How to Select the Chassis of an Orchard Transport Robot

Terrain Adaptability

• Flat Orchards: In orchards with flat terrain and good road conditions, a wheeled chassis can be chosen. It has a simple structure, high movement efficiency, and low cost, and can drive quickly and smoothly in the orchard. For example, some wheeled chassis with four-wheel independent suspension can adapt to slight ground unevenness, ensuring the stability of the goods during transportation.
• Orchards with Complex Terrains: For orchards with complex terrains such as slopes, potholes, and gravel roads, a tracked chassis is a better choice. The tracks have a large contact area with the ground, a small ground pressure, and strong climbing ability, and are not easy to slip or sink in soft and muddy ground. Some special tracked orchard transport robots can climb slopes of more than 35°, easily handling various complex road conditions in mountainous orchards.
• Irregular Orchards: If the orchard terrain is irregular, with many narrow passages, curves, and obstacles, a Mecanum wheel chassis or an omnidirectional wheel chassis can be considered. Such chassis can achieve special movement modes such as in-situ rotation and lateral movement, enabling the robot to move flexibly in narrow spaces and improve work efficiency.

Load Capacity

• Light Load Requirements: If the main task is to transport a small amount of fruit samples, small agricultural supplies, and other light loads, a chassis with a load capacity of 50-100 kilograms can meet the requirements. Some small wheeled robot chassis, through reasonable structural design and motor selection, can easily carry such weights and operate flexibly.
• Medium Load Requirements: When it is necessary to transport whole boxes of fruits, medium-sized agricultural tools, etc., a chassis with a load capacity of 100-500 kilograms is more appropriate. A wheeled or tracked chassis made of high-strength materials, equipped with a larger power motor and a high-quality transmission system, can be selected to ensure stable operation when carrying medium loads.
• Heavy Load Requirements: For heavy-duty tasks such as transporting a large amount of fruits and large agricultural equipment, a chassis with a load capacity of more than 500 kilograms is necessary. At this time, a large tracked chassis or a heavy-duty wheeled chassis with multi-wheel drive should be considered. They usually have a more robust structure, greater torque output, and a more stable walking system.

Power System

• Battery Type: Common types include lead-acid batteries and lithium batteries. Lead-acid batteries have a low cost and high safety, but a low energy density and short battery life. Lithium batteries have a high energy density and long battery life, but a higher cost. If the orchard is large and the transportation task is heavy, a chassis powered by a lithium battery can be selected to reduce the number of charging times and improve work efficiency.
• Battery Life: Select a chassis with an appropriate battery life according to the area of the orchard and the intensity of the transportation task. Generally, a chassis with a battery life of 4-8 hours can meet the daily transportation needs of most orchards. Some chassis with large-capacity battery packs or equipped with energy recovery systems have a longer battery life, which can reduce the charging frequency and improve the efficiency of the robot.
• Charging Method: Consider the convenience of the chassis’s charging method. The wired charging method is simple and reliable, but a charging point needs to be set up at a fixed location. The wireless charging method is more flexible and can achieve automatic charging, improving the automation level of the robot.

Control and Navigation

• Navigation Technology: Advanced navigation technology is the key to ensuring the accurate and efficient operation of the transport robot. Common types include GPS navigation, visual navigation, laser navigation, etc. GPS navigation is suitable for large orchards, but the signal may be affected in areas with dense forests. Visual navigation identifies environmental features through cameras, with a lower cost, but it has higher requirements for environmental lighting. Laser navigation has high accuracy and strong anti-interference ability, but the cost is relatively high. The appropriate navigation method can be selected according to the actual environment of the orchard and the budget.
• Obstacle Avoidance Function: There are various obstacles such as trees, ditches, and agricultural tools in the orchard, and the chassis of the transport robot needs to have a good obstacle avoidance function. A chassis equipped with multiple sensors such as ultrasonic sensors, millimeter-wave radars, and cameras can be selected. Through the multi-sensor fusion technology, accurate detection and identification of obstacles can be realized, ensuring that the robot can avoid obstacles in a timely manner during driving and guaranteeing transportation safety.
• Control Precision: For tasks that require accurate parking and loading/unloading of goods, the control precision of the chassis is crucial. Some chassis with high-precision motor drivers and advanced motion control algorithms can achieve centimeter-level positioning accuracy, meeting the needs of various refined operations in the orchard.

Reliability and Maintenance

• Brand and Reputation: Select a chassis manufacturer with a good brand reputation and user reviews. Their products usually have more guarantees in terms of quality, performance, and after-sales service. You can refer to the usage evaluations and recommendations of other orchard users to understand the actual performance and reliability of different brands of chassis.
• Protection Level: The orchard environment is humid, dusty, and sometimes in contact with corrosive substances such as pesticides. Therefore, the chassis needs to have a certain protection level. Select a chassis with a protection level of IP54 or above, which can effectively prevent the intrusion of dust and water, protect the electronic components and mechanical parts inside the chassis, and extend the service life.
• Maintenance Cost: Consider the maintenance cost of the chassis, including the price of components and the difficulty of maintenance. Select a chassis with a simple structure and strong component versatility to reduce maintenance costs and repair time. At the same time, understanding whether the manufacturer provides a complete after-sales service and technical support is also an important factor in selecting the chassis.