Japan is testing a prototype robot developed by Boston Dynamics to address the labor shortage in the forestry sector.
The robot dog is being tested in a forest environment in Japan. Video: SoftBank
The video shared by Japan’s telecommunications giant SoftBank shows a yellow four-legged robot navigating steep slopes and marching through a forest floor littered with roots and dry branches. It even climbs over a tree stump and steps down without assistance.
This is part of a trial conducted in collaboration with the Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute (FFPRI) and SoftBank. The goal is to find solutions to Japan’s chronic labor shortage in the forestry industry. If successful, it could enhance reforestation efforts in the country and help Japan achieve its carbon neutrality targets.
The trial will verify whether the “Spot” robot dog, produced by the American company Boston Dynamics, can patrol, monitor, and transport goods through forested areas. This begins with confirming the types of terrain it can traverse.
Researchers will utilize Wi-Fi and satellite communication so that the robots—equipped with high-precision positioning technology and Internet connectivity—can autonomously navigate and perform tasks in the forest.
The trials will be conducted two more times before the end of this year: once in the town of Shimokawa on Hokkaido Island and once in the city of Tsukuba in Ibaraki Prefecture.
Current forestry work is primarily manual, but the workforce is aging and declining in number. Therefore, researchers hope that robot dogs can assist humans in monitoring and maintaining Japan’s forests.
In recent years, the Japanese government has supported “smart forestry” initiatives, using robots and other technologies to improve communication, efforts in reforestation, and disaster recovery.
With the increasing demand for timber, about half of Japan’s artificial forest area is ready for harvesting. However, reforestation plans are hindered by the labor shortage.
