How can heavy and high-risk tasks in forestry and mining be performed more safely, cost-effectively, and efficiently? Sleipner Robotics develops autonomous ground vehicles for use in difficult terrain.
Sleipner Roboticsdevelops unmanned ground vehicles and autonomous systems for environments lacking roads and infrastructure to navigate by. Today, many tasks in forestry and mining are performed using large machines operated by humans, sometimes in hazardous environments.
“If you design driverless machines from the ground up, they can be made simpler and more cost-effective. You can avoid the systems required to create a safe working environment for humans and instead optimize the machine for the task at hand,” explains Sverker Svärdby, founder of Sleipner Robotics.
The technology relies on sensors, cameras, and AI-based systems that enable the machines to interpret their surroundings and navigate rough terrain. This could involve, for example, clearing work, planting in forests, or transport operations in mines.
“We have a strong track record in the development of autonomous systems. Now we want to apply that expertise to new industries, particularly forestry and mining infrastructure,” says Sverker Svärdby.
A technology for high-risk environments
Ultimately, these vehicles will be able to perform many of the tasks that currently require manned machinery, while also enabling new types of work as they become more cost-effective to use. This could include, for example, clearing and planting in forests, or transportation and rescue operations in mines.
– Self-driving cars on roads are one thing. But off-road, there are no road markings or signs. That calls for different solutions.
Develops solutions in collaboration with industry
Sleipner Robotics develops its technology in close collaboration with industry. Through BizMaker’s business development program,Forest Business Accelerator, the company has established contacts with major industrial firms and is now working to set up pilot projects where the technology can be tested in real-world environments.
– It’s hard to cold-call forestry companies with billions in revenue. The accelerator gives us credibility and opens doors to the right people and opportunities.
Development takes place through joint projects in which industrial companies partially fund the work, and the company is simultaneously seeking investors to further develop the technology.
“Our driving force is solving difficult problems and developing new products. When something works, we want to take on the next challenge and continue developing new solutions,” concludes Sverker Svärdby.
CONTACT
Sverker Svärdby, Founder of Sleipner Robotics
sverker.svardby@sleipnerrobotics.com, 070 377 15 88
About Sleipner Robotics
Sleipner Robotics was founded in 2024 by Sverker Svärdby, who previously worked on the development of unmanned systems in the defense industry.
About the Forest Business Accelerator
The Forest Business Acceleratoris a collaboration betweenBizMaker,SCA,IBM,Sweco, andthe Processum Biorefinery Cluster, part ofRISE; a platform where innovations in forestry and the bioeconomy can flourish through collaboration between entrepreneurs, industry, and research.
