Abstract: A cleaning arrangement for separating a billet material from an extraneous plant matter in a sugarcane harvester includes a cleaning chamber defining an inlet for the billet material and the extraneous plant matter, a first outlet for the extraneous plant matter, and a second outlet for the billet material. A fan is positioned within the cleaning chamber and configured to generate an airflow to direct the extraneous plant matter toward the first outlet. A billet deflector is located between the inlet and the first outlet and configured to direct the billet material toward the second outlet. An actuation mechanism is coupled to the billet deflector and is controllable to adjust the position of the billet deflector. A sensor is configured to generate a signal. A controller is programmed to activate the actuation mechanism to adjust the position of the billet deflector based on the signal.

Abstract: A sugarcane harvester includes a topper assembly having a boom that is mounted to a main frame. A radar support structure includes a cantilevered portion having a first end attached to the main frame and extending generally horizontally in the forward direction to a second end. The cantilevered portion is laterally offset from the boom, and is attached to the main frame at approximately the same elevation as the boom. The radar support structure includes a drop portion having an upper end attached to the second end of the cantilevered portion and extending generally vertically in a downward direction toward the ground surface to a lower end. A radar sensor assembly is attached to the lower end of the drop portion of the radar support structure.

Abstract: A cleaning arrangement for separating a billet material from extraneous plant matter in a sugarcane harvester includes a cleaning chamber defining an inlet for the billet material and the extraneous plant matter, a first outlet for the extraneous plant matter, and a second outlet defined in a basket for the billet material. A fan is positioned within the cleaning chamber and configured to generate an airflow to direct the extraneous plant matter toward the first outlet. A supplemental air attachment is positioned to direct an accelerated airflow of air toward the louver to separate the extraneous plant matter from the crop billets.

Abstract: A sugarcane harvester and a method for harvesting a sugarcane crop having cane stalks. The sugarcane harvester includes a base cutter assembly configured to cut the cane stalks at a base and a header. The header includes a crop divider configured to position the cane stalks with respect to the sugarcane harvester, wherein the crop divider is rotatable about a divider rotational axis. A knockdown roller is configured to direct the positioned cane stalks to the base cutter assembly, wherein the knockdown roller is rotatable about a roller rotational axis. An imaging system is configured to provide crop information of the sugarcane crop and a controller is operatively connected to the imaging system. The controller is configured to receive the crop information, wherein the controller transmits one or more control signals in response to the crop information to one or both of the crop divider and the knockdown roller.

Abstract: A sugarcane harvester for harvesting sugarcane including a cutting blade to cut sugarcane. The cutting blade is adjustably supported by the sugarcane harvester to cut the sugarcane at a desired height. A radar assembly is coupled to the sugarcane harvester and transmits electromagnetic waves toward a ground surface, wherein reflected electromagnetic waves identify a ground level of the ground surface which is used to adjust a height of the cutting blade with respect to the ground surface. A controller is operatively connected to the radar assembly and to the cutting blade. The controller is adapted to receive the ground level identified by the radar assembly and adjusts a position of the cutting blade with respect to the ground surface based on the identified ground level.

Abstract: A sugarcane harvester includes an image sensor positioned to capture an image of a cut cross section of a sugarcane plant after removal of an upper leaf portion by a top cutter. A controller is operable to analyze an image of the cut cross section of the sugarcane plant and determine a location of the cut cross section of the sugarcane plant relative to a soft joint of the sugarcane plant from the image based on identification of any discrete leaf portions in the image. The controller may then control a topper actuator to adjust a cut height of the top cutter relative to the ground surface based on the location of the cut cross section of the sugarcane plant relative to the soft joint of the sugarcane plant.

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 sugarcane harvester includes an extractor system having a housing defining an interior passage leading to an exhaust outlet. A fan assembly is positioned within the interior passage for inducing a flow of air across a flow of sugarcane billets and through the interior passage for extracting leaf residue. A constituent sensor is positioned to detect data related to a sugar content of the extracted material, including the leaf residue, moving through the interior passage of the housing. A controller may determine a current sugar content of the extracted material passing through the interior passage of the housing from data sensed by the constituent sensor, and determine that the extracted material passing through the housing includes sugarcane billets when the current sugar content is greater than a trash sugar content threshold.

Abstract: A cleaning arrangement for separating a billet material from an extraneous plant matter in a sugarcane harvester includes a cleaning chamber defining an inlet for the billet material and the extraneous plant matter, a first outlet for the extraneous plant matter, and a second outlet for the billet material. A fan is positioned within the cleaning chamber and configured to generate an airflow to direct the extraneous plant matter toward the first outlet. A billet deflector is located between the inlet and the first outlet and configured to direct the billet material toward the second outlet. An actuation mechanism is coupled to the billet deflector and is controllable to adjust the position of the billet deflector. A sensor is configured to generate a signal. A controller is programmed to activate the actuation mechanism to adjust the position of the billet deflector based on the signal.

Abstract: A cleaning arrangement for separating a billet material from an extraneous plant matter in a sugarcane harvester includes a cleaning chamber defining an inlet for the billet material and the extraneous plant matter, a first outlet for the extraneous plant matter, and a second outlet for the billet material. A fan is positioned within the cleaning chamber and configured to generate an airflow to direct the extraneous plant matter toward the first outlet. A billet deflector is located between the inlet and the first outlet and configured to direct the billet material toward the second outlet. An actuation mechanism is coupled to the billet deflector and is controllable to adjust the position of the billet deflector. A sensor is configured to generate a signal. A controller is programmed to activate the actuation mechanism to adjust the position of the billet deflector based on the signal.

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 sugarcane harvester to cut sugarcane from a sugarcane field including a chopping system. The chopping system includes a first chopper having a plurality of first blades and a second chopper having a plurality of second blades, wherein the first chopper and the second chopper rotate about their respective axes of rotation to cooperatively cut sugarcane stalk into billets. A motor operatively connected to the first chopper and to the second chopper rotates the first chopper and the second chopper. A chopper timing actuator is configured to continuously adjust a time of interference between a first blade of the plurality of first blades with respect to a second blade of the plurality of second blades, wherein the continuous adjustment maintains a time period of the interference between the first blade and the second blade as the first chopper and the second chopper cut the sugarcane stalk into billets.

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: An agricultural harvester for harvesting a crop. The agricultural harvester includes a frame and a crop gatherer extending from and being moveably coupled to the frame. The crop gatherer includes one of a crop divider, a crop cutter, or a crop remover. A radar assembly is operatively connected to the crop gatherer, wherein the radar assembly transmits electromagnetic waves toward a ground to identify a ground level. A controller is operatively connected to the radar assembly and the crop gatherer, wherein the controller receives the identified ground level from the radar assembly and adjusts a height of the crop gatherer with respect to the ground.

Abstract: A sugarcane harvester for harvesting sugarcane including a cutting blade to cut sugarcane. The cutting blade is adjustably supported by the sugarcane harvester to cut the sugarcane at a desired height. A radar assembly is coupled to the sugarcane harvester and transmits electromagnetic waves toward a ground surface, wherein reflected electromagnetic waves identify a ground level of the ground surface which is used to adjust a height of the cutting blade with respect to the ground surface. A controller is operatively connected to the radar assembly and to the cutting blade. The controller is adapted to receive the ground level identified by the radar assembly and adjusts a position of the cutting blade with respect to the ground surface based on the identified ground level.

Abstract: A harvester includes a feed system operable at a feed speed and configured to feed a crop towards a blade. The blade is configured to cut the crop into crop billet and is operable at a cutting speed. The harvester further includes an optical sensor configured to generate a signal corresponding to a length of the crop billet and a control system with a processor, a memory, and a human-machine interface. The control system is configured to receive the signal and programmed to adjust one or both of the cutting speed or the feed speed based on the signal.

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: Systems and methods for determining a pre-charge gas pressure in a gas-charged hydraulic accumulator are disclosed. For example, systems and methods for determining pre-charged gas pressure of a gas-charged hydraulic accumulator included as part of a vehicle are disclosed. Further, the present disclosure provides for determining a pre-charge gas pressure of a gas-charged hydraulic accumulator using a position sensor. The accumulator may form part of a hydraulic system used to move one part of the vehicle relative to another.

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 cleaning arrangement for separating a billet material from an extraneous plant matter in a sugarcane harvester includes a cleaning chamber defining an inlet for the billet material and the extraneous plant matter, a first outlet for the extraneous plant matter, and a second outlet for the billet material. A fan is positioned within the cleaning chamber and configured to generate an airflow to direct the extraneous plant matter toward the first outlet. A billet deflector is located between the inlet and the first outlet and configured to direct the billet material toward the second outlet. An actuation mechanism is coupled to the billet deflector and is controllable to adjust the position of the billet deflector. A sensor is configured to generate a signal. A controller is programmed to activate the actuation mechanism to adjust the position of the billet deflector based on the signal.