World's first prototype for walking forest machine

 
The Walking Harvester, the world's first prototype for a walking forest machine, is now on display at the John Deere Pavilion. Only one of two in existence, the walking harvester was designed by John Deere's research and development unit in Finland in the 1990s but was ahead of its time and never reached the production phase.

Manufactured in 1994, the walking harvester machine on display at the Pavilion was the first to be equipped with a harvesting head and accumulated approximately 2,000 working hours during testing. Sensors in the machine's legs reacted automatically to soft, sloping, or uneven terrain, while a computer control system distributed weight and support equally to all six legs. The machine simply walked over obstacles that crossed its path, and the machine operator was able to adjust the ground clearance and height of every step.

The walking harvester prototypes helped pave the way for future developments in productive and environmentally friendly machines. For example, the automation and stability system technology used in developing the concept underwent further development and is now applied in all of John Deere's forest equipment.

The new display at the Pavilion was opened on February 15 to celebrate John Deere's 175th Anniversary and also the Pavilion's own 15th Anniversary.


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