Systems Requirements for a Small Autonomous Tractor

This paper proposes some system requirements for a small autonomous tractor that includes some physical attributes as well as behavioural traits in certain conditions or contexts. The tractor should be physically small, lightweight, reliable, have good realtime communication facilities and be managed easily, especially under fleet management. Five internal and thirteen external contexts have been identified that can be used to trigger different behaviours. Four operational modes for the tractor have been identified. Field scouting and mechanical weeding have been identified and described as the first two niche tasks likely to become autonomous.