# Off-Grid Agricultural Cyber Physical Systems

- Link: https://www.agilicus.com/off-grid-agricultural-cyber-physical-systems/
- Published: 2024-01-20T18:39:33+00:00
- Author: Don Bowman

My favourite topics just merged. The “[John Deere Business Model](https://www.agilicus.com/white-papers/subscription-model-and-remote-access-in-industrial-control/)”
of taking something traditional and making it subscription. Starlink and its [complex remote access](https://www.agilicus.com/topics/remote-access-over-starlink/)
needs due to CGNAT. And, cybersecurity, notably [Cyber Physical Systems](https://www.agilicus.com/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? CheckSelf-
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.