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The need for high-quality communications networks is urgent in data-based farming. A particular challenge is how to achieve reliable, cost-efficient, secure, and broadband last-mile data transfer to enable agricultural machine control. The trialed ad hoc private communications networks built and interconnected with different alternative wireless technologies, including 4G, 5G, satellite and tactical networks, provide interesting practical solutions for connectivity. A remotely controlled tractor is exemplified as a use case of machine control in the demonstrated private communication network. This paper describes the results of a comparative technology analysis and a field trial in a realistic environment. The study includes the practical implementation of video monitoring and the optimization of the control channel for remote-controlled unmanned agricultural tractors. The findings from this study verify and consolidate the requirements for network technologies and for cybersecurity enablers. They highlight insights into the suitability of different wireless technologies for smart farming and tractor scenarios and identify potential paths for future research.

The aim of this research was to explore the navigational effects of two common features in current mobile roadmap systems: automatic rotation based on the vehicle's direction of movement and speeddependent automatic zooming. 12 subjects tried four different visualization techniques for a mobile map in real traffic: no rotation/constant zooming, no rotation/automatic zooming, automatic rotation/constant zooming, and automatic rotation/ automatic zooming. The subjects rated the techniques on four scales: position knowledge support, direction knowledge support, identification of real-world objects based on map objects and an overall score. The results showed that conditions involving automatic rotation and/or zooming got systematically more positive ratings on all scales than the conditions without those features. The implementation of automatic zooming created for this experiment was rated as very close to optimal. These results suggest that both automatic rotation and automatic zooming can enhance navigation when implemented to a mobile roadmap.

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