Terrain Conditions Research Articles

The Relationship Between the Changes in Landscaping and Economic Development in Taiyuan

This study is based on the development process of Taiyuan in the past ten years, combined with the basic policy of the state on urban planning and development. The changes in Taiyuan's industrial structure are expounded to lead to the environmental pollution caused by Taiyuan's use of heavy industry as the core of economic development. Explain the benefits of landscaping on pollution control. It also explores the direct impact of landscaping on the environment of Taiyuan and the indirect impact on the economic development of Taiyuan. It is found that there is a positive influence between the two. In addition, this article introduces the world-renowned garden building ‘Punggol Town’, compares the climate, terrain and other conditions of the two places, and analyses the feasibility of Taiyuan's direct imitation. Although Taiyuan cannot use the development model of ‘Punggol Town’, landscaping still has a broad development prospect in the economic development of Taiyuan. This article aims to introduce the relationship between landscaping and the economic development of Taiyuan in an easy-to-understand way, and to study and discuss it.

Flood Risk Identification of Zhengzhou Metropolitan Area Based on Invest Model

Rainstorm and urban flood are always one of the most serious natural disasters in China due to the change of ecological environment, terrain conditions and climate change. Rainstorm and flood disasters seriously threaten the security and development of regional economy and society. Therefore, how to identify the high-risk areas of flood disasters is an important issue to be solved in the prevention of flood disasters. Taking Zhengzhou metropolitan area as the research object, based on the Urban Flood Risk Mitigation module of InVEST model, the vulnerability of flood disaster, the supply capacity of flood regulation service and the supply-demand ratio of ecosystem service in the study area are obtained through analysis, and the areas vulnerable to flood disaster in the study area are identified. The results show that : (1) The flood regulation service supply capacity is mainly manifested in the spatial distribution pattern of high in the west and low in the east. The northern Jiaozuo, northern Xinyang, western Zhengzhou and western Xuchang have higher supply service levels. (2) Affected by factors such as population density, economic development level and land use development degree, there are also obvious spatial differences in the spatial distribution of flood regulation service demand. The high demand area of flood regulation service is concentrated in the central urban area. (3) In areas with low population density and high vegetation coverage, the high supply and low demand of flood regulation services lead to a higher service supply-demand ratio. In the central urban area of the city, due to the large proportion of construction land and dense population, the supply and demand of services is relatively low.

Does spatial resolution matter in the estimation of average annual soil loss by using RUSLE?-a study of the Urmodi River Watershed (Maharashtra), India.

The study investigates the influence of multispectral satellite data's spatial resolution on land degradation in the Urmodi River Watershed in which Kaas Plateau, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is located. Specifically, the research focuses on soil erosion and its risk zonation. The study employs Landsat 8 (30-m resolution) and Sentinel-2 (10-m resolution) data to assess soil erosion risk. The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) is used to quantify the average annual soil erosion output denoted by (A), by using its factors such as rainfall (R), soil erodibility (K), slope-length (LS), cover management (C), and support practices (P). R-factor was computed from MERRA-2 rainfalldata, K-factor was derived from field soil sample-based analysis, LS factor was from Cartosat Digital Elevation Model-based data. The C factor was derived from NDVI of Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2, and the P factor was prepared from LULC derived from Landsat 8, and Sentinel-2 was incorporated in the final integration. The soil erosion hazard map ranged from slight to extremely severe. Remote sensing (RS)-based parameters like Land Use Land Cover (LULC) are derived from the Landsat 8 and Sentine-2 satellite data and used to compute the difference in the final outcome of the integration. The study found similarities in average annual soil loss (A) in plain areas, but differences in final soil erosion risk zone (A) were influenced by LULC map variations due to different cell sizes, P factor, and slope gradient. Notable differences were observed in soil erosion risk categories, particularly in high to very severe zones, with a cumulative difference of 73.85 km2. In addition to this, a scatterplot between the final outputs was computed and found the moderate (R2 = 42.08%) correlation between Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2 imagery-based final average annual soil erosion (A) of RUSLE. The study area encompasses various landforms ranging from the plateau to pediplain, and in such situation, the water-led soil erosion categories vary depending on terrain condition along with its biophysical factors and, hence, need to analyze the need of such factors on the average annual soil erosion quantification. Different spatial resolution has an effect on the final output, and hence, there is a need to track this change at various spatial resolutions. This analysis highlights the significant impact of spatial resolution on land degradation assessment, providing precise identification of surface features and enhancing soil erosion risk zoning accuracy.

Equine blood oxygenation as a coefficient of performance

In horse breeding, it is important to introduce affordable methods for assessing the potential of the horse’s body to perform work of varying severity and in different terrain conditions (altitude, landscape features, type of work). The applicability of the method of dosing the load of working horses in highland conditions has been established on the basis of the value of the horse’s body weight calculated using the “heart girth” measurement, but the work should already be classified as heavy at a load weight of 15% of the horse’s body weight. The arterial molecular oxygen saturation of the blood and the pulse rate are sufficient to assess the state of respiratory function and the nature of the involvement of associated systems. The studies carried out on 14 mature working horses and also on 5 young horses used for work in lowland and highland conditions have made it possible to recommend the widespread use of the pulse oximeter for rapid analysis of blood oxygen saturation and pulse rate in order to dose the workload of these animals appropriately. Veterinary examination of horses with abnormal oxygen saturation and pulse pattern detected by the pulse oximeter confirmed the presence of clinical signs and laboratory markers of disorders in the body of a stallion and a repair mare, excluding the use of these animals as working animals. Early detection of inadequate respiratory function in young animals can allow a balanced decision to be made to refuse special training and prevent economic losses.

Wind induced peak pressures on low-rise building roofs via dynamic terrain computational methodology

Computational Wind Engineering is expanding rapidly in the last decade and is expected to be introduced as a design tool for wind-induced loads in future code provisions and standards worldwide. The paper discusses the current CWE shortcomings of the state-of-the-art and proposes a methodology that targets to close the current research gaps, from a practical point of view. Monitoring wind tunnel experiments, significant deviations of instantaneous velocity profiles due to high turbulence intensity are expected to be critical for design pressures. This inspired the novel modeling technique - named Dynamic Terrain - that reformulates the turbulence characteristics and assumes that each instantaneous profile is produced by changing the corresponding terrain conditions. Successively derived profiles from the wind tunnel are introduced as inlet conditions in coarse LES computational domain and propagate inside the domain to interact with the building. The incident flow is successfully modelled, in terms of mean, turbulence intensity and spectral content. Mean, standard deviations and peak pressure coefficients correlate well with experimental results and the procedure is advantageous compared to similar computational techniques. The target accuracy is achieved, benefits and limitations of the method are discussed, and conclusions based on experimental and computational observations are drawn.

Time Consumption and Productivity of Motorbike Timber Extraction in Private Forests

Timber extraction in private forests in Indonesia is carried out using appropriate technology. Motorbike extraction is one of the means of timber extraction widely used in private forests in Indonesia. This research aimed to analyze the working time and productivity of timber extraction using motorbikes in private forests. The research was conducted in a private forest in Probolinggo, East Java. The terrain conditions at the study site were partly flat and partly rather steep. The study site can only be accessed through a footpath that is 2 m wide. Observations were made on three motorbikes. The number of trips for each motorbike was 11 trips. The skidding distance was 300 m. Data on timber extraction work time were obtained through video analysis. Production data on timber extraction were obtained through direct measurements in the field. The research showed that the work time spent to transport timber from private forests using motorbikes was 18.18 minutes per trip. The loaded travel spent the highest working time, followed by the empty travel, logs stacking, unloading, and traveling to logs. The efficiency of timber extraction using motorbikes in private forests was 82.11%. The productivity of timber extraction was 0.61 m3/hour or 0.002 m3/hour.m. Keywords: appropriate technology, motorbike, private forests, timber extraction, working time

Analysis and Design of Transmission Tower using Staad-Pro

A transmission tower, also known as an electrical power tower or utility pole, is a tall structure used to support overhead power lines for the transmission of electrical energy. Transmission towers play a critical role in the reliable and efficient transmission of electricity from power generation plants to distribution networks and ultimately to consumers. This abstract provides an overview of transmission towers, including their purpose, types, components, and key considerations in their design and construction. Transmission towers are designed to withstand various environmental and loading conditions, such as wind, ice, and seismic forces while maintaining the integrity and stability of the overhead power lines. Different types of transmission towers, such as lattice towers, tubular towers, and pole towers, are used based on factors such as voltage level, span length, and terrain conditions. Analysis of this transmission tower is administered using STAAD PRO The present work describes the analysis and design of a transmission line tower of 31 meters in height and 220KV double circuit viz. various parameters. The components of a transmission tower typically include tower legs, cross-arms, insulators, and hardware for attaching conductors and ground wires

Rice Terrace Experience in Japan: An Ode to the Beauty of Seasonality and Nostalgia

Rice terraces are a time-honored agricultural feature that overcomes rough terrain and hostile growing conditions. In addition to playing an essential role in agricultural production and land conservation, rice terraces have been recognized as living cultural landscapes, important agricultural heritage, and popular agritourism destinations for their aesthetic, sociocultural, and environmental values. However, there is a lack of understanding of this emerging niche market, especially from outsider perspectives. To fill the gap, this study analyzes Google Maps reviews of seventy representative rice terraces in Japan based on a mixed-method content analysis, aiming to identify visitors’ overall experiences, seasonal perceptions, and the causes of negative experiences. The results indicate that the overall experience of rice terraces in Japan includes seven themes: agricultural landscapes, times and seasons, visual perception, accessibility and infrastructure, sense of place, Genfukei of Japan, and food. Visitors’ perceptions toward the four seasons of the rice terraces have distinctive characteristics and result in different satisfaction levels. The main reasons for negative experiences are farmland abandonment, lack of character, poor accessibility, and bad timing. Leveraging the power of netnography, the study sheds light on the sustainable development of agricultural heritage tourism through the introduction of rice terrace conservation initiatives in Japan and the exploration of rice terrace experience.

Source reduction and end treatment of acid mine drainage in closed coal mines of the Yudong River Basin.

After the closure of the Yudong coal mine, the pH value was approximately 3.0, and the Fe and Mn concentrations reached 380 and 69 mg/L, respectively, in the acid mine drainage (AMD), causing serious pollution to the water bodies in the nearby watershed. Combined with the formation conditions of AMD, the comprehensive treatment technology of source reduction-end treatment is adopted to treat the AMD. The treatment area of the goaf is 0.3 km3, the filling and grouting volume is about 6.7 m3, and the curtain grouting volume is 4,000 m3. Through the grouting and sealing treatment in the goaf, the water volume is reduced to less than 85% of the initial volume (100 m3/h). After the end treatment, the pH value of the effluent is around 7.0, the content of Fe and Mn is less than 0.1 mg/L, and the removal rate is above 99%. The project was subsequently operated at RMB 0.85 yuan/t. This project is aimed at the treatment of AMD from small coal mines in complex terrain conditions. It has the characteristics of low cost and high efficiency and can provide an effective treatment technology for AMD in southwestern China and areas with the same geological conditions.

Visual-Based Kinematics and Pose Estimation for Skid-Steering Robots

To build commercial robots, skid-steering mechanical design is of increased popularity due to its manufacturing simplicity and unique mechanism. However, these also cause significant challenges on software and algorithm design, especially for the pose estimation (i.e., determining the robot’s rotation and position) of skid-steering robots, since they change their orientation with an inevitable skid. To tackle this problem, we propose a probabilistic sliding-window estimator dedicated to skid-steering robots, using measurements from a monocular camera, the wheel encoders, and optionally an inertial measurement unit (IMU). Specifically, we explicitly model the kinematics of skid-steering robots by both track instantaneous centers of rotation (ICRs) and correction factors, which are capable of compensating for the complexity of track-to-terrain interaction, the imperfectness of mechanical design, terrain conditions and smoothness, etc. To prevent performance reduction in robots’ long-term missions, the time-and location-varying kinematic parameters are estimated online along with pose estimation states in a tightly-coupled manner. More importantly, we conduct in-depth observability analysis for different sensors and design configurations in this paper, which provides us with theoretical tools in making the correct choice when building real commercial robots. In our experiments, we validate the proposed method by both simulation tests and real-world experiments, which demonstrate that our method outperforms competing methods by wide margins. <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">Note to Practitioners</i> —This paper was motivated by the problem of long-term pose estimation of the commonly commercial-used skid-steering robots with only low-cost sensors. Skid-steering robots change their orientation with a skid, which poses a significant challenge for pose estimation when using the wheel encoders. We propose to online estimate the robot’s kinematics, which succeeds in compensating for the complexity of track-to-terrain interaction, due to the slippage, the imperfectness of mechanical design, terrain conditions and smoothness. It is critical to estimate the kinematics and poses jointly to prevent performance reduction in robots’ long-term missions. We further theoretically analyze whether the kinematics parameters can be estimated under different sensor configurations, and find out the special degrade motions that make the parameters unobservable.

The challenge of reducing diesel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions: A perspective on the use of hydrogen in mining trucks

In mining, the traditional system of operation relies on equipment that consumes large amounts of energy. In mine operations, trucks are widely used due to their flexibility, loading ca-pacity, and adaptability to various terrain conditions. However, they have high diesel oil consump-tion and high emission rates of smoke, particulate matter, and mainly carbon gas from diesel en-gines. This article offers a comprehensive view on the effect of hydrogen added to the diesel engine in the search for renewable energy alternatives that are in tune with the reduction of the environ-mental impact arising from the use of petroleum-derived fuels. The article presents an overview about the challenges in reducing the diesel fuel consumption of trucks employed in mining. It ap-proaches the effect of controlled hydrogen addition on diesel engine performance, consumption reduction, and greenhouse gas emissions. Followed by a discussion of the main technologies used to manufacture hydrogen and their production costs. The results of the studies show that hydrogen is a promising alternative for reducing operational, energy, and emissions costs, mainly carbon dioxide (CO2) and carbon monoxide (CO), but it faces barriers in production, storage, and supply costs. We highlight the “green hydrogen”, carbon-free, which contributes to the decarbonization process in mines, as open pit or underground ones.

Investigation of wind veer characteristics on complex terrain using ground-based lidar

The wind direction shift with height significantly influences wind turbine performance, particularly in relation to terrain conditions. In this work, wind conditions at 12 measurement heights ranging from 40 m to 200 m using a ground lidar, Windcube V2, installed on a 16 m tall building were analysed to examine the characteristics of wind veer angles in complex terrain. The measurement campaign was carried out from January 1st to December 31st, 2022, in the southeastern part of South Korea. The terrain complexity around the ground lidar system was evaluated using the ruggedness index (RIX), whose result was 14.06 percent corresponding to complex terrain. The ground lidar measurements were compared with mesoscale data, EMD-WRF South Korea, for the data accuracy check. Wind veer frequencies and wind roses were derived to identify directional shifts with height. Furthermore, diurnal, monthly, and seasonal variations of wind veer characteristics were analysed. Wind shear exponent factor (WSE) and turbulence kinetic energy (TKE) were calculated, and wind veer profiles were constructed based on these parameters. The relative errors of wind speeds were analysed for rotor equivalent wind speed (REWS) and hub height wind speed (HHWS), with REWS with wind veer correction, REWSveer, as a reference. Additionally, atmospheric stability conditions were classified using WSE and TKE, and the vertical changes in wind veering were analysed according to the stability conditions. The findings reveal lower wind speeds exhibited larger wind veer values and fluctuations. The relative errors for the REWS and the HHWS were 0.04 % and 0.20 % on average, respectively. The study demonstrates that terrain conditions significantly impacted wind veer angles at heights below 100 m, whereas the influence diminished with increasing height above 100 m. The results could be helpful for wind farm developers to make decisions on the siting as well as the hub height of wind turbines on complex terrain

Foot orientation and trajectory variability in locomotion: Effects of real-world terrain.

Capturing human locomotion in nearly any environment or context is becoming increasingly feasible with wearable sensors, giving access to commonly encountered walking conditions. While important in expanding our understanding of locomotor biomechanics, these more variable environments present challenges to identify changes in data due to person-level factors among the varying environment-level factors. Our study examined foot-specific biomechanics while walking on terrain commonly encountered with the goal of understanding the extent to which these variables change due to terrain. We recruited healthy adults to walk at self-selected speeds on stairs, flat ground, and both shallow and steep sloped terrain. A pair of inertial measurement units were embedded in both shoes to capture foot biomechanics while walking. Foot orientation was calculated using a strapdown procedure and foot trajectory was determined by double integrating the linear acceleration. Stance time, swing time, cadence, sagittal and frontal orientations, stride length and width were extracted as discrete variables. These data were compared within-participant and across terrain conditions. The physical constraints of the stairs resulted in shorter stride lengths, less time spent in swing, toe-first foot contact, and higher variability during stair ascent specifically (p<0.05). Stride lengths increased when ascending compared to descending slopes, and the sagittal foot angle at initial contact was greatest in the steep slope descent condition (p<0.05). No differences were found between conditions for horizontal foot angle in midstance (p≥0.067). Our results show that walking on slopes creates differential changes in foot biomechanics depending on whether one is descending or ascending, and stairs require different biomechanics and gait timing than slopes or flat ground. This may be an important factor to consider when making comparisons of real-world walking bouts, as greater proportions of one terrain feature in a data set could create bias in the outcomes. Classifying terrain in unsupervised walking datasets would be helpful to avoid comparing metrics from different walking terrain scenarios.

Tunable spectral properties of PVB/WS2 impregnated fabrics in VIS, IR and RF part of the EMS

The application of nanomodified polymer impregnation on knitted polyester fabrics was studied to improve camouflage characteristics in VIS, IR, and RF domains to enhance multispectral camouflage protection. Nanoparticles of tungsten disulfide (WS2) were dispersed in an ethanol solution of poly (vinyl butyral) (PVB) and applied as a thin impregnation on polyester fabrics already dyed in camouflage shades. A reference sample impregnated only with PVB, without WS2, was also prepared in the same way. Parallel to the impregnated fabrics, a neat knitted polyester textile sample was submitted to all the examination methods. Diffuse reflection, specular gloss, and color coordinates were measured for all the samples. Moreover, the samples were observed using IR thermography in medium and long-wavelength infrared parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. The best suppression (≥20%) in the IR range of EMS was achieved for the dark green shade sample by applying PVB alone and/or adding PVB/ WS2. RF domain measurement analysis of how impregnated fabrics influence effective Radar Cross Section (RCS), K band radar was used, with the measurements done in terrain conditions. The decrease of the mean RCS value between 11% and 41% was achieved. The obtained results indicate that the addition of WS2 has a positive effect on the observed characteristics and that there is a possibility of using this newly impregnated knitwear in the wider area of the EMS as a camouflage material.

Водозаборное сооружение для целей орошения земель в горных условиях Северного Кавказа

Purpose: to develop a water intake structure for land reclamation purpose under the conditions of water withdrawal from mountainous natural water sources. Materials and methods. The paper is based on the theoretical analysis of the river hydrological and geological characteristics, which made it possible to calculate the minimum flow required for the stable operation of water intake structure and guaranteed water withdrawal during the growing seasons. The design parameters of the water intake structure were developed using the method of expert assessment with non-parametric statistics by comparing several dependent variables. Having determined the required qualities for a water intake structure, the design of a reclamation facility adapted for the conditions of the mountain and foothill zones of the North Caucasus was developed. Results. To achieve this goal, a static method for analyzing water intake structures was adapted, and statements with a factorial rating scale for expert assessment were developed. Kendall's concordance coefficient was 0.726, the data were consistent, the significance level P was less than 0.05, the differences between the factors were significant. The layer-by-layer latticed type of water intake structure has maximum efficiency. The design of a bottom-type water intake structure has been developed on the basis of the river hydrological regime and the method of water supply to the system. This type of structure demonstrates high efficiency in conditions of difficult terrain and unstable water source regimes during the growing seasons, ensuring stable water intake with minimal impact on the ecosystem. Conclusions. The proposed design of a water intake structure can be adapted to different types of water resources and their fluctuations, which makes it acceptable for mountainous areas with variable water levels in natural water sources. Minimal impact on the ecosystem is ensured by a high degree of water purification without significant changes in river channels.

Potencijal poljoprivrednog zemljišta prema katastarskom klasiranju na prostoru prirodnog dobra u postupku zaštite Predela izuzetnih odlika "Planina Rudnik"

During 2023, the Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia submitted a proposal and an act on the designation of a protected area, the Outstanding Natural Landscape Rudnik Mountain, to the Ministry of Environmental Protection. 33.70% of agricultural land, which is recognized as a resource of economic development potential, is included within the boundaries of the proposed protected area. Based on information obtained from the Republic Geodetic Office's Real Estate Cadastre, an analysis of the cadastral classification of land by cadastral municipalities was conducted to determine the potential for success of this rural region with regard to agricultural activities. The cadastral classification of agricultural land is based on natural production conditions and follows the morphological, physical, chemical, biological and paedological-geological characteristics of the soil of the Rudnik Mountain, as well as the dynamics of the area: relief, altitude, inclination of the terrain, slope aspect, erosional processes and other conditions aligned with the Rulebook on land cadastral classification. The results of this analysis set the basis for future activities to improve the situation regarding the use and possible protection of agricultural land within ONL Rudnik Mountain.

Research on Horizontal Directional Drilling Scheme for Large Cross Section Submarine Cable Crossing Hard Rock

With the increasing number of submarine cable projects, the terrain and geological conditions of the landing section are becoming increasingly complex, and the traditional implementation of trench burial is becoming increasingly difficult. A landing construction plan for large-section power cables suitable for steep terrain and rugged rock formations is studied and proposed based on sorting out existing submarine cable landing plans. Using directional drilling construction machinery ideal for rock formations, natural cable protection pipes are formed in rock formations after dragging and expanding the holes, meeting submarine cable protection’s safety and economic requirements. In the climbing section of the submarine cable from the seabed to the rock hole, measures such as bottom sandbag raising and top rock throwing security are adopted to avoid vortex-induced vibration and erosion caused by the cable hanging in the climbing section. The construction plan of the directional drilling passage through hard rock and the construction and protection plan of the submarine cable do not affect the current situation of the existing coastal reefs and can effectively protect the submarine cable from external damage, achieving green and environmentally friendly construction.

Reliable Global Path Planning of Off-Road Autonomous Ground Vehicles Under Uncertain Terrain Conditions

Reliable Global Path Planning of Off-Road Autonomous Ground Vehicles Under Uncertain Terrain Conditions

Study on the Driving Risk Reduction in the Mountain Highway Tunnel Group under the Perspective of Visual Load

More highway built in the mountains in recent years, the driving risk in the tunnel group is becoming a new issue. This paper analyzed the driving risk in the mountain highway tunnel group from the perspective of visual load. Based on vehicle test in the Pengshui‐Xiantang tunnel group in China, the evolution characteristics of MTPA were quantitatively analyzed, and the random forest model was constructed to discuss the effect factors of the maximum transient velocity value of the pupil area (MTPA) in different sections. The results are as follows: (1) The MTPA frequently presents a tendency of steep rise and fall in the tunnel group. MTPA in the second tunnel is significantly higher than the first tunnel. (2) The mountain tunnel group can be divided into nine sections; the velocity, design luminance, measured luminance, and location have different effects on MTPA in each section. Due to the complex terrain conditions, the location has a more significant impact on MTPA in the second tunnel. (3) The first tunnel entrance, the first tunnel exit to the second tunnel entrance, and the second tunnel exit are the areas with more significant pressure on drivers in the tunnel group. The visual load of drivers in the exit section of the last tunnel is the greatest. The driving risk reduction recommendations include improving the transition lighting design of the second tunnel, clarifying the tunnel group identification, and adding safety features at the tunnel connection section, in order to clarify the driver’s expectations and reduce the fear of the unknown mountain environment.

Сегментно-пальцевая косилка для скашивания естественных и сеяных трав в условиях малых форм хозяйствования

Segment-finger mowers are used mainly in forage harvesting. To improve their qualitative and operational indicators it is necessary to study the trajectory of movement, speed and acceleration of the mower knife under variable terrain conditions. For this purpose, the authors studied the influence of change of the non-axial value on qualitative and energy indicators of the mower’s cutter bar. They also determined parameters and operating modes of the mower knife with the axial knife drive mechanism. According to the results of experimental studies, it was established that while copying the field relief, the cutter bar changes the angle of inclination relative to the horizon within the limits of ±15 degrees. In this case, the non-axial value varies between 0.281 and 0.492 m with a step of one degree. The change of the non-axial value entails the change of the stroke, speed, and acceleration of the knife. Using the analytical method of kinematic study of crank mechanisms according to Artobolevsky’s procedure and performing calculations in the Excel software kit, the authors have obtained graphical relationships between the knife stroke and speed depending on the angular position of the cutter bar with the interval of 0, 5, 10, and 15. A change in the location of the cutter bar up to 15 degrees causes unequal speeds of the forward and reverse knife strokes, increasing it from 76.2 to 89 mm, which increases the energy consumption for the knife drive up to 17%. Another disadvantage of the non-axial crank mechanism of the knife drive is its dynamic unbalance, which is only partially smoothed with a counterweight. To eliminate the drawbacks, the authors have developed an experimental mower with axial arrangement of the crank mechanism on the finger bar of the cutter bar. The new design makes it possible to activate the transport position of the finger bar in the working mode of the cutter bar when bypassing such obstacles as bushes, trees, or rough bumps.