ST–YTO lab to develop intelligent agricultural equipment

Global semiconductor company STMicroelectronics has announced an agreement with YTO Group, a Chinese provider of agricultural and construction machinery, to establish a joint laboratory in YTO’s Research Institute of Intelligence and Information in Luoyang, in China’s Henan province. The lab will focus on the research and development of electronic solutions for engine, vehicle and agricultural controls in tractors.

The rapid development of automated control technologies, together with local and global emission regulations for off-road diesel engines, is driving the penetration of electronic control systems in tractors. YTO and ST are bringing their complementary know-how together to address the government requirements and industry needs.

YTO’s Research Institute of Intelligence and Information specialises in electronic control systems for three main agricultural machinery applications: tractors, harvesters and agricultural equipment. Meanwhile, ST is a supplier of semiconductors for automotive applications and offers a broad portfolio of automotive ICs. Moreover, ST brings a wealth of experience collaborating with numerous suppliers to meet the demanding requirements of the automotive industry.

“As the first producer of tractors, road rollers and cross-country trucks in China, YTO has a long history of success as a leading provider of agricultural equipment,” said Lei Jun, Assistant Director of YTO’s Research Institute of Intelligence and Information. “This cooperation combines ST’s cutting-edge technologies and application-specific ICs with our solutions, to continue to innovate and to ensure outstanding quality and performance.”

ST is set to provide the joint lab with its latest automotive semiconductor technology and solutions, including SPC5x 32-bit microcontrollers and smart power ICs such as motor-control, power-supply and general-purpose high- and low-side actuation drivers, along with the appropriate application notes, reference designs, development tools, technical support and training.

“With the increasing penetration of electronic control systems in agricultural applications and the development of China’s emission standards for off-road diesel engines, cooperation across the supply chain is a necessity,” said MH TEY, Greater China, South Asia and Korea Head of Automotive Marketing and Application, STMicroelectronics. “ST is engaging with its partners to build strong ecosystems, and we believe the ST–YTO joint lab will bring even greater momentum to ST’s growth in China’s tractor and agricultural market while advancing the development of YTO’s next-gen electronic control systems for agricultural machinery.”

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