How is FBK contributing to the FEROX project?

At FBK we’re bringing our expertise in robotics, 3D mapping and AI in processing all kinds of spatial data, which can aid berry pickers’ work in the forests. We analyze and integrate information captured by FEROX drones with other remote sensing data, creating a comprehensive understanding of the unexplored conditions within the surveyed area, even before anyone sets foot in the woods.

How is our SLAM expertise evolving based on FEROX experiences?

In FEROX we’re dealing with extremely challenging applications for autonomous drones, operating in mostly GNSS-denied conditions of low-attitude flights inside the forest. The data collected in the field pushes our SLAM solutions to their limits, boosting our developments and advancements in mobile mapping. We're also fortunate to collaborate with top scientists and engineers from our partners, such as Ingeniarius and Deep Forestry, who provide innovative UAV technologies.

Which are the main robotics challenges that FEROX is facing?

The solution we’re developing in FEROX requires numerous advanced components working together. They include autonomous navigation of the drones under the canopy, AI-based berry detection, fleet management system, mobile mapping, human-robot interaction, and so on. At the level of highly autonomous, practical application in the field that we have in FEROX, all of them need to use cutting-edge technologies, which creates challenges in itself, but the key one is orchestrating them to function seamlessly and reliably as one interconnected system.