Sensor Fusion
Organizations need multiple sensing systems because different opportunities emit different signals.
Plants use five different photoreceptor types to sense their environment: phytochromes (red/far-red for shade detection), cryptochromes (blue/UV for light intensity), phototropins (blue for direction), UV-B receptors (UVR8 for UV radiation), and chlorophyll itself. Each provides different information, and combined they create a detailed resource map.
This multi-signal integration includes predictive elements - plants detect not just current resource availability but future threats (nearby competition growing taller) and directional opportunities (lateral light gaps). The weighting of signals changes with life stage: seedlings prioritize light (phototropism-heavy), mature trees prioritize structure (gravitropism-heavy).
Business Application of Sensor Fusion
Organizations need multiple sensing systems because different opportunities emit different signals. Customer retention metrics, technology adoption curves, geographic growth rates, and competitive movements each reveal different gradients. Integrating these signals with appropriate weighting is essential for directional growth.