Abstract: A system and method are provided for proactively adjusting a height of an agricultural machine, or components thereof, using at least terrain elevation information provided by, or incorporated into, a terrain map. Moreover, the system can be configured for proactively determining a setpoint for the height(s) of the agricultural machine, or associated components, based a determination that involves at least one or more of a machine sink of the agricultural machine, a tilt offset of the agricultural machine, and elevation differences between a field and an adjacent headland, among other considerations. The system can further evaluate the time for the agricultural machine to reach a location, such as, for example, a location at which terrain elevation changes, an agricultural operation at least temporary stops or resumes, an end of a crop row, or a headland boundary such that such height adjustment(s) occur proactively, including in view of inherent system latencies.

Abstract: A method of controlling an agricultural harvesting machine having a harvesting device configured to engage and cut crop on a field. The method includes receiving an indication of field topography in a first area of the field prior to the first area being harvested, controlling a position of the harvesting device to harvest the crop in the first area based on the indication of field topography in the first area, receiving in-situ data from the first area of the field after the first area is harvested by the harvesting device, receiving an indication of field topography in a second area of the field prior to the second area being harvested, and controlling the position of the harvesting device to harvest the crop in the second area based on the in-situ data and the indication of field topography in the second area.

Abstract: A basecutter assembly for a sugarcane harvester includes a cutting spindle powered by a first power source, and a transport spindle powered by a second power source independent of the cutting spindle. A torque sensor is coupled to the cutting spindle. A harvester controller defines a target cutting torque value for the cutting spindle based on a desired crop cut height and determines a current cutting torque of the cutting spindle while cutting the crop. The harvester controller may then control a height of the cutting spindle relative to a ground surface to maintain the current cutting torque substantially equal to the target cutting torque value to achieve the desired crop cut height.

Abstract: A control system for a harvester having a residue discharge system operable to eject crop residue according to an adjustable residue discharge parameter, the control system including a processor, a memory, a human-machine interface, and a sensor configured to detect at least one of wind speed, wind direction, or humidity. The control system is configured to receive the signal from the sensor, receive an operator input corresponding to a desired residue management strategy selected from at least a first residue management strategy and a second residue management strategy, and adjust the residue discharge parameter based on the desired residue management strategy and the detected at least one of wind speed, wind direction, or humidity.

Abstract: A harvester including an inlet configured to receive a crop including a stalk, a blade configured to cut the crop into a billet, a sensor configured to detect a three-dimensional appearance of at least a portion of the billet and generate a signal associated with the three-dimensional appearance of the at least a portion of the billet, and a control system having a processor, a memory, and a human-machine interface. The control system is configured to receive the signal from the sensor and programmed to 1) analyze the three-dimensional appearance of the at least a portion of the billet, 2) classify the three-dimensional appearance using an indicator of cut quality and 3) index the indicator of cut quality into the memory.

Abstract: A control system for a harvester includes a plurality of actuators, each of which moves of one of the following: a knockdown roller for pressing crops down, a side knife for cutting crops along a substantially vertical plane, a base cutter for cutting crops along a substantially horizontal plane, and a crop divider configured to separate crops into rows. The control system also includes a controller in electrical communication with each actuator of the plurality of actuators. The controller receives a signal indicative of an operational position of at least one actuator of the plurality of actuators, and sends a signal to the at least one actuator of the plurality of actuators to initiate movement of the at least one actuator of the plurality of actuators in response to the received signal.

Abstract: A system for measuring crop seed rate of a planting machine, the system including a camera having a first field of view through which crop material may pass, and one or more electronic controllers in operable communication with the camera and the planting machine. The one or more electronic controls are configured to receive image data from the camera, identify one or more attributes of the crop material positioned in the field of view of the camera, determine a speed associated with the planting machine, determine a current crop seed rate of the planting machine based at least in part on the one or more attributes of the crop material in the field of view and the speed of the planting machine, and output one or more recommended operating conditions to the planting machine based at least in part on the determined crop seed rate.

Abstract: A sugarcane sampling station includes a sugarcane sampling station including a structure defining a passageway through which a harvested material passes, a core sampler mounted to the structure, the core sampler comprising a coring rod configured to retrieve a sample of the harvested, a crop detection system mounted to the structure, the crop detection system comprising a sensing device configured to detect the harvested material, and a processor configured to determine a quality of the harvested material detected by the crop detection system based on an output of the sensing device.

Abstract: A harvester including a mono-camera having a first field of view, where the camera outputs a first image representative of the first field of view, and where the first image is a two-dimensional representation of the first field of view. The harvester also includes a controller in operable communication with the mono-camera, where the controller establishes a second two-dimensional reference frame fixed relative to the first field of view, where the controller identifies a reference point within the first image, where the controller locates the reference point within the second two-dimensional reference frame, and where the controller calculates the location of the reference point relative to the first, three-dimensional reference frame based on the position of the reference point within the second two-dimensional reference frame.

Abstract: A control system for a harvester that harvests crop stalks each having a bottom portion and a top portion. The harvester includes a topper that cuts the stalks between the top and bottom portions and a base cutter that cuts the stalks near a ground surface. The control system includes a sensor that senses a first height between the top of the bottom portion and the ground surface, and senses a second height between the bottom of the bottom portion and the ground surface. The controller receives signals representing the sensed first and second heights from the sensor, determines average first and second heights for the stalks over a set time, sends a first signal to the topper to cause movement of the topper to the average first height, and sends a second signal to the base cutter to cause movement of the base cutter to the average second height.

Abstract: A method of controlling an agricultural harvesting machine having a harvesting device configured to engage and cut crop on a field. The method includes receiving an indication of field topography in a first area of the field prior to the first area being harvested, controlling a position of the harvesting device to harvest the crop in the first area based on the indication of field topography in the first area, receiving in-situ data from the first area of the field after the first area is harvested by the harvesting device, receiving an indication of field topography in a second area of the field prior to the second area being harvested, and controlling the position of the harvesting device to harvest the crop in the second area based on the in-situ data and the indication of field topography in the second area.

Abstract: A controller for a harvester receives a speed of the harvester, the pitch, the yaw and the roll of the vehicle body, compares the sensed yaw, pitch and roll of the vehicle body to respective acceptable yaw, pitch and roll ranges. The controller also receives a conveyor position respect to the vehicle body, compares the conveyor position to an acceptable range of conveyor positions, calculates a center of gravity of the harvester based upon the yaw, pitch, roll and conveyor position, and compares the speed of the harvester to an acceptable range of speeds based upon the calculated center of gravity of the harvester. The controller also sends a signal to move the conveyor with respect to the vehicle body, alert the user to move the conveyor with respect to the vehicle body, reduce the speed of the harvester, or alert the user to reduce the speed of the harvester.

Abstract: A control system for a harvester having a residue discharge system operable to eject crop residue according to an adjustable residue discharge parameter, the control system including a processor, a memory, a human-machine interface, and a sensor configured to detect at least one of wind speed, wind direction, or humidity. The control system is configured to receive the signal from the sensor, receive an operator input corresponding to a desired residue management strategy selected from at least a first residue management strategy and a second residue management strategy, and adjust the residue discharge parameter based on the desired residue management strategy and the detected at least one of wind speed, wind direction, or humidity.

Abstract: A harvester including an inlet configured to receive a crop including a stalk, a blade configured to cut the crop into a billet, a sensor configured to detect a three-dimensional appearance of at least a portion of the billet and generate a signal associated with the three-dimensional appearance of the at least a portion of the billet, and a control system having a processor, a memory, and a human-machine interface. The control system is configured to receive the signal from the sensor and programmed to 1) analyze the three-dimensional appearance of the at least a portion of the billet, 2) classify the three-dimensional appearance using an indicator of cut quality and 3) index the indicator of cut quality into the memory.

Abstract: A harvester including a frame supported by a drive assembly for movement along a support surface, a head unit coupled to the harvester and configured to selectively harvest crop material, a camera coupled to the frame and configured to generate one or more images of a field of view, and a controller in operable communication with the camera and the head unit, where the controller is configured to determine one or more crop attributes based at least in part on the one or more images produced by the camera.

Abstract: A control system for a harvester that harvests crop stalks each having a bottom portion and a top portion. The harvester includes a topper that cuts the stalks between the top and bottom portions and a base cutter that cuts the stalks near a ground surface. The control system includes a sensor that senses a first height between the top of the bottom portion and the ground surface, and senses a second height between the bottom of the bottom portion and the ground surface. The controller receives signals representing the sensed first and second heights from the sensor, determines average first and second heights for the stalks over a set time, sends a first signal to the topper to cause movement of the topper to the average first height, and sends a second signal to the base cutter to cause movement of the base cutter to the average second height.

Abstract: A controller for a harvester receives a speed of the harvester, the pitch, the yaw and the roll of the vehicle body, compares the sensed yaw, pitch and roll of the vehicle body to respective acceptable yaw, pitch and roll ranges. The controller also receives a conveyor position respect to the vehicle body, compares the conveyor position to an acceptable range of conveyor positions, calculates a center of gravity of the harvester based upon the yaw, pitch, roll and conveyor position, and compares the speed of the harvester to an acceptable range of speeds based upon the calculated center of gravity of the harvester. The controller also sends a signal to move the conveyor with respect to the vehicle body, alert the user to move the conveyor with respect to the vehicle body, reduce the speed of the harvester, or alert the user to reduce the speed of the harvester.

Abstract: A control system for a harvester includes a plurality of actuators, each of which moves of one of the following: a knockdown roller for pressing crops down, a side knife for cutting crops along a substantially vertical plane, a base cutter for cutting crops along a substantially horizontal plane, and a crop divider configured to separate crops into rows. The control system also includes a controller in electrical communication with each actuator of the plurality of actuators. The controller receives a signal indicative of an operational position of at least one actuator of the plurality of actuators, and sends a signal to the at least one actuator of the plurality of actuators to initiate movement of the at least one actuator of the plurality of actuators in response to the received signal.

Abstract: A harvester including a frame supported by a drive assembly for movement along a support surface, a head unit coupled to the harvester and configured to selectively harvest crop material, a camera coupled to the frame and configured to generate one or more images of a field of view, and a controller in operable communication with the camera and the head unit, where the controller is configured to determine one or more crop attributes based at least in part on the one or more images produced by the camera.

Abstract: A method of moving a component of a harvester that includes a topper for cutting top portions of crops, a conveyor for transporting the cut stalks of the crops, a primary hood, and a secondary hood, each of the primary and secondary hoods operable to direct the cut top portions of the crops away from the conveyor. The method includes selecting a cutting mode of operation from the following modes of operation: circular cutting mode and face cutting mode; selecting a crop position from the following crop positions: crop at right and crop at left; selecting at least one component from the following components: the conveyor, the primary hood, or the secondary hood; and in response to selecting at least one component, automatically moving the selected at least one component to one of a first operational position or a second operational position.