Abstract: A method of cruise control for a harvester automatically monitors certain operating conditions of the harvester and responsively sets an engine speed value adequate to meet predicted torque demand, and, but not necessarily, automatically varies a propulsion speed of the harvester as required to match the torque demand to the available torque to increase efficiency, and has particular applicability to a sugar cane harvester. Monitored conditions can include certain characteristics or parameters of a pump or pumps powering fluid operated systems of the harvester, in particular, propulsion and harvesting systems. Other conditions can include intake air temperature, coolant, and hydraulic fluid temperature. Rate of change of one or more of the conditions can be used for setting the engine speed and to predict the torque demand.

Abstract: A method of cruise control for a harvester automatically monitors certain operating conditions of the harvester and responsively sets an engine speed value adequate to meet predicted torque demand, and, but not necessarily, automatically varies a propulsion speed of the harvester as required to match the torque demand to the available torque to increase efficiency, and has particular applicability to a sugar cane harvester. Monitored conditions can include certain characteristics or parameters of a pump or pumps powering fluid operated systems of the harvester, in particular, propulsion and harvesting systems. Other conditions can include intake air temperature, coolant, and hydraulic fluid temperature. Rate of change of one or more of the conditions can be used for setting the engine speed and to predict the torque demand.

Abstract: A system, and the method of operation and use thereof, for controlling and adjusting the height of a base cutter of a sugar cane harvester, during a harvesting operation, and without the necessity for continuous user intervention and adjustment, to maintain the height of the cut at approximately a desired height, including a control system that has a processor unit which is operable under program control during a harvesting operation, following initiation of program operation by a machine operator, to simultaneously monitor both the detected base cutter height and the detected cutting resistance encountered by the harvester as it traverses a particular ground track, and, based upon such detected conditions, to automatedly control the adjustment of the height of the harvester chassis above the ground surface so that the cutting apparatus of the base cutter unit is continuously adjusted to cut at approximately the desired cutting height, within an acceptable vertical movement range or bandwidth, during the cour

Abstract: A system, and the method of operation and use thereof, for controlling and adjusting the height of a base cutter of a sugar cane harvester, during a harvesting operation, and without the necessity for continuous user intervention and adjustment, to maintain the height of the cut at approximately a desired height, including a control system that has a processor unit which is operable under program control during a harvesting operation, following initiation of program operation by a machine operator, to simultaneously monitor both the detected base cutter height and the detected cutting resistance encountered by the harvester as it traverses a particular ground track, and, based upon such detected conditions, to automatedly control the adjustment of the height of the harvester chassis above the ground surface so that the cutting apparatus of the base cutter unit is continuously adjusted to cut at approximately the desired cutting height, within an acceptable vertical movement range or bandwidth, during the cour