Harvester-Shuttle Charging for Low-Impact Log Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current forestry machinery, such as harvesters and forwarders, cause environmental impact due to greenhouse gas emissions and soil damage from heavy machinery, and existing solutions like harvarders have lower uptime and increased soil damage due to combined heavy equipment.
Innovation Solution
A harvester that includes a traction arrangement, an articulated boom, an electrical energy generator fueled by a fuel reservoir, and an electrical connector to charge and load harvested logs onto a shuttle, enabling autonomous, electrified shuttles to reduce energy consumption and soil damage by eliminating the need for a heavy forwarder and allowing continuous operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a forwarder is used to transport harvested logs, then the logs can be transported from the forest, but the heavy machinery causes soil damage
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the log transport function into multiple lightweight autonomous shuttles instead of using one heavy forwarder. Each shuttle independently transports logs from the harvester to the landing, distributing the soil impact across multiple vehicles with smaller individual footprints and weights.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical forwarder system with an electrified shuttle system. The shuttles use electric motors instead of internal combustion engines, and their electric powertrains provide high torque at low speeds suitable for forest terrain while maintaining lighter weight compared to conventional forwarders.
2Ease of operation
If a harvarder (combined harvester-forwarder) is used, then only one operator is needed, but the heavy equipment causes increased soil damage and reduced uptime
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the harvester and forwarder functions into two independent vehicles: a harvester and multiple autonomous shuttles. The shuttles operate autonomously using sensors, processors, and communication systems to coordinate with the harvester, eliminating the need for a forwarder operator while maintaining light weight and reducing soil damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The shuttles are equipped with autonomous driving capabilities including sensors, processors, and control systems that enable them to navigate forest terrain, locate logs, and transport them to the landing without human intervention. This self-service capability replaces the forwarder operator while maintaining operational efficiency.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple shuttles are used instead of one forwarder, then soil damage is reduced through distributed pressure, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple shuttles perform identical functions using identical hardware and software configurations. Each shuttle is a universal platform capable of independent log transport, which simplifies the overall system architecture compared to a single complex forwarder. The repetition of standardized units reduces system complexity while distributing soil impact.
4Duration of action of moving object
If the harvester charges the shuttle during operation, then continuous shuttle operation is enabled, but the harvester's power generation capacity must be sufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The harvester charges the shuttle batteries in advance during log loading operations. The electrical energy generator on the harvester transfers power to the shuttle's energy storage system before the shuttle departs, ensuring the shuttle has sufficient energy for its transport mission without requiring the harvester to provide continuous high-power output during shuttle operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution reduces environmental impact and soil damage by using electrified, autonomous shuttles that can be charged and operated continuously, increasing efficiency and uptime while minimizing the need for multiple operators and heavy machinery.
Implementation Method 1
an electrical energy generator fuelled by a fuel from a fuel reservoir
Implementation Method 2
an electrical connector configured for coupling the electrical energy generator to an electrical energy storage of a shuttle
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a harvester (10) for harvesting logs. The harvester comprises a traction arrangement (11) configured to drive the harvester, an articulated boom (13) configured to connect to a processing head, a fuel reservoir, an electrical energy generator fuelled by a fuel from the fuel reservoir and configured for supplying power to the traction arrangement and the articulated boom, and an electrical connector (17) configured for coupling the electrical energy generator to an electrical energy storage of a shuttle. The harvester is configured to load a harvested log onto a coupled shuttle and charge the electrical energy storage of said coupled shuttle using electrical energy from the electrical energy generator.