The Camellia oleifera fruit harvester, a specialized agricultural device, is engineered for efficient operation within the densely planted C. oleifera groves of China’s undulating terrains. Its design features a notably small footprint to navigate the constrained spaces between trees. With the enhancement of the functionality and power of the harvester, the engine compartment becomes even more congested. This, while beneficial for performance, complicates heat dissipation and reduces harvesting efficiency. In this study, experiments were initially conducted to collect temperature data from the main heat-generating components and parts susceptible to high temperatures within the harvester’s engine compartment. Subsequently, a 3D model was developed for numerical simulations, leading to the proposal of optimization schemes for the engine compartment’s structure and the validation of these schemes’ feasibility. A comparison of the experimental data, both before and after optimization, revealed a significant reduction in the surface temperatures of components within the engine compartment following optimization. As a result, the heat dissipation of the engine compartment has been greatly optimized. The harvester has demonstrated prolonged normal operation, enhancing the reliability and economy of the harvester.

The harvesting of Camellia oleifera fruit in hilly areas faces core problems such as low manual efficiency, poor terrain adaptability of existing machinery, and severe emissions and noise from traditional equipment. This study designed a crawler chassis utilizing a permanent magnet synchronous motor-driven hydraulic system. The research integrated kinematic modeling and resistance calculations for parameter matching, followed by AMESim dynamic simulations and motor calibration experiments. Finally, comprehensive field tests were conducted to evaluate the prototype. The results indicate the chassis achieves a maximum travel speed >1.5 m∙s⁻¹, a climbing angle of 41.4°, and a turning radius of 0.72 m, with noise levels strictly below 80 dB(A). Significantly, dynamic power characteristic tests under actual vibration harvesting conditions revealed that the 45 kW motor maintains a rapid response with ample power reserve. The input power exhibited a distinct square-wave pattern synchronized with hydraulic valve commands, peaking at 18.1 kW during vibration bursts. These findings confirm the system’s stability under coupled driving and harvesting loads. This design offers a viable, low-noise solution for electrifying and intelligently upgrading Camellia oleifera harvesting equipment in complex terrains.