China’s self-developed automatic driving system, based on the Beidou navigation system, has been widely put to use across the country, China News reported on May 23.

The automatic driving system, developed by the Beijing UniStrong Science & Technology Co., Ltd, has been put to work on several million mu of arable land in more than 10 provinces and regions in China, according to the Ninth China Satellite Navigation Conference recently held in northeast China.

Guo Xinping, president of the company, revealed that over the course of an average day an automatically operated machine can do 100 to 200 percent more farm work than a manually operated one. Not only is it efficient, but it can also save costs of up to 3,000 yuan ($470) during the farming season.

Guo believes that the need for precision agriculture will continue to grow with the advancement of land conversion, adding that based on development of the system, the company has accumulated mature technologies, equipment and market experience in the field.

The company also announced that it will launch a new scheme regarding the whole industry chain of precision agriculture, to serve the national rural revitalization strategy and targeted poverty relief strategy.