TESTING AND ERGONOMICALLY EVALUATION OF TRACTOR MOUNTED AND SELF MOUNTED COCONUT CLIMBER

Abstract

The coconut is known as Kalpa Vriksa to the world for being its multi faceted uses, which provide livelihood security to millions of people, every part of it useful to humans in one of the other ways. The coconut palm is grown in more than 93 countries of the tropics. Its botanical name is cocos-nucifera L. and belongs to the aracaceae (Palm) family. The climbing methods of coconuts like manual, mechanical and climbing by Tractor Mounted Hydraulic Elevator (THME) were studied. The stability, safety, harvesting efficiency, drudgery of coconut harvesting is reduced by Tractor Mounted and Self Propelled Coconut Climber (TMSPCC) developed by considering the drawbacks of the above methods. The testing of developed TMSPCC was carried out at a Coconut Research Station, Bhyte Ratnagiri, India. To assess the physiological cost and the drudgery involved in the traditional method of tree climbing operation. The digital polar hart rate meter RS400TM having infrared connectivity sensor was used for recording the heart rates. The technical assessments included the use of biomechanical models, ODR, BPDS. The ergonomical evaluation of TMSPCC was carried out for testing feasibility, ease of operation; workers jeopardize safety health and efficiency for coconut harvesting. Ergonomically operational safe and controlled heart rates are recorded. The fourteen to seventeen number of coconut orchards were harvested in one hour by using TMSPCC. The tractor mounted and self propelled coconut climber founds suitable for harvesting 100 to 120 coconut trees in a day. The net coconut harvesting by using TMSPCC are 4000 coconuts/day. Also TMSPCC is safe, less hazardous and economical as compared to manual climbing coconut harvesting and climbing by the existing tractor mounted hydraulic elevator