Abstract
Facing the current hikes of labor wage and high oil price, it is needed to have energy-saving machinery which also enables us precise farm operations. Thus, it was necessary to develop a safe machine which allows secure and pleasant works along orchard slopes. In this study, a lifting utility with balance-controlled platform was developed. The platform utility could maintain to level the workbench while driving along slopes. Even the machine body was driven at the tilt angle ranges of ${\pm}20^{\circ}$, the platform bench could be maintained within ${\pm}0.5^{\circ}$ of a gimbal angle. In addition, the machine lifted up to 2.0 m using an electric-hybrid driving mechanism with a low noise. A tandem hybrid power source was developed with a DC 72 V, 100 AH for the Deep-Cycle batteries, charged with 3.5 kW gasoline generator as an auxiliary power source. HST, which is one of the CVT's, was adopted as a transmission device, and a crawer track was used for the safety of the vehicle against tip-over. The maximum lifting height of platform was is 2,500 mm, and the maximum extendable width was 2,900 mm.
