STRATOS: open System for TRAcTOrs' autonomouS Operations

This paper describes the objectives and final results of the STRATOS project (System for TRAcTOrs' autonomous OperationS), within the framework of ICT-AGRI ERA-NET (Coordination of European Research within ICT and Robotics in Agriculture and related Environmental Issues). The main objective of the STRATOS project was the development of an open ICT hardware-software infrastructure enabling the acquisition of geo-referenced information on soil and terrain parameters. In more detail, STRATOS project target was to develop and demonstrate new functions enabled by ISOBUS technology (ISO 11783) that support a substantial improvement of the quality of the farming jobs. In particular the idea is to develop a technology based on ISOBUS compliant, wireless self-powered sensor network for the real time measurement of soil and harvester conditions. In this way, Task Controller (an ICT component defined by ISOBUS specification which supervises actively the farming job performed by the tractor) can optimize the whole tractor and implement operational modes to improve the farming job quality and safety of the overall systems. The project lasted from 1st April, 2011 to31st March, 2013, and this paper reports about the project achievements