Multisensor Data Fusion ISOBUS-Solution for a Sensor Based Fertilizer Application System

A comprehensive analysis and design method for Multisensor Data Fusion (MSDF) solutions in Agricultural BUS-Systems was proposed. Applied to the use case of a real-time process control for N-fertilizer application according to the “Real-time approach with map overlay” the proof of feasibility was demonstrated and an analysis regarding the ISOBUS (ISO 11783) standard revealed if and how it can be converted into an ISOBUS solution. Based on the results of functional and procedural models a system architecture according to the pattern "Distributed Sensor/Fusion" was proposed, i. e. a distributed sensor network (short-term knowledge) and a central fusion node, an "In-field Controller", with medium-term and long-term declarative knowledge as overlay maps and with procedural knowledge, the MSDF-algorithm. Even though the ISOBUS definition of the device class "sensor systems" and the new “peer control” proposal broadens the scope of site specific crop management to all three system approaches for process control in mobile application systems, only a comprehensive MSDF-solution that covers not just the decision level but also the feature level enables the full performance and spectrum of the "Real-time approach with map overlay". Therefore, extensions of the standard as the "In-field Controller", an additional data element "Overlay-Map (OMP)", the data exchange possibility between FMIS and MICS for long-term explicit procedural knowledge and new data dictionary elements for plant, soil and weather attributes are suggested. Furthermore, the definition of two complementary classes of MSDF node processors for on-line sensors would allow the integration of wireless sensor networks. The presented research originates from the first author’s doctoral research study at Technische Universitaet Muenchen conducted independently of his current employment.     «

A comprehensive analysis and design method for Multisensor Data Fusion (MSDF) solutions in Agricultural BUS-Systems was proposed. Applied to the use case of a real-time process control for N-fertilizer application according to the “Real-time approach with map overlay” the proof of feasibility was demonstrated and an analysis regarding the ISOBUS (ISO 11783) standard revealed if and how it can be converted into an ISOBUS solution. Based on the results of functional and procedural models a system...     »