Work

Design and Experiment of a Motor-Driven Hydraulic Crawler Chassis for Camellia oleifera Fruit Harvester

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The harvesting of Camellia oleifera fruit in hilly areas faces core problems such as low manual efficiency, poor terrain adaptability of existing machinery, and severe emissions and noise from traditional equipment. This study designed a crawler chassis utilizing a permanent magnet synchronous motor-driven hydraulic system. The research integrated kinematic modeling and resistance calculations for parameter matching, followed by AMESim dynamic simulations and motor calibration experiments. Finally, comprehensive field tests were conducted to evaluate the prototype. The results indicate the chassis achieves a maximum travel speed >1.5 m∙s−1, a climbing angle of 41.4°, and a turning radius of 0.72 m, with noise levels strictly below 80 dB(A). Significantly, dynamic power characteristic tests under actual vibration harvesting conditions revealed that the 45 kW motor maintains a rapid response with ample power reserve. The input power exhibited a distinct square-wave pattern synchronized with hydraulic valve commands, peaking at 18.1 kW during vibration bursts. These findings confirm the system’s stability under coupled driving and harvesting loads. This design offers a viable, low-noise solution for electrifying and intelligently upgrading Camellia oleifera harvesting equipment in complex terrains.

Source: AgriEngineering

DOI: 10.3390/agriengineering8020073

Authors: Yaxi Zhou, Fei Chen, Kai Liao, Bin Wan

Institution: Central South University of Forestry and Technology

Language: English

Topic: Agricultural Engineering and Mechanization

Subfield: Mechanical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Zero hunger

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,930