Bio-inspired Sensor Data Management for Modular Agricultural Machines

Abstract

In agricultural applications modularity is common practice from the hardware perspective (e.g. combination of one tractor with different implements). This fact, however, is not adequately reflected in the way sensor data is processed for changing machine combinations so far. Thus, a new methodology for onboard processing of sensor data with a holistic view on the entire machine combination was developed. Due to the fact that the design principles and alignment mechanisms found in social insects and higher animals served as a source of inspiration it is both lean and sophisticated and thus well suited for the given application.