Fieldswarm technology for tillage and crop care: Paradigm change in agricultural technology: Bigger, faster, wider is going to change towards smart, connected and modular

Today agriculture equipment is characterized by a high level of productivity and automation. Tractor-implement systems establish productivity by increasing working width and higher operational speed supported by larger storage volumes and increased tractor power availability. Dimensions and weight of tractor – implement systems have become the most important limitations for further growing productivity. A trend from Bigger, Faster, Wider towards Smart, Connected and Modular is under discussion. Modular and scalable systems with a high and variable degree of autonomy have potential to deliver configuration capability regarding actual task and field conditions while providing scalability of peak performance, productivity and economy. Possible machine concepts can consist of a tractor with automated and modular process units and / or autonomous self-propelled systems working as single unit or in a fleet (swarm). Swarm operation requires an adaptive and multimodal frontend to manage and lead a heterogeneous swarm of smart process applications. The example Feldschwarm, shown in the paper, is designed to the requirements of tillage and seeding in a first step.