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.

Abstract: A method for dynamically operating a header float system of an agricultural vehicle having a header movably mounted to a frame of the agricultural vehicle by an actuator. The method includes: determining a target ground reaction force between the header and a ground surface located below the header, determining an actual ground reaction force between the header and the ground surface, comparing the actual ground reaction force to the target ground reaction force, and upon determining that the actual ground reaction force differs from the target ground reaction force by a predetermined amount, operating the actuator to reduce a difference in value between the actual ground reaction force and the target ground reaction force. An agricultural vehicle having a header operated as described above is also provided.

Abstract: A control system for an agricultural system includes a first controller configured to receive sensor information from a plurality of sensors, in which the sensor information is indicative of a height of a header of the agricultural system, and the first controller is configured to convert the sensor information into position data. The control system further includes a second controller communicatively coupled to the first controller, in which the second controller is configured to receive the position data from the first controller, and the second controller is configured to determine a target position of the header based on the position data.

Abstract: A header for an agricultural vehicle, and an agricultural vehicle having the header. The header includes a center section extending in a lateral direction, a wing section movably connected at a lateral end of the center section and extending in the lateral direction from the center section, a ground support attached to and extending in a downward direction from the wing section, and a resilient support operatively connected to the wing section and the ground support. The resilient support is configured to generate an adjustable predetermined force to bias the ground support in the downward direction.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling the height of a header for use with an agricultural harvester. The header height is controlled by receiving orientation values from a first set of sensors representing orientation of respective support arms of the header, receiving height values from a second set of sensors representing height of the respective support arms with respect to ground, combining the height values and orientation values for each support arm to create a respective multi-sensor value, and controlling the position of the header with respect to the agricultural harvester responsive the multi-sensor value.

Abstract: A detection system for an agricultural header includes a belt that has at least one physical feature driven by a roller at a roller rotational speed. The detection system also includes a sensor that detects a physical feature as it passes the sensor during rotation of the belt. The detection system further includes a controller that receives a signal indicating a first pulse of a first time a physical feature passes the sensor during the rotation of the belt and a second pulse of a second time a physical feature passes the sensor during the rotation of the belt. The controller further determines a pulse frequency based on the first and second times and calculates a belt rotational speed based on the pulse frequency. The controller compares the belt rotational speed to the roller rotational speed and provides an output if the roller rotational speed exceeds a threshold.

Abstract: A combine harvester includes (i) a grain tank for storing separated grain and having a bottom end and a top end, and (ii) a grain tank level sensor array for detecting a level of grain in the grain tank. The grain tank level sensor array includes a plurality of sensors, wherein the grain tank level sensor array extends between the bottom end and the top end of the grain tank. The sensors are spaced apart between the bottom end and the top end. A spacing between adjacent sensors decreases in a direction towards the top end of the grain tank.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes a frame and a crop cleaning assembly supported on the frame. The crop cleaning assembly, in turn, includes an oscillating component configured to oscillate relative to the frame in a manner that conveys crop material across the oscillating component. Furthermore, the agricultural harvester includes a RADAR sensor configured to emit an output signal directed at the crop material present on the oscillating component and detect an echo signal reflected by the crop material present on the oscillating component. Additionally, the agricultural harvester includes a computing system communicatively coupled to the RADAR sensor. In this respect, the computing system is configured to determine a thickness of the crop material present on the oscillating component based on detected echo signal.

Abstract: Method, apparatus, and non-transitory computer readable media for detecting reel-crop engagement for 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 crop detector mounted to the reel. Data is received from the at least one crop detector mounted on the reel, processed, and used to detect reel-crop engagement.

Abstract: A system for controlling harvesting implement operation of an agricultural harvester includes a harvesting implement defining a longitudinal axis extending between a forward end of the harvesting implement and an aft end of the harvesting implement. The harvesting implement is configured to be coupled to the agricultural harvester. Moreover, the harvesting implement includes a frame, a reel, and a cutter bar. A controller is configured to receive a first input indicating that a harvesting operation has ceased. Furthermore, the controller is configured to initiate a first adjustment to at least one of a fore/aft tilt angle defined between the longitudinal axis of the harvesting implement and a field surface, a position of the reel relative to the frame, or a position of the cutter bar relative to the frame upon receipt of the first input.

Abstract: An agricultural system (100) includes a header (112) including a first header segment (220) and a second header segment (222). The agricultural system also includes an actuator (312, 314, 326, 328) configured to adjust a position of the first header segment relative to the second header segment. The agricultural system also includes a controller (224) configured to receive sensor information from a pressure sensor and compare the pressure to a threshold pressure. In some embodiments, the sensor information is indicative of a pressure within a cylinder of the actuator. In certain embodiments, the controller is configured to send instructions to the actuator to adjust the first header segment relative to the second header segment in response to the pressure being below the pressure threshold.

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: In one aspect, a system for filtering signal interference from sensors signals includes a header comprising a frame and a powered component supported relative to the frame, and a sensor configured to detect electromagnetic waves indicative of a parameter associated with the header. In addition, the system includes an electronic control unit operably connected to the sensor such that the electronic control unit is configured to receive signals from the sensor associated with the detection of the electromagnetic waves. The electronic control unit is further configured to filter interference from the signals deriving from motion of the powered component relative to the sensor.

Abstract: An agricultural header having a frame, a first support arm, a second support arm spaced from the first support arm, a reel extending from a first reel end rotatably mounted to the first support arm to a second reel end rotatably mounted to the second support arm, a first actuator operatively connected to the frame and the first support arm and configured to move the first support arm relative to the frame, a second actuator operatively connected to the frame and the second support arm and configured to move the second support arm relative to the frame, and a control system configured to alternately operate the first actuator and the second actuator in repeating alternating incremental steps to thereby move the reel from a first reel position relative to the frame to a second reel position relative to the frame. A combine having such a header is also provided.

Abstract: A reel assembly for an agricultural header including a reel arm configured to rotatably couple to a frame of the agricultural header and configured to support a reel of the reel assembly. The reel assembly further includes a device mounting assembly coupled to the reel arm and configured to support a device that is configured to monitor a terrain feature. The device mounting assembly is configured to maintain an orientation between the device and a ground on which the agricultural header is positioned as the reel arm rotates relative to the frame of the agricultural header.

Abstract: A reel assembly for an agricultural header includes a reel arm configured to couple to a frame of the agricultural header and configured to support a reel of the reel assembly. The reel assembly further includes a device mounting assembly movably coupled to the reel arm and configured to support a device that is configured to monitor a terrain feature. The device mounting assembly is configured to move between an extended position and a retracted position relative to the frame to move the device between a first position corresponding to the extended position of the device mounting assembly and a second position corresponding to the retracted position of the device mounting assembly. The device mounting assembly is configured to enable the device to monitor the terrain feature at the first position and the second position.

Abstract: A reel power system for a header of an agricultural system includes an electrical generator having a stator and a rotor rotatably engaged with the stator. The stator is configured to be non-rotatably coupled to a support structure of a reel of the header. The rotor is configured to non-rotatably engage a base of the header. Furthermore, the reel is configured to rotate relative to the base. The electrical generator is configured to generate electrical power in response to rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: A reel assembly for an agricultural header includes a reel arm configured to rotatably couple to a frame of the agricultural header and configured to support a reel of the reel assembly. The reel assembly also includes a bracket extending from the reel arm and configured to support a device. The reel assembly further includes a cable assembly configured to maintain an orientation between the device and the frame of the agricultural header as the reel arm rotates relative to the frame of the agricultural header.

Abstract: An agricultural system includes a header and a controller. The controller is configured to receive an indication to operate the agricultural system in a non-harvesting mode, output a first signal to set the header in a set profile upon initialization of the non-harvesting mode, receive sensor feedback indicative of an obstacle position of an obstacle relative to the header while the agricultural system operates in the non-harvesting mode, and output a second signal to adjust the header to deviate from the set profile based on the sensor feedback while the agricultural system operates in the non-harvesting mode.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for presenting information associated with a multi-segment header of an agricultural harvester. The operational states of the segments are monitored and used to present information. Examples of presented information include graphics depicting which segments are operational and which segments are non-operational, crop coverage maps, and crop yield maps.