Field swarm ®ecosystem
The journey to autonomous agricultural technology
Since July 2023, LACOS has been working with 12 other partners on the BMBF-funded project Field Swarm® Ecosystem. The goal is the simultaneous automated operation of multiple agricultural machines and agricultural robots, with operators able to monitor and intervene in the processes. Together, we are developing a comprehensive hardware and IT control architecture, exploring AI, remote monitoring and data security, and integrating these control systems into agricultural machinery and agricultural robots in a vendor-independent manner. These systems are tested in field operations for effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. We are also planning strategic product concepts that will be produced as production-ready solutions in the Alliance region.
- ISOBUS - Interoperability - Among other things, we are researching the next generation of the ISOBUS communication standard for data communication between different manufacturers, which is unique in agricultural technology.
- FarmerCentric HMI - The operator is the focus - not the machine.
- AI Agronomy - Artificial Intelligence is the key technology for using this agronomic know-how in future autonomous machine systems.
- Safety & Reliability - Autonomous agricultural machinery must meet future international requirements for functional safety, data security and operational reliability.
Institution: Federal Ministry of Education and Research
Program Family: RUBIN - Regional Entrepreneurial Alliances for Innovation
Learn more on the official project website
Milestones
December 2023
Conceptual design largely completed
June 2024
Provision of the basic platforms for the individual product concepts
July 2025
Development of main components completed and start of testing
June 2026
Project completion/ prototypes pass under field conditions
Managing Director and Alliance Spokesman
Thomas Damme
„The high-caliber alliance consortium consists of leading experts from the fields of automation technology, artificial intelligence as well as agricultural machinery engineering and has already been working together very successfully for years in some cases. With the Feldschwarm® ecosystem, we want to use the given locational advantages of the skilled labor potential as well as semiconductor and sensor technology to create a sustainable competitive advantage in Saxony and beyond.“
We look forward to hearing from you.
Your contact
Graduate in Business and Computer Science (TU)Thomas DammeManaging Director DevelopmentCommunication German, EnglishPhone +49 36628.6 88-24Fax +49 36628.6 88-17Mobile phone+49 179.45 83 179E-mailtd@lacos.de
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Thomas DammeManaging Director Development
Due to his extensive experience in the field of mobile software development, Mr. Thomas Damme has been the first point of contact for our internationally active customers and partners for more than 15 years.
Phone +49 36628.6 88-24E-mailtd@lacos.deLACOS – A committed company
Regionally, as well as beyond its borders
The philosophy of LACOS is characterised by innovation, sustainability, customer satisfaction and employee safety. The commitment to implement these guiding principles and integrate them into the company's day-to-day operations has been confirmed by the wide range of awards and certificates that we have received.
In 2007 and 2011, LACOS won a silver medal at "Agritechnica" – the world's leading trade fair for agricultural technology – thanks to its innovative ideas.
The recruitment and securing of skilled workers are important management pillars at LACOS. Internal structures, processes and measures are always interpreted in terms of reconciling work and family life.
From the idea to the finished product – all development steps for the company's proprietary software products are carried out exclusively at the two German company locations.
After LACOS had been announced as one the finalists for the Grand Prize for Medium-Sized Businesses in 2016, the company was one of 30 companies in 2017 to be awarded the Medium-Sized Business Prize.
The health and well-being of employees is an important asset for LACOS. Internal health management uses various measures to make work, organisation, structures and processes healthy.
For LACOS, ISO 9001 certification is an important element in ensuring and continuously improving overall quality management.
LACOS was once awarded the “Innovative through Research” seal for 2018/2019 by the Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft e.V., the German donors' association for the promotion of humanities and sciences.
In accordance with the consulting guidelines of the Free State of Thuringia, the company receives a subsidy to increase its performance and competitiveness by providing advice from independent management consultants - intensive consulting and process support. The results and recommendations for action will be recorded in a consultant report. The funding is provided by the European Social Fund and state funds from the Free State of Thuringia.