关键词: 履带底盘, 棉花, 轻型收获机, 智能化, 数字化

Abstract: To address the challenges of small‑scale cultivation, complex terrain, low mechanized harvesting efficiency, and inadequate adaptability of large wheeled harvesters in the cotton planting areas of the Yangtze and Yellow River Basins in China, this study systematically analyzes the research progress of large cotton harvesters at home and abroad, revealing the primary constraints on mechanized cotton harvesting in these regions. By investigating the advantages of tracked chassis in agricultural applications, we categorize and summarize the characteristics and applicable scenarios of four tracked chassis types: standard, triangular, wheel‑track composite, and inverted trapezoidal configurations. Furthermore, we elaborate on key domestic research directions for agricultural tracked chassis and emphasize the critical role of crop‑specific agronomic requirements in chassis selection. Aligned with the standardized agronomic practice of 76 cm equidistant row planting for cotton, this paper proposes a rear‑wheel‑drive lightweight tracked chassis tailored for cotton harvesters in the Yangtze and Yellow River Basins. The optimized chassis design enhances climbing capacity and operational stability, effectively adapting to heterogeneous field conditions.In order to promote the continuous improvement of mechanized harvesting equipment in the cotton areas of the Yangtze River and Yellow River basins in China and push the sustainable development of the cotton industry, the development trends of the integration of agricultural machinery and agronomy, the combination of basic research and advanced technology, and digital application of electromechanical and hydraulic are proposed.

Key words: track chassis, cotton, light harvester, intelligentize, diagitization