Next Generation Technology for Precise and Sustainable Forestry
Backers and Partners of NFA
Machine Perception - The Next Big Step in Forest Tech
The core technology developed by NFA is a retrofit system solution that enables forestry machines to continuously build a digital representation of the environment around them. This is a platform technology with a broad range of uses within precision forestry, from inventory and decision support to advanced machine automation
Our first product is an advanced driver assistance system for forest harvesters. It supports the driver through enhanced situational awareness and clear visualization of progress toward any harvesting goal
Robust and Accurate Localization
Centimeter accurate localization of trees and machine, robust against short-term GNSS outages which are common under a tree canopy
Tree Detection and Characterization
Precise detection and DBH measurment of each individual tree, even in challenging environments. Extended tree characterization coming soon
Rugged Sensor Stack
Lidar, GNSS, RGB Camera, IMU IP68/69k, ±40C
Onboard Compute
Nvidia edge AI compute platform, no depencence on internet connectivity
Benefits
Features
The Roots
The forestry sector is in a transitional phase. It is adapting to meet increased demand for sustainable raw materials, carbon storage, and biodiversity conservation, while at the same time handling a severe shortage of experienced machine operators. New technology that enables precision forestry and automation will play a crucial role in meeting these challenges. NFA is at the forefront of this development
The founding team behind NFA comes from an industrial research and development background with PhDs from the Wallenberg AI Autonomous Systems and Software program, and has family ties to the small scale forestry in Sweden. The side-project that eventually became NFA started from a simple observation: Automation and advanced driver assistance systems are transformative technologies that have unlocked tremendous value in automotive, agriculture, mining and other verticals, but have yet to reach forestry in a meaningful way. We decided to change that
Phase 1 - Explorative Prototyping
2019 - 2021
Several iterations of early prototypes were developed and evaluated to set the foundation of the technology in terms of sensor modalities, compute platforms, algorithms, software frameworks etc. Early on, we demonstrated our prototype's capabilities to representatives of leading forestry companies in Swedish forestry, who strongly recommended targeting a harvester operator support system for thinning as a first application
Phase 2 - Deep User Engagement
2021 - 2023
The first product was designed and developed in close collaboration with machine operators from day one. Through joint development projects with key partner companies, we were able to continuously collect user feedback, and improve performance, robustness and features of the system through over-the-air updates
Phase 3 - Preparing for Launch
2023 - 2025
The next step was to offer preseries units to early adopter customers, to continue developing the systems, and learn about new use cases, forest types and machines. At this time, we have 7 permanently deployed instances of the preseries system, that have accumulated over 5000 operating hours in the Nordics, North America and Australia. The final version of the first product will launch in Q3 2025
Phase 4 - ADAS for Forestry
2025 - Future
Our long term aim is to offer a full range of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) that supports the driver further in executing precise sustainable forestry operations while fully utilizing the productive potential of modern forestry machines. This will be achieved through partially automating machine functions based on the live digital representation of the environment, similar to for example adaptive cruise control and autopilot functionality in modern cars
The NFA Team
There's a rule of thumb that modern robotics and automation is 10% hardware and 90% software. This is reflected in the NFA team, in which 6 out of 8 members have a software background, and 4 have PhDs in robotics and computer vision. In addition to this, we have individuals with strong backgrounds in electronics product development, as well as business development and finance.
Apart from our in-house development, we're engaged in multiple joint projects and partnerships. The picture to the right is from a Vinnova funded development project where we collaborate with other companies, research institutes and universities
Join our Team!
We're always on the lookout for passionate and talented individuals that share our vision for sustainable forestry. Check out our current openings below or send a spontaneous application to career@nordicforestryautomation.com
NFA is seeking a Key Account Manager / Business Developer to strengthen our team. In this role, you will be responsible for building and maintaining strong customer relationships, ensuring a seamless customer experience, and optimizing logistics. You will also play a key role in gathering and analyzing customer feedback to continuously improve our products and services. Given that we are a small and agile team, you will occasionally support other business functions to help drive overall success.
The ideal candidate has a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Forestry or Engineering, along with strong organizational skills and attention to detail. You are a doer and have a passion for customer relations and logistics. Experience from a software company or a previous similar role is a plus. Additionally, we value individuals who are adaptable, open to learning, and thrive in a collaborative environment. At NFA, we are committed to fostering diversity and gender balance within our organization, and we encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply.
NFA is looking for an experienced DevOps Engineer to complement our development team. Our first product is a sensor based operator support system with a web based graphical user interface (UI) and a cloud platform for forest data management. In this role you will primarily be responsible for the automatic testing pipeline, making sure we have good coverage and a streamlined development workflow. The testing infrastructure is based on recordings from the fleet of deployed systems, complemented with synthetic data obtained from a state-of-the-art simulation environment. Given that we are a small team you will occasionally need to help out with other infrastructure functionality - such as Over-the-Air updates, customer facing services and databases.
The ideal candidate has 3+ years of work (or other) experience in software development and holds a University degree in a relevant field, e.g. Computer Science. You have specifically worked with designing and implementing DevOps components and are keen on taking ownership of that infrastructure. It is beneficial to have experience with 3D simulation engines, container applications and Over-the-air updates. Being comfortable with working in a Linux environment is also a plus. In addition, we expect the candidate to be open to learning new things and have good communication skills. As a part of a small team, cooperation and collaboration is key; sometimes by working directly together and sometimes by a division of tasks. At NFA, we value and strive for diversity and gender balance within the organization. We hope to see a wide representation among the applicants.
News and Announcements
Stay up to date with the latest news, updates, and important announcements. From new features to special events, you'll find everything you need to know right here!
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NFA Selected for Breakit's list of Sweden's most impactful AI companies
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AI hjälper till att gallra rätt
Navigare Ventures invests in NFA
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NFA Co-founder and CEO receives WASP-award
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Södra rolls out AI system for operator support during harvesting
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NFA recognized as one of Sweden's 33 most promising tech startups
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Royal Academy of Engineering Sciences highlights the impact potential of NFA's technology
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NFA and partners have been awarded Vinnova funding to develop next generation operator support for harvesters
NFA:s förarstöd vid gallring testas brett på flera skördare i Sverige
NFA Closes investment round with Södra Ädla, Sveaskog and Almi Invest
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