Multi-machine Coordination: Scheduling Operations based on Readiness Criteria and using a modified Tabu Search Algorithm

Many agricultural operations involve the coordination of multiple tasks executed by several different machines. Additionally, an envisioned paradigm shift away from using a few large machines that are operated by one person, to multiple small automated machines, will result in coordination becoming even more important. Using scheduling and optimisation algorithms to create a work plan for multiple machines can reduce the resources used, such as time, costs and fuel, and increase the work capacity. In this paper, a scheduling and optimisation algorithm is presented aimed at the inter field scheduling of multiple tasks at multiple locations for multiple vehicles.