Research on Dynamic Analysis and Experimental Study of the Distributed Drive Electric Tractor
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
This manuscript has researched the dynamic performance of a distributed drive electric tractor, designed the overall structure of the DDET, and analyzed the evaluation index of its dynamic performance. According to the whole machine parameters of the tractor, the factors affecting the dynamic performance of the tractor have been analyzed through the characteristic tests of the hub motor. Then built the simulation model to analyze the dynamic performance of the plowing operation and road transportation. Finally, carried out the real tests through the prototype to verify the dynamic performance of the DDET.
The structure of the manuscript is complete, and the analysis of dynamic performance is more in-depth. But a few questions remain:
(1) The format and presentation of the manuscript are not detailed enough and need to be carefully modified. For example, in Table 2, the row spacing of the table is inconsistent.
(2) It is suggested to place part of the tractor prototype in 3 results and discussion, together with the actual test research, so the content is more unified.
(3) The expression of simulation test results is not clear enough, please improve it.
Author Response
Point 1: The format and presentation of the manuscript are not detailed enough and need to be carefully modified. For example, in Table 2, the row spacing of the table is inconsistent.
Response 1: The format and presentation of manuscript have been carefully modified using red font.
Point 2: It is suggested to place part of the tractor prototype in 3 results and discussion, together with the actual test research, so the content is more unified.
Response 2: According to the Point 2, put the tracor prototype in 3 results and discussion in line 513.
Point 3: The expression of simulation test results is not clear enough, please improve it.
Response 3: The simulation test results have been modified using red font from line 438-457.
Thank you very much for your comments and suggestions, which can help me understand the problems in the manuscript and modify them.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments for author File: 
Comments.pdf
Author Response
Point 1: The actual working conditions of a paddy field and a dry field are quite complex. In the introduction, the dynamic performance of the small, distributed-drive electric tractor in paddy fields and dry fields is studied.
Response 1: The abstract said that “This paper has taken a 25-horsepower tractor as the object and developed a distributed drive electric tractor (DDET) suitable for farming in paddy and upland fields” in the manuscript. The expression didn’t correct enough, I’m so sorry for that. We want to design a distributed electric tractor which may be applied to paddy and dry fields. So we tried to desigh the driving system, and considered the dynamic performances of paddy and dry fields in the design process.
Therefore, we plan to take three steps. The first step, after producting the tractor’s prototype successfully, we carried out the tests on road first to verify the tractor’s dynamic performances, which is studied in this manuscript. The second step, we will carry out the tests in a dry field. Then, we will carry out the tests in a paddy field. But the second step and the third step is not presented in this manuscript.
Point 2: In the introduction, the author expounds the existing research results of others, but the depth of analysis is not enough, so it is necessary to make an in-depth analysis closely related to the research in this paper to show the innovation of the research in this paper.
Response 2:
The introduction has been modified according to your requirements and is shown in red font from line 39-150.
Point 3: The manuscript seems to have been written rather sloppily, with paragraphs of separate sentences forming no coherent text, etc. The conclusion should be rewritten. It's too confusing.
Response 3: Maybe English expression isn’t good. The manuscript has been carefully modified, and the conclusion has been rewritten using red font.
Point 4: The diagrams mentioned in the article are not standard enough, for example (the diagrams are not clear enough and the fonts do not meet the requirements).
Response 4: The diagrams mentioned in the article have been modified, made the dagrams clear and checked the fonts.
Point 5: There are some low-level writing errors in the paper, which should be carefully checked, such as repeated commas in line 89, etc.
Response 5: The writing errors have been modified.
Point 6: The author's citation format for literature is incorrect, and the number of literatures is small. It is suggested to add several pieces of literature related to the past two years.
Response 6: The citation format for literature has been checked and modified. And increased the number of literatures.
Point 7: It should be noted that your manuscript needs to be carefully edited by professional technical English editors, paying special attention to English grammar, spelling, and sentence structure, so that readers can clearly understand the objectives and results of the research.
Response 7: I have checked and modified the English expression in manuscript, may be not good enough. I would like to ask you to look over the paper again. If there are still serious problems with the expression, I will ask a professional technical English editor to polish it.
Thank you very much for your comments and suggestions, which can help me understand the problems in the manuscript and modify them.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Reviewer 3 Report
1. The relationship between motor torque and motor speed is important，the test process should be described detailly.
2. The type and parameters of motor test platform should be presented in the manuscript.
3. It could be better show the key simulation parameters in the manuscript.
4. In the abstract, the distributed drive electric tractor was developed for farming in paddy, but the traction performance test was conducted in the road.
Author Response
Point 1: The relationship between motor torque and motor speed is important，the test process should be described detailly.
Response 1: The test process of the relationship between motor speed and torque has been described in manuscript, please see the red part of the manuscript from line 306-319 for details.
Point 2: The type and parameters of motor test platform should be presented in the manuscript.
Response 2: The type and parameters of motor test platform have been descried in manuscript, please see the red part of the manuscript from line 306-319 for details.
Point 3: It could be better show the key simulation parameters in the manuscript.
Response 3: The setting of simulation parameters is consistent with the real parameters of the tractor, as shown in Table 2.
Point 4: In the abstract, the distributed drive electric tractor was developed for farming in paddy, but the traction performance test was conducted in the road.
Response 4: The abstract said that “This paper has taken a 25-horsepower tractor as the object and developed a distributed drive electric tractor (DDET) suitable for farming in paddy and upland fields” in the manuscript. The expression didn’t correct enough, I’m so sorry for that. We want to design a distributed electric tractor which may be applied to paddy and dry fields. So we tried to desigh the driving system, and considered the dynamic performances of paddy and dry fields in the design process.
Therefore, we plan to take three steps. The first step, after producting the tractor’s prototype successfully, we carried out the tests on road first to verify the tractor’s dynamic performances, which is studied in this manuscript. The second step, we will carry out the tests in a dry field. Then, we will carry out the tests in a paddy field. But the second step and the third step is not presented in this manuscript.
Thank you very much for your comments and suggestions, which can help me understand the problems in the manuscript and modify them.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Reviewer 4 Report
The author believes that the main factors affecting the drive speed of DDET are the motor speed, tire radius and wheel reducer. However, according to the actual operating environment, it is also related to the working environment of the tractor, which is paddy field and dry field. The types of tires, etc. When the wheeled tractor is installed with ordinary dry field tires to work in the paddy field, if the tires are not selected properly, the tractor will not work normally due to sagging, slipping, and excessive sliding resistance, Even lost the passing ability
Author Response
Point 1: The author believes that the main factors affecting the drive speed of DDET are the motor speed, tire radius and wheel reducer. However, according to the actual operating environment, it is also related to the working environment of the tractor, which is paddy field and dry field. The types of tires, etc. When the wheeled tractor is installed with ordinary dry field tires to work in the paddy field, if the tires are not selected properly, the tractor will not work normally due to sagging, slipping, and excessive sliding resistance, Even lost the passing ability
Response 1: Thank you very much for your comments and suggestions, and I agree with your viewpoint for the influences of tires’ types in paddy field and dry field and the actual operating enviroment. But please consider my opinion or thoughts.
The abstract said that “This paper has taken a 25-horsepower tractor as the object and developed a distributed drive electric tractor (DDET) suitable for farming in paddy and upland fields” in the manuscript. The expression didn’t correct enough, I’m so sorry for that. We want to design a distributed electric tractor which may be applied to paddy and dry fields. So we tried to desigh the driving system, and considered the dynamic performances of paddy and dry fields in the design process.
Therefore, we plan to take three steps. The first step, after producting the tractor’s prototype successfully, we carried out the tests on road first to verify the tractor’s dynamic performances, which is studied in this manuscript. The second step, we will carry out the tests in a dry field. Then, we will carry out the tests in a paddy field. But the second step and the third step is not presented in this manuscript.
Author Response File: Author Response.docx
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
This paper has some practical significance, but the graph expression needs to be strengthened.
Reviewer 4 Report
Moreover, in 2021, the 68 ET1004-W wheel-side concept electric tractor developed by China Yitong was unveiled at 69 the Agricultural Machinery Exhibition held in Nanjing.
Ask the author to decide once again whether it is Yitong or Yituo
