# Off-Grid Agricultural Cyber Physical Systems

My favourite topics just merged. The "[John Deere Business Model](/white-papers/subscription-model-and-remote-access-in-industrial-control/)" of taking something traditional and making it subscription. Starlink and its [complex remote access](/topics/remote-access-over-starlink/) needs due to CGNAT. And, cybersecurity, notably [Cyber Physical Systems](/terminator-becomes-national-standard/) with their scary downsides of being able to move and cause damage. Yes, its a partnership with [John Deere and Starlink](https://www.deere.com/en/news/all-news/john-deere-partnership-with-spacex/) enabling locked-down-no-maintenance-for-you tractors in off-grid areas to be self-driving and remotely controlled.

Now, for those thinking, how bad can this really be? A few farmers with some slow diesel tractors, not my problem. But, then you remember, you watched Maximum Overdrive, a fantastic moving starring the sound track of AC/DC. And, this is now coming to life with this partnership.

The world has gone AI crazy? Check
Ubiquitous satellite connectivity mesh? Check
Self-driving Cyber Physical Systems with moving teeth and high speed? Check

If you think there's an easy way of stopping a Caterpillar D11, you are wrong. Put that in some evil person remote control hand (and we've already seen the damage smaller dozers can do, e.g. the [killdozer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_Heemeyer) when a zoning dispute went wrong). I know Caterpillar is a different company than John Deere, but a [9RX 640](https://www.deere.com/en/tractors/4wd-track-tractors/9rx-640/) is not all that different conceptually in size, power, weight, attachments. And, the world is already seeing the damage drones can do in the Russian-Ukraine war, including [remote-driven tanks](https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/19/europe/russia-tank-explosion-donetsk-ukraine-intl/index.html).

With that cheerful thought, I'll leave you with a scene from Maximum Overdrive. Vroom Vroom.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20BeizHnW3s