Development of a Traveling Unit for Steep Slopes and Its Adaptability to Harvesting and Transporting Operations

Abstract

Electric traveling units equipped with a loading platform control mechanism using electric cylinders, developed for stable traveling on steep slopes. The loading platform control reduced the differences in ground pressure balance in the contour direction and path deviation to the valley side. When traveling uphill, the center of gravity along the traveling direction provides hill climbing force, which is effective for traveling on incline. The second traveling unit, improved for practical use, could continuously operate for approximately 3 hours. Battery usage during harvesting and transporting in an approximately 11 a orchard was approximately 23 %, indicating that charging during work was unnecessary. Characteristics of harvesting and transporting on steep slopes are advantageous for electric traveling units.