Russian Students Build AI Bot That Measures Timber Loads from a Single Photo

Designed by undergrads, the neural network can estimate wood volume in truck beds with over 80% accuracy — and it's already streamlining the forestry supply chain.

A group of young developers from Udmurtia, Russia, has created a neural network–powered bot that’s winning praise from timber haulers. In Russia, lumber is typically measured by volume rather than weight — a process that’s usually done manually and can be both time-consuming and prone to error.

The students trained an AI model to handle this task with surprising precision. By uploading a single photo of a loaded truck to a messaging app, users can instantly get an estimate of the wood’s volume — with accuracy above 80%. The system is designed to be user-friendly and doesn’t require technical skills to operate.

In addition to volume, the bot calculates log diameter, length, and truck bed dimensions — all in a matter of seconds. It’s a solution that not only eliminates repetitive manual labor but also accelerates transportation logistics in the timber industry.

The project underscores how impactful tech doesn’t have to come from seasoned professionals. The bot is easy to deploy at logging firms or logistics companies, making it a practical, in-demand tool across the sector.