forestry. The vehicle is envisioned to operate over pre-defined routes using GPS and sensor-based navigation, allowing it to function in challenging terrain while minimising operator fatigue and exposure to dangerous conditions. In the Australian context, where plantation forestry operations in states such as Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia involve significant intra-forest haulage distances, the ETT concept holds particular relevance. Australian Forestry Standard requirements and state-level environmental regulations increasingly push operators toward lower-impact harvesting systems, and an autonomous electric transporter aligns with those policy directions. Research programs supported by bodies such as Forest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA) have examined the feasibility of such platforms, looking at battery capacity relative to payload, charging infrastructure at forest landings, and the compatibility of autonomous navigation with existing harvesting workflows. Key technical challenges include maintaining traction and stability on steep or waterlogged terrain common in Australian softwood and hardwood plantations, as well as ensuring robust communication links in areas with limited mobile coverage. If successfully commercialised, the ETT could form part of a fully automated harvest-to-landing chain alongside robotic felling heads and automated processors, substantially reducing labour costs and improving worker safety outcomes across the sector.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Company | Löfroth and Svenson |
| Country | Skogforsk (Projects) |
| Type | Paper |
| Year | n.d. |
| FWPA RD&E | 4.3 |