■ Recognized for its publicity and innovativeness as a new technology to solve rural labor problems
■ It is highly likely to be introduced to government smart farming-related projects in the future.
■ “Designation as an innovative product is a very meaningful event in which the innovativeness and social value of LS Mtron’s autonomous tractor technology were recognized,” said Seok-ho Kang, head of Tractor Business Division. “We will lead innovation of agricultural machinery.”

LS Mtron (CEO Jae-ho Shin), an LS Group company specializing in industrial machinery and high-tech parts, announced on January 24 that its autonomous tractor ‘LS SmartTrek’ was designated as the Public Procurement Service innovative product for the first time in the industry.

‘LS SmartTrek’, which was designated as an innovative product, is equipped with the highest level of cutting-edge technology in Korea. As it comes with the high-precision location information systems, i.e. RTK1) (Real Time Kinematic) and GNSS2) (Global Navigation Satellite System), the positioning accuracy is within 2cm in the stationary state, and the maximum error is only 7cm during operation. It has excellent performance even in straight-line precision during hilling, ridge forming and vinyl mulching. The technology for electronically controlling the engine, transmission, electro-hydraulic system, PTO3) and steering system and the K-Turn4) path generation algorithm suitable for Korean agriculture were applied for the first time in Korea.

‘LS SmartTrek’ is regarded as an innovative technology to solve the problems of musculoskeletal disorders in farmers due to repetitive agricultural work and the shortage of workers in rural areas. It enables efficient agricultural management and operation by reducing the difficulty of tractor operation and increasing productivity. A field test at the farm (soybean farm) showed a 17% reduction in tillage time and an 8% increase in yield compared to manual operation.

As an innovative product, ‘LS SmartTrek’ is highly likely to be introduced to the affiliated organizations of the Rural Development Administration and smart farming-related government projects in the future.

The Innovative Product Designation System is a system in which the government designates excellent R&D results and new technology certified products to promote technological innovation and innovative growth by supporting the entry of innovative products into the public procurement market. Each ministry examines publicity, social value, innovativeness, marketability, etc., and the Procurement Policy Review Committee decides to designate innovative products. If a product is designated as an innovative product, it is registered in the Innovation Marketplace, and public institutions can purchase the product. It can also participate in the trial purchase program of the Public Procurement Service.

“Designation as an innovative product is a very meaningful event in which the innovativeness and social value of LS Mtron’s autonomous tractor technology were recognized,” said Seok-ho Kang, head of Tractor Business Division. “We will expand the field of technology development and lead agricultural machinery innovation through synergies with individual ministries in the public domain.”

[Terminology]
1) Technology to improve the accuracy of GNSS position measurement (reduce positioning error values)
2) Satellite navigation system: A system that provides information on the location, altitude, speed, etc. of ground objects using satellites (GPS is a satellite system used in the United States, and GNSS is a global satellite navigation system)
3) It is short for Power Take Out. It is a device provided in the transmission to supply the power generated from the engine to ancillary equipment installed in the vehicle.
4) Technology that moves to the next work path in a narrow farmland by automatically moving backwards and forwards in a K-shape

[Description of the photograph]
‘LS SmartTrek,’ LS Mtron’s autonomous tractor designated as an innovative product