Performance Evaluation of a New Specific Machine for Harvesting Overgrown Brushwood

Efficient roadside vegetation management is essential for reducing infrastructure maintenance costs and enhancing bioenergy recovery. This study evaluates a modified excavator-based feller equipped with a specific arm to extend its operational reach. Field trials were conducted across three distinct site conditions highway embankment, overpass embankment, and riverbank to assess key performance parameters including cycle times (encompassing moving, positioning, felling, processing, and stacking), fuel consumption, and ground pressure. Compared to the conventional configuration, the arm modification yielded a 66% reduction in moving time and a 34% reduction in stacking time, albeit with a 73% increase in positioning time due to the extended reach. Overall, the modified machine demonstrated enhanced operational efficiency, reduced fuel usage by up to 7%, and decreased soil disturbance through a substantial reduction in the tracked surface area. These findings underscore the potential of telescopic boom technology to improve the versatility and sustainability of mechanised roadside biomass harvesting practices.