A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF A RADIOCONTROLLED HYDROSTATIC TRANSMISSION MOWER FOR OIL PALM PLANTATION

Maintaining effective weed control is essential for oil palm fields.To address sustainability concerns and the increasing cost of chemicals, a cutting-edge mechanical mower has been recommended as an alternative solution.Integrating mechanical, fluid mechanics and electronic systems in a mower is a solution to enhance manoeuvrability in the field.The development and testing of an integrated hydrostatic transmission (iHST) mower with a teleoperation system to improve operational efficiency were discussed.The time-motion study on a 3 ha plot showed that the prototype could achieve an effective field capacity of 0.44 ha/hr at RM255.50/ha, an annual cost for path and palm circle mowing operation in the test area of flat terrain, mild weed infestation and in a dry condition.A 5.8 GHz FPV camera enabled the machine's teleoperation, which provides real-time feedback for improved control during operations.Although its productivity was inferior to the current mechanised spraying approach, the machine could be a sustainable alternative with benefits such as attracting skilled local workforces in plantation operations and environmental friendliness.