Daedong Launches AI Tractor, Ushering in the Era of Agricultural "Field Robots"

Autonomous On-Device Vision AI Operation
An Agricultural "Field Robot" That Makes Its Own Decisions

On April 9, Daedong announced that it will launch the Daedong AI Tractor, which incorporates vision-based artificial intelligence (AI) unmanned autonomous operation technology, in the domestic market.

Daedong developed the AI Tractor to address issues stemming from the aging rural population and labor shortages. The aim is to establish a new work structure in which repetitive and heavy-duty farming tasks are handled by robots, while humans focus on supervision and decision-making. Developed through years of research and field validation, this product is a strategic model that encapsulates Daedong's AI capabilities. It is particularly distinguished from conventional tractors by its ability to independently perceive and assess its surroundings and perform agricultural tasks, thus defining it as an "agricultural field robot."

The AI Tractor employs on-device AI, enabling autonomous decision-making and task execution on the machine itself without relying on the cloud. It generates paths, responds to obstacles, and controls operations in real time on-site, ensuring stable autonomous work regardless of connectivity conditions. Additionally, its vision AI system with six cameras provides 360-degree analysis of the environment, detecting field boundaries, obstacles, and implements.

Daedong AI Tractor

Daedong explained that the core of the AI Tractor lies not in "controlling" agricultural work, but in "delegating" it. The tractor can be remotely controlled and monitored through an app, allowing for consistent work quality whether the operator is not onboard or is inexperienced. With a single touch on a smartphone at the field entrance, the tractor autonomously identifies implements, generates work routes, and carries out most farming tasks, all while every process is remotely managed. Furthermore, multiple tractors can be controlled and managed simultaneously via a single app, significantly improving work efficiency for farms or corporations managing large or multiple plots of land.

Another notable feature of the AI Tractor is its ability to self-learn and improve performance. Based on machine learning, it accumulates data on paths, obstacles, and environments during operation, learning from this data to enhance subsequent tasks. The more it is used, the higher the accuracy and stability of its work. All data is automatically recorded in Daedong's "Operation Center," enabling users to manage work history and check field information via web and mobile apps, and facilitating data-driven decision-making for future farm management.

Since the AI Tractor enables precise unmanned autonomous operations without the need for an operator onboard, it can also reduce work fatigue and the risk of accidents associated with prolonged machinery use. While the tractor operates, people can remain nearby to check and manage results, as well as prepare for other tasks such as pesticide and fertilizer application, transplanting, or drainage management, thereby improving productivity per working hour.

Daedong plans to gradually introduce the AI Tractor to global markets, including North America and Europe. The company is targeting a North American launch in 2027, with subsequent expansion into Europe. Since last year, Daedong has been conducting field tests in North America to localize autonomous operation functions.

Nah Youngjoong, Executive Vice President of Daedong Group Management, stated, "The AI Tractor is not simply a tractor that does not require a driver, but rather an agricultural field robot that performs farming tasks autonomously. Starting with the AI Tractor, Daedong will continue to expand AI- and robot-based agricultural solutions that generate real value in the field, leading the future autonomous agriculture market."

Meanwhile, discussions are intensifying in the National Assembly to provide institutional support for the agricultural robotics industry. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy defines intelligent robots as machines that autonomously perceive their environment, assess situations, and act on their own through the "Act on the Promotion of Development and Distribution of Intelligent Robots." Recently, a partial amendment to the "Act on the Promotion of Mechanization of Agriculture" was proposed in the National Assembly to introduce the definition of "intelligent agricultural robots," applying this concept to the agricultural sector.

This bill defines agricultural machines that perform autonomous driving, precision work, and data-driven decision-making based on AI and the Internet of Things (IoT) as "intelligent agricultural robots," and provides grounds for the national and local governments to offer financial support for equipment introduction. Industry officials expect that, if passed, the bill will greatly accelerate the adoption of AI-based agricultural robots in the field.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.