시뮬레이션 기반 소형 배추 수확기 개발 및 성능 시험 = Development and Performance Test of a Simulation-based Chinese Cabbage Harvester

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Chinese cabbage is a strategically important crop in Korean agriculture as the primary ingredient for traditional kimchi production. Despite this, cultivation areas have been declining rapidly due to the recent sharp decline in the rural population, significant labor shortages, and rising production costs. Harvesting accounts for 17.4% of the total labor input in the overall production process, making mechanization through labor reduction and efficiency improvement an urgent and critical task. This study was conducted with the primary objective of designing and validating the performance of a small-sized, self-propelled harvester suitable for small-scale farming operations. The core mechanisms-pulling, cutting, and conveying sections-were precisely designed, and quantitative mechanical analysis and dynamic analysis of gripping and cutting forces were systematically performed. Dynamic simulation analysis using RecurDyn showed excellent agreement between the contact force and theoretical values, validating the appropriateness of the design. Indoor testing achieved a 70% success rate at a 10mm cutting height, and field testing under cultivation conditions showed significant improvement to 73.3%. Economic analysis revealed a break-even point of 106.5a, confirming the sufficient viability for field implementation and establishing essential foundational technology development for the commercialization and practical deployment of the new innovative harvester.