Abstract: Aiming at problems of low practicality of existing models, high injury rate, low bright potato rate and mostly manual harvesting in China's hilly mountain sweet potato harvesting operation, a light weight sweet potato harvester for hilly mountainous areas was designed．Structure of whole machine mainly consistsed of gearbox, three-point suspension device, excavation device, secondary sorting device and lifting and transporting separation device．The harvester could excavate sweet potatoes with high efficiency, vibrate and separate potatoes during lifting and transportation, and collect potatoes dropped during lifting and transportation to secondary sorting device and vibrate and separate potatoes．Based on this research purpose, a three-dimensional model of prototype was established, and field tests were conducted after prototype was manufactured．Experimental results indicated that it met working requirements of sweet potato harvester and provided theoretical and practical basis for future prototype improvement．