The most common harvesting method of Lycium barbarum L. (L. barbarum) is manual harvesting, resulting in low efficiency and high cost. Meanwhile, the efficiency of vibration harvesting, which is considered an efficient mechanical harvesting method, can be significantly improved if the optimized resonance frequency of the shrub can be obtained. To vibration harvest fruit efficiently, a 3D model of the shrub was established based on measurements of the shape parameters, and material mechanics models of the branches were established based on physical tests. The modal analysis of the shrub based on finite element method (FEM) simulation was performed to obtain the range of resonance frequency, and the modal experiment of the shrub using acceleration sensors and an impact hammer was conducted to obtain the accurate resonance frequency. Based on the results of the modal analysis and experiment, the optimized resonance frequency was determined to be 2 Hz. The field experiment showed that the fruit fell off when the branches were vibrated at this frequency. The results provide the design basis for the efficient vibration harvesting of L. barbarum.

Investigating the interactions of granular fertilizers with various types of equipment is an essential part of agricultural research. A numerical technique simulating the mechanical behavior of granular assemblies has the advantage of data trackings, such as the trajectories, velocities, and transient forces of the particles at any stage of the test. The interaction parameters were calibrated to simulate responses of granular fertilizers in EDEM, a discrete element method (DEM) software. Without a proper calibration of the interaction parameters between the granular fertilizers and various materials, the simulations may not represent the real behavior of the granular fertilizers. Therefore, in this study, a strategy is presented to identify and select a set of DEM input parameters of granular fertilizers using the central composite design (CCD) to establish the nonlinear relationship between the dynamic macroscopic granular fertilizer properties and the DEM parameters. The determined interaction properties can be used to simulate granular fertilizers in EDEM.

The current mechanical harvesting methods of Lycium barbarum L. are labor intensive and cause too much damage, but vibrating and comb-brushing harvesting can increase the efficiency while minimizing the damage. However, optimizing the main factors and their parameter values of vibrating and comb-brushing harvesting is challenging. To achieve the high-efficiency and low-damage harvesting of L. barbarum, firstly, the mechanical models of the materials used in the experiments were established based on the physical tests. Then, the vibrating and comb-brushing harvesting simulations were conducted based on FEM to acquire the ranges of the parameter values. The effects of the rotating speed, material, and amplitude on the harvesting rate of ripe fruit and harvesting rate of unripe fruit, as well as the damage rate of ripe fruit were determined based on RSM. Finally, the optimized parameters were obtained and verified using the field experiments. The field experiments showed that the harvesting rate of ripe fruit was 85.8%, the harvesting rate of unripe fruit was 10.5%, and the damage rate of ripe fruit was 9.7%. The findings provided the optimal parameter values, which were a design basis for the vibrating and comb-brushing harvesters of L. barbarum.

This article provides a comprehensive review of the current results of pear-picking technology, delving into the development process, classification, application status, and development trends of picking machinery, picking robots, and intelligent technology. By analyzing the key technologies in pear fruit harvesting, this paper explores the working principles of harvesting machinery, the technical characteristics of harvesting robots, and the potential applications of intelligent technology. Furthermore, a bibliometric analysis was employed to examine two decades of the research literature on Korla fragrant pear, spanning from January 2004 to June 2024, utilizing the core collection of the Web of Science and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure database as the retrieval platforms. The visualization of the analysis results indicates that the focal points of research in this field are predominantly aspects such as the quality and storage conditions of fragrant pears, with a scarcity of studies directed toward mechanized harvesting. Additionally, this study addresses the existing challenges and issues within pear-picking technology and delineates potential avenues for future development, with the objective of providing a foundation for subsequent research on Korla fragrant pear-harvesting technology.

The Korla fragrant pear is a highly valued economic fruit in China’s Xinjiang region. However, biomechanical data on the fruit-bearing branches and pedicels of this species remain incomplete, which to some extent hinders the advancement of harvesting equipment and techniques. Therefore, refining these data is of great significance for the development of efficient and non-destructive harvesting strategies. This study aims to elucidate the mechanical properties of the fruiting branches and peduncles of Korla fragrant pears, thereby establishing a theoretical foundation for the future development of intelligent harvesting technology for this variety. The research utilized axial and radial compression tests, along with three-point bending test methods, to quantitatively analyze the elastic modulus and shear modulus of the branches and peduncles. The test results reveal that the elastic modulus of the fruiting branches under axial compression is 263.51 ± 76.51 MPa, while under radial compression, it measures 135.53 ± 73.73 MPa (where ± represents the standard deviation). In comparison, the elastic modulus of the peduncles is recorded at 152.96 ± 119.95 MPa. Additionally, the three-point bending test yielded a shear modulus of 75.48 ± 32.84 MPa for the branches and 30.23 ± 8.50 MPa for the peduncles. Using finite element static structural analysis, the simulation results aligned closely with the experimental data, falling within an acceptable error range, thus validating the reliability of the testing methods and outcomes. The mechanical parameters obtained in this study are critical for modeling the stress and deformation behaviors of pear-bearing structures during mechanical harvesting. These findings provide valuable theoretical support for the optimization of harvesting device design and operational strategies, with the aim of reducing fruit damage and improving harvesting efficiency in pear orchards.