Convergence HTF: RCN: Enhancing Small and Mid-level Farm Viability Through a Systems-based Research Network: Linking Technology and Sustainable Development and Practice

这个融合研究协调网络解决了在中小型农场背景下人类技术前沿工作的未来。智能、互动和高度网络化的机器--人们越来越多地与之互动--正在成为景观的一部分，特别是在工作方面。 随着今天的自动化从工厂车间转移到知识和服务行业，需要进行研究，以获得提高生产力和增加就业机会的好处，并减轻社会成本。 融合是来自多个领域的知识，理论，方法和数据的深度整合，以形成新的和扩展的框架，以应对科学和社会的挑战和机遇。该奖项支持的研究协调网络将通过机器人技术，人为因素，系统和控制理论，神经运动和认知科学，机器学习，系统工程，数据分析，精准农业，人体工程学，健康和安全以及可持续性的融合，确定人类，技术和工作关系中的关键挑战和研究必要性。本项目通过探索在整个技术研究开发过程中以人为本，包括社会和经济考虑在内的方法，促进融合。本研究协调网络的具体重点是在多个利益相关者之间建立研究合作，以充分实现新兴技术能力在中小农场背景下的潜在利益。利益相关者包括在人为因素，机器人，系统工程，教育和可持续发展等领域具有互补专业知识的学术研究人员。中小型农场面临各种严重的经济和人口挑战。农业是一项艰苦而危险的职业，对老龄化的劳动力造成了身体上的损失。自动化和机器人技术的创新可能会增强个人能力，降低受伤风险，但这些潜在的好处带来了工作岗位流失的威胁，并可能加剧经济不平等。目前，新兴技术解决方案的创造和发展通常是沿着平行、孤立的调查路线进行的，没有意识到所涉问题的广泛和相互关联的性质。该研究网络力求为各相关学科的研究人员提供这种综合视角，并在技术开发进程的早期阶段就让农业界的利益攸关方参与进来。

This convergence Research Coordination Network addresses the future of work at the human-technology frontier in the context of small- and medium-sized farms. Intelligent, interactive, and highly networked machines -- with which people increasingly interact -- are a growing part of the landscape, particularly in regard to work. As automation today moves from the factory floor to knowledge and service occupations, research is needed to reap the benefits in increased productivity and increased job opportunities, and to mitigate social costs. Convergence is the deep integration of knowledge, theories, methods, and data from multiple fields to form new and expanded frameworks for addressing scientific and societal challenges and opportunities. The Research Coordination Network supported by this award will define key challenges and research imperatives at the nexus of humans, technology, and work through the convergence of robotics, human factors, systems and control theory, neuromotor and cognitive sciences, machine learning, systems engineering, data analytics, precision agriculture, ergonomics, health and safety, and sustainability. This project promotes Convergence by exploring methods for incorporating a human-centric focus, including social and economic considerations, throughout the entire technology research and development process.The specific focus of this Research Coordination Network is to build research collaborations among multiple stakeholders in order to fully realize the potential benefits of emerging technological capabilities in the context of small- and medium-sized farms. The stakeholders include academic researchers with complementary expertise in human factors, robotics, systems engineering, education, and sustainability, among other areas. Small- and medium-sized farms face a variety of serious economic and demographic challenges. Farming is a strenuous and dangerous occupation, which takes a physical toll on an aging workforce. Innovations in automation and robotics may augment individual capabilities as well as reduce the risk of injury, but with these potential benefits come the threat of job displacement and the possible exacerbation of economic inequity. Currently, creation and development of emerging technological solutions are typically driven along parallel, isolated lines of inquiry, with no awareness of the broad and interrelated nature of the issues involved. This research network seeks to provide researchers across relevant disciplines with this integrated perspective, as well as to involve stakeholders in the agricultural community at a much earlier stage in the technology development process.