From compaction to coexistence: A review of chassis engineering for intelligent agricultural machinery in complex paddy field ecosystems

The complex paddy field environments of Southern China characterized by fragmented plots and heavy, moist, and soft soils pose a severe challenge to the adaptability of agricultural machinery, representing a key bottleneck to enhancing the quality and efficiency of regional rice production. This study systematically reviews the current state of agricultural machinery in these paddy fields, with a focus on comparing the performance of wheeled and tracked chassis during key operations like tillage, transplanting, and harvesting. A significant performance trade-off is identified: tracked machinery exhibits superior trafficability and stability on soft, wet surfaces, whereas wheeled equipment offers advantages in maneuverability and cost-effectiveness. However, current equipment faces three core challenges: functional specialization, potential for crop root damage during operation, and a decoupling of machinery and agronomy. Prospectively, the development of intelligent paddy field equipment should focus on three key directions: the platformization and universalization of chassis design, minimizing disturbance to the crop's entire life cycle, and deepening the systemic integration of machinery and agronomy. Such advancements will promote the coordinated development of agricultural equipment and the paddy field ecosystem, ensuring the sustainability of regional food production.