AOFS Terminology

This page defines key terms and standard concepts used in the Afritic Open Farming Standard (AOFS). It complements the Glossary by focusing on terminology used for operations, modules, and compliance.

• Field Controller – Local controller at the field level that manages irrigation schedules, sensor readings, actuator control, fail-safes, and data logging.
• Farm / Local Controller – Aggregates data from multiple Field Controllers, synchronizes configurations, and provides local dashboards.
• HQ / Federated Controller – Oversees multiple Farm Controllers, aggregates data for analytics, reporting, and management decisions.

• Sensors Layer – Devices and systems that measure soil, water, weather, power, and human input.
• Soil Monitoring – Includes soil moisture, temperature, and optional electrical conductivity.
• Weather Monitoring – On-site environmental measurements such as rainfall, temperature, humidity, and wind.
• Water Monitoring – Flow, pressure, and tank level sensors.
• Optical / Camera Monitoring – Field cameras for crop documentation and optional AI-assisted analysis.
• Human Input – Operator-provided observations, crop surveys, harvest data, or external events like fertilizer application.

• Actuator – Device performing a physical action, e.g., valves, pumps, gates.
• Hydraulic System – Pumps, tanks, pipes, and valves for water distribution.
• Electrical System – Power distribution, optional solar integration, and monitoring interfaces.
• Valves & Pumps – Devices controlled by the Field Controller to regulate water flow and irrigation.

• Crop Irrigation Module – Core module managing water delivery, soil, and crop conditions.
• Poultry Farming Module – Optional module for managing feed, water, and environmental monitoring.
• Livestock / Animal Husbandry Module – Tracks veterinary records, feeding, breeding, and production metrics.
• Greenhouse / Hydroponics Module – Optional module for CO₂, light, nutrient, and water management.
• Custom / Third-Party Modules – User-defined extensions using standard AOFS interfaces.

• Local Autonomy – Principle that critical control and monitoring must function even if network connectivity fails.
• Fail-Safe – Mechanisms ensuring safety of irrigation, water systems, pumps, and energy supply.
• PUE – Productive Use of Electricity; efficiency metric for energy used in farm operations.
• Energy-Aware Operation – Optional feature where irrigation and actuation are scheduled based on available energy.
• Event Prioritization – Operators assign urgency to events, guiding energy-aware scheduling.
• Data Logging – Timestamped recording of sensor readings, actuator events, and human input.

• AOFS Compliance – Deployment adheres to AOFS minimum requirements for safety, monitoring, and operational logic.
• Certification – Formal validation that a device, module, or deployment meets AOFS standards.
• Reference Implementation – A sample hardware/software implementation provided to illustrate AOFS-compliant design.

• Terms are AOFS-specific and should be used consistently across documentation and deployment manuals.
• This page is extendable for new modules, features, or operational concepts.
• For detailed definitions of devices and sensors, see Sensors and Actuators.