Optimized Architectural Adaption using a Generic Workflow for Telematics on Harvesters in Asia

Abstract

Global challenges in agriculture demand continuous innovation, nowadays mostly driven by digital farming solutions. Connected agricultural machines with telematics are already a common appearance in developed markets such as Europe and North America. However, Asia offers still largely untapped potential in the agricultural sector. Enabling telematics for complex agricultural machines such as combine harvesters offers considerable benefits but also comes with a multitude of interconnected components and interdisciplinary technologies. Unknown challenges make it difficult to assess the cost, development effort and process planning for the expansion which creates a significant market entry barrier for industrial companies. This paper provides a holistic view of technical challenges categorized into effects from the different application environment, the suitability of the connectivity hardware and the legal boundaries related to the architectural system design. Finally, all necessary analysis steps and interconnections are visualized in a generic workflow to significantly improve the decision making process.