The official project launch of the RUBIN – Alliance Field Swarm® Ecosystem was announced on occasion of a ceremonial kick-off event during the simul+- Forum “Autonomous Mobile Working Machines” at Schloss Proschwitz, Meissen. For the first time, the Field Swarm® ecosystem will enable the autonomized and simultaneous operation of several agricultural machines, as well as modern agricultural robots. The focus is on the operators, who can monitor and intervene in the work process in the field at any time.

Over the next three years, 13 project partners in industry and research will develop a comprehensive hardware and IT control architecture for this purpose, integrating innovative systems for the semi-autonomous control of several agricultural machines as well as for remote or process monitoring. They are also researching new technologies and processes for artificial intelligence, remote and process monitoring, and data security for trouble-free operation. The innovative control systems will be integrated in traditional agricultural machinery, as well as in novel agricultural robots in a manufacturer-independent manner and will be tested in joint operation for effectiveness and economic efficiency in field operation.

Based on a unique innovation base, the project partners research and design coordinated strategic product concepts, which are produced and further developed in the subsequent industrialization phase of the RUBIN project as a system of production-ready product solutions in the alliance region.

Alliance spokesman Thomas Damme, managing partner of LACOS, emphasizes the special importance of the project for the agricultural technology and region of the alliance partners:

“The top-class alliance consortium consists of leading experts among others in automation technology, artificial intelligence, as well as agricultural machinery construction and has already been working together very successfully for years in some cases. With the Field Swarm ® ecosystem, we want to use the given location advantages of the skilled workforce, as well as semiconductor and sensor technology, to create a sustainable competitive advantage in Saxony and beyond.”