1. In a distributed computing system having a plurality of nodes, each node having a sensor for providing local data and a processor, said computing system having a data transfer facility for transferring data between nodes, a method for processing data comprising: acquiring local data, remote data and remote action decisions at a node; analyzing the local data, the remote data and the remote action decisions at said node; and making a local action decision for said node based said local data, said remote data, and said remote action decisions.