Abstract: An agricultural system includes a frame, a cutter bar assembly, and a reel. The agricultural system also includes a controller configured to receive data indicative a position of the cutter bar assembly relative to the frame over a first time period of a harvesting operation, receive an input of a risk level for contact between the cutter bar assembly and the reel during the harvesting operation, generate a boundary for the reel based on the position of the cutter bar assembly relative to the frame over the first time period of the harvesting operation and the input, and control the reel based on the boundary during a second time period of the harvesting operation.

Abstract: A control system for a row unit of a corn header includes a memory configured to store instructions and one or more processors configured to execute the instructions. The instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to receive a signal from a sensor indicative of a measured stalk height. The instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, also cause the one or more processors determine the measured stalk height based on the signal. The instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, also cause the one or more processors to control a header pitch actuator to adjust a pitch angle of the row unit about a lateral axis of the corn header, control a speed actuator to adjust a speed of one or more feed rollers of the row unit, or a combination thereof, based on the measured stalk height.

Abstract: An agricultural system includes a header having a row unit with a feed roller configured to engage a crop and to pull a stalk of the crop toward the field. The header also includes a conveyor configured to receive a desirable crop material of the crop from the row unit and to direct the desirable crop material of the crop toward an inlet of the agricultural system. The header further includes a sensor system configured to detect presence of material other than grain (MOG) proximate to or at the conveyor.

Abstract: An impact detection system for a header of an agricultural system includes a first camera coupled to the agricultural system and configured to capture imagery of at least one row unit of the header. The impact detection system also includes a controller configured to utilize computer vision techniques to identify a portion of a crop in the imagery and to determine a location of initial contact of the portion of the crop at the header based on the imagery.

Abstract: An impact sensor system for a header of an agricultural system includes a first sensor vibrationally connected to a deck plate of the header, wherein the first sensor is configured to generate first signals in response to detection of vibrations due to initial contact between a crop and the deck plate of the header. The impact sensor system also includes a second sensor vibrationally connected to the deck plate of the header and positioned forward of the first sensor, wherein the second sensor is configured to generate second signals in response to detection of the vibrations due to the initial contact between the crop and the deck plate of the header.

Abstract: A stubble lean detection system for an agricultural harvester includes a controller having a memory and a processor. The controller is configured to receive a sensor signal indicative of an image of stubble within an agricultural field. The controller is also configured to determine whether an aggregate direction of lean of the stubble is forward, rearward, or mixed based on the image. Furthermore, the controller is configured to output an information signal to a user interface indicative of instructions to inform an operator of the aggregate direction of lean.

Abstract: A header for an agricultural system includes a plurality of row units distributed across a width of the header, one or more sensors coupled to the header and configured to generate respective signals indicative of a plurality of objects in an area proximate the header, and a controller comprising a memory and a processor. The one or more sensors are oriented such that a field of view of the one or more sensors comprises an area forward of the header relative to a direction of travel of the header and above the header relative to a soil surface, and the controller is configured to receive the respective signals from the one or more sensors coupled to the header and process the respective signals to determine an amount of butt-shelling occurring on the header.

Abstract: A control system for a corn header includes a controller. The controller includes a memory and one or more processors. The controller is configured to receive a signal from a radar sensor indicative of a return magnitude at a plurality of targets along an axis emanating from the radar sensor. The controller is also configured to determine a measured ear layer height based on the return magnitude at the plurality of targets. Furthermore, the controller is configured to control a header height actuator to adjust a picking height of the corn header based on the measured ear layer height.

Abstract: An agricultural system includes a header with a feed roller configured to engage a crop and to drive material other than grain (MOG) of the crop toward a field. The agricultural system also includes a chopper configured to cut the MOG driven toward the field by the feed roller for discharge from the agricultural system and a control system configured to output a control signal to adjust a speed of the chopper relative to a speed of the feed roller based on a size of the MOG discharged from the agricultural system.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically adjusting one or more parameters of a header of an agricultural harvester for gathering a crop and feeding the crop into a feeder housing includes receiving, from one or more sensors, a signal indicative of a position of a conveyor idler of a conveyor of the feeder housing over time. The system and method also includes providing one or more control signals to adjust the one or more parameters of the header based on variation of the position of the conveyor idler over time.

Abstract: An impact sensor system for a header of an agricultural system includes a damping feature configured to couple to the header to attenuate vibrations due to initial contact between a crop and the header to form attenuated vibrations. The impact sensor system also includes one or more sensors configured to couple to the header and to generate signals in response to detection of the attenuated vibrations. The impact sensor system also includes a controller configured to receive the signal and process the signals to determine a location of the initial contact between the crop and the header.

Abstract: An agricultural system for monitoring throughput of a feeder configured for use with a harvester performing a harvesting operation within a field includes a feeder housing and a feed assembly supported within the feeder housing, with the feed assembly directing a flow of harvested materials through the feeder, and with the feed assembly including a plurality of carriers spaced apart and driven about a loop. Moreover, the agricultural system includes a sensor configured to generate data indicative of the flow of harvested materials through the feeder. Additionally, the agricultural system includes a computing system communicatively coupled to the sensor, with the computing system being configured to monitor the flow of harvested materials based at least in part on the data generated by the sensor and a position of the plurality of carriers relative to the sensor.

Abstract: A system for controlling harvesting implement height of an agricultural harvester may include a computing system configured to monitor the height of a harvesting implement of the harvester relative to a field surface based on the received sensor data. Additionally, the computing system may be configured to determine an implement height error signal by comparing the monitored height of the harvesting implement to a predetermined target height. Moreover, the computing system is configured to divide the determined implement height error signal into a first and second frequency portions, with the second frequency portion having a greater frequency than the first frequency portion. Furthermore, the computing system is configured to control the operation of first and second actuators of the harvester based on the first and second frequency portions of the implement height error signal, respectively.

Abstract: A monitoring system for a reel assembly of an agricultural harvester includes a load sensor configured to couple to a non-rotating element of a tine rotation mechanism of the reel assembly. The tine rotation mechanism is configured to drive tines of the reel assembly to rotate relative to a rotating structure of the reel assembly, and the load sensor is configured to output a sensor signal indicative of a mechanism load applied by the tines to the non-rotating element of the tine rotation mechanism. The monitoring system also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the load sensor. The controller includes a memory and a processor, and the controller is configured to receive the sensor signal from the load sensor and to determine a crop load of crops acting on the tines based on the mechanism load.

Abstract: In one aspect, a system for visualizing the orientation of a harvesting implement configured for use with an agricultural harvester. The system includes a display device and a computing system communicatively coupled to the display device. The computing system is configured to receive data associated with an orientation of at least one section of the harvesting implement, and cause an implement orientation interface to be presented on the display device. The implement orientation interface includes an implement interface element representing the at least one section of the harvesting implement and at least one curved display indicator positioned relative to the implement interface element, with the at least one curved display indicator providing an indication of the orientation of the at least one section of the harvesting implement.

Abstract: In one aspect, method for automatically identifying sensors provided in association with agricultural equipment includes actuating, with the computing system, agricultural equipment such that an orientation of the agricultural equipment is varied in at least one direction, and receiving, with the computing system, data from a plurality of sensors that is associated with a parameter that changes as the orientation of the agricultural equipment is varied, the plurality of sensors being installed relative to the agricultural equipment at spaced apart locations along the at least one direction. The method also includes identifying, with the computing system, respective locations of the plurality of sensors relative to the agricultural equipment based at least in part on the data.

Abstract: An agricultural system includes a controller comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the controller is configured to receive data from a first and second sensor, each of which are mounted on an agricultural header and configured to output data indicative of one-dimensional (1D) distances. The controller is configured to determine a first horizontal distance from the first sensor to a first plant stalk and a second horizontal distance from the second sensor to a second plant stalk based on the 1D distance data. The controller is also configured to control a steering system of the agricultural system to adjust a position of the agricultural header relative to the first and second plant stalks based on a difference between the first horizontal distance and the second horizontal distance.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a header height of a combine harvester that includes a header, a ground speed sensor, a ground height sensor configured to detect a ground contour directly beneath the header, a forward looking sensor (FLS) configured to detect a ground contour forward of the header, and a controller. The controller receives signals from the ground speed sensor, the ground height sensor and the FLS, and calculates a header height output as a function of (i) an output of the ground speed sensor, which represents a ground speed of the combine, (ii) an output of the ground height sensor, and (iii) an output of the FLS. The controller is further configured to weight the outputs of the ground height sensor and the FLS as a function of the speed of the combine harvester in calculating the header height output.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for detecting crop field parameters with a header of a harvester. The header includes a reel configured to draw crop from a crop field toward the header as the harvester moves through the crop field and at least one distance sensor mounted to the reel. Data is received from the at least one distance sensor mounted on the reel, processed, and used to detect crop field parameters.

Abstract: A system for sensing harvested crop levels within a crop tank of an agricultural harvester includes a tank cover section movable between an open position and a covered position relative to an opening of the crop tank. The system includes a sensor array including crop level sensors configured to capture data indicative of a crop level of harvested crop. The sensor array is supported, at least in part, relative to the crop tank such that the sensor array is configured to have a first orientation when the tank cover section is in the covered position and a second orientation when the tank cover section is in the open position. The sensor array defines a first vertical dimension when the sensor array is disposed in the first orientation that is less than a second vertical dimension defined by the sensor array when the sensor array is disposed in the second orientation.