Polish-made "world’s first" forestry robot to help authorities tackle spread of lyme disease

Polish researchers are developing a forestry robot that is designed to inventory trees, count animals, collect potentially disease-carrying ticks, and search the forest floor for archaeological treasures.

The initiative is being led by scientists from Poznań’s University of Life Sciences (UPP) and Adam Mickiewicz University, along with experts from Italy and Cyprus.

According to an article by TVP World, the project is in its early phases but is already considered the first of its kind worldwide. The project will involve creating several prototypes and testing different sensor arrays before arriving at a final model, according to the team.

“At this stage, we envision a walking robot with legs modelled after an Alpine chamois [a species of goat-antelope native to southern Europe], which would allow it to navigate steep, mountainous terrain,” explained UPP’s Anna Wierzbicka in an interview to Polish press.

The prototypes are expected to be trialled on flat ground in Poland’s Puszcza Zielonka National Park and on challenging slopes in Cyprus, with the most demanding tests planned for Italy. "There [the robot will be tested] on surfaces ranging from dense and bushy to rocky and sharply inclined," Wierzbicka said.

Scientists say the robot will help ease the burden on Europe’s dwindling number of foresters and will mainly be tasked with gathering data within the EU’s network of Natura 2000 protected areas.

“This work demands specialists, and there are increasingly fewer available,” Wierzbicka said. “Moreover, surveying these areas is physically demanding and requires expertise in local flora and fauna. [The robot] addresses both the shortage of qualified personnel and the challenge of reaching remote regions.” Outfitted with sensors, the robots will monitor tree health and vegetation, while counting and identifying wildlife.

In addition, the robot will have archaeological applications, with plans to collaborate with archaeologists to enhance its capabilities for historical exploration.

“We’re excited to work with archaeologists since so much remains unknown about what lies beneath Poland’s forest floors,” Wierzbicka said.

The team also envisions equipping the robot to collect ticks for scientific study. “Tick-borne illnesses are an occupational hazard for anyone working in forests,” Wierzbicka noted, clarifying that “ticks are also significant for research, so we thought [adding tick collection functionality] would be a valuable feature that could expand our understanding of these parasites.”

According to the researcher, the first prototypes should be ready within about a year, with the full €1.5 million project expected to wrap up within three years.

By Nazrin Sadigova