Dynamic Modeling and Parameter Optimization of Potato Harvester Under Multi-Source Excitation

During field operations, the potato harvester is subjected to multiple sources of excitation, including internal vibratory mechanisms and field surface excitation, resulting in significant vibrations in the frame. Based on the physical parameters of the harvester’s internal structure and the connection parameters between components, a 12-degree-of-freedom (12-DOF) dynamic model of the entire machine was constructed. The corresponding simulation model was created in a MATLAB/Simulink environment to analyze the vibration characteristics of each component during harvesting operations. The comparison between actual and simulated signals shows that the RMS error of acceleration is only 2.42%, indicating that introducing two degrees of freedom in pitch and roll directions to the potato harvester can accurately describe its vibration characteristics. On this basis, the Bayesian optimization algorithm was used to obtain optimal connection parameters. The optimization results demonstrate a 0.85 m/s2 and 0.45 m/s2 increase in RMS values for the soil-cutting disc and lifting chain, respectively, effectively enhancing the harvester’s work efficiency, while the frame exhibited a 0.31 m/s2 reduction in RMS value, significantly improving structural stability. This study provides a theoretical foundation for the parameter optimization of large-scale agricultural machinery.