[Farm Machinery of the Week] Daedong’s ‘Vision AI Tractor’ ushers in the era of agricultural field robots

[Korea Agricultural Technology Newspaper = Reporter Lee Hyun-woo] Daedong, a leading domestic future agriculture company, has officially launched its 'AI Tractor' in the Korean market, integrating vision AI-based unmanned autonomous work technology and declaring the 'field robotization' of advanced agricultural machinery. The newly unveiled AI Tractor goes beyond the existing stage of autonomous driving without an onboard operator; it is an intelligent agricultural field robot that independently perceives and judges surrounding conditions and carries out farm work. We took a close look at the core technologies and product specifications of Daedong’s AI Tractor, developed to dramatically reduce the labor burden on farmers in the field and ensure consistent work quality.

'On-device AI' and '360-degree vision recognition' technology without dependence on external networks
The biggest technical feature of Daedong’s AI Tractor is the application of 'on-device AI,' which computes data and controls operations in real time on the device itself without relying on the cloud or external networks. This is why stable autonomous work is possible without interruption even in mountainous or shadow areas with poor communication environments.

The six cameras mounted on the smart roof at the top of the tractor analyze the surrounding environment in real time across a full 360 degrees, replacing human eyes.

In particular, it has been optimized for Korea’s agricultural land environment, which is densely divided by rice paddy banks and field ridges. The vision AI is expected to help prevent accidents in which the tractor leaves the farmland by accurately recognizing the boundary lines of paddy banks. Daedong explains that this vision-recognition-based technology is unique in the world. In addition, it maximizes safety during unmanned work by detecting and responding in real time not only to the boundaries of ridges along the work path but also to sudden unexpected obstacles.
 

Perfect fusion of hardware and electronic control… realizing precise unmanned autonomous work
Daedong completely reestablished the hardware design from the ground up so that the equipment does not shake or deviate from its path during unmanned autonomous work.

First, it applied a physical structure based on a heavy vehicle body and a wide wheelbase. This allows the implement to maintain stable ground contact and straight-line driving performance even when performing high-speed or high-load work unmanned. In addition, it is equipped with an 'integrated electronic control system' that combines steering (handling), brakes, transmission, and the three-point hitch that raises and lowers implements into a single system. The focus was on precisely implementing, without error, the optimal route and working conditions determined by the AI into the hydraulic and power systems of the actual machine platform.

Remote monitoring and 'simultaneous multiple control' with a single touch on a smartphone app
To maximize convenience for farmers in the field, the complex operation process has been simplified into a single smartphone application (app). Simply touching the smartphone app at the entrance to the farmland allows the tractor to recognize the attached implement on its own, generate the optimal work route for the plot, and immediately begin unmanned work.

In particular, within a single app, users can simultaneously instruct and manage two tractors performing different unmanned tasks, dramatically boosting work efficiency for farms operating large plots. Currently, the implements that the vision AI can recognize and match include four types—rotary tillers, plows, harrows, and ridgers—covering more than 20 models. Daedong plans to further expand the compatibility range in line with field demand.

Daedong’s AI Tractor has an MLOps (Machine Learning Operation) structure that evolves on its own in proportion to the time it works in rice paddies and fields. Data collected during operations is automatically transmitted and recorded in real time to Daedong’s 'Operation Center,' and the more the user operates the tractor, the more it provides optimal work accuracy and quality tailored to that farm’s plots.