David Smart

Background

About David Smart

I'm fascinated with what can be done with electronics! I've been professionally engaged with hardware, software, and network design for real-time embedded devices since 1976, and I haven't lost any of the fascination. Early in my career, I worked with almost every 8-bit micro. In 1986, I developed the first embedded networked product to be deployed into John Deere tractors, based on an automotive technology from Chrysler (CCD). Soon after I moved from assembly language to C for embedded systems, and right after that I started with CAN. In the mid 1990s work turned to the SAE J1939 and ISO 11783 (aka "ISOBUS") protocols, while making the transition to 16-bit micros. In that timeline, I co-developed a custom embedded real-time operating system that is still in use in JD today - more recently having migrated to 32-bit micros. Since the turn of the century, my work continued to focus more on networked systems and the architecture of those systems (then CAN and now Ethernet)- both within John Deere, and in support of industry standards (ISO11783). At the industry level, I have had roles participating in, and also leading, activities within ISO TC23/SC19/WG1, and more recently in the Agricultural Industry Electronics Foundation (AEF). In AEF, the project team I presently lead is developing a High Speed ISOBUS (HSI), based on Ethernet to augment the existing ISO11783 Standard. These roles were sponsored by a great company that enabled me to excel and work closely with staff from many competitors, all for the benefit of our mutual customers - agricultural producers. And I now count many of those competitor-counterparts as good friends. The year twenty-twenty was one affecting everyone. In my case, it was also the year I was one of seven employees, worldwide, to be named a John Deere Fellow. And, as it turned out, later that year was when I retired. Now, as an intentional part-time employee, I'm back on contract to John Deere, with a focus on leading the AEF work to bring HSI to a state where it can become an ISO Standard ready for industry adoption. As that work moves into ISO for standardization, a joint working group was expanded involving others with a similar need - joining Agriculture, Construction, Earth Moving, Mining, Forestry, and On-Road Truck and Trailer. Even with a career focused on electronics of one form or another, I have retained a passion for developing hobby projects. and my part-time work leaves part of the time for play, where you may find me in my home lab.