Abstract: A harvester includes a crop processor, a crop transfer arm and a vision system with a first camera with a field of view of at least one hundred and forty degrees and a second camera with a field of view of at least one hundred and forty degrees. A control system is configured to combine image data from the first camera and the second camera to form a single two-dimensional image, use the single two-dimensional image to identify the receiving vehicle, combine image data from the first camera and the second camera to form a stereo image, and use the stereo image to determine a location of the receiving vehicle relative to the harvester.

Abstract: A vision system for a harvester includes a first camera positioned on a first side of a crop transfer arm of the harvester and a second camera positioned on a second side of the crop transfer arm of the harvester, the second side being opposite the first side. A center of the first field of view and a center of the second field of view are angled away from one another by an angle of at least ten degrees. A first portion of the first field of view overlaps at least a portion of the second field of view and a second portion of the first field of view does not overlap the second field of view, and a first portion of the second field of view overlaps at least a portion of the first field of view and a second portion of the second field of view does not overlap the first field of view.

Abstract: A harvester includes a crop processor for reducing crop material to processed crop, a crop transfer arm for transferring processed crop material to a receiving vehicle, and a vision system including a first camera having a first field of view and a second camera having a second field of view, wherein the first camera is separated from the second camera along two axes. A control system is configured to use image data from the first camera and image data from the second camera to detect the presence of a receiving vehicle and to determine a distance between the harvester and the receiving vehicle, and generate control signals for automatically aligning the crop transfer arm with the receiving vehicle.

Abstract: A system includes an agricultural crop receiving vehicle with a bin for receiving and holding agricultural crop material and a camera positioned to capture images of an area proximate the receiving vehicle. One or more computing devices receive the image data from the camera, identify one or more features of a harvester in the image data, determine a location of the agricultural harvester relative to the crop receiving vehicle, and use the location of the agricultural harvester to generate control signals for controlling movement of the agricultural crop receiving vehicle to coordinate receiving crop material in the bin from the harvester or for controlling a graphical user interface to present a visual indicator of the relative locations of the agricultural crop receiving vehicle and the agricultural harvester.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes a crop processor for reducing crop material to processed crop and an unload conveyor for transferring processed crop out of the agricultural harvester. One or more sensors generate data indicating a fill level of processed crop within a receiving vehicle. A camera generates image data including at least a portion of the receiving vehicle. A controller receives the data from the one or more sensors, determines the fill level of the processed crop in the grain bin of the receiving vehicle, receives the image data from the camera and generates a graphical indicator of the fill level. The graphical indicator includes a graphical depiction of the receiving vehicle from the image data and a graphical marker superimposed over at least a portion of the graphical depiction of the receiving vehicle. A graphical user interface presents the graphical indicator of the fill level to a user.

Abstract: Described herein are technologies that use LIDAR and computer vision to detect a location of a receiving vehicle relative to a forage harvester, fill levels of crop material within the receiving vehicle, and path and landing position of material expelled from the forage harvester and received by a bin of the receiving vehicle. The technologies use such information as feedback for operating the harvester or the receiving vehicle. Some embodiments detect ground level in front of the harvester or the receiving vehicle, and such information is used as feedback too. Some embodiments include a link to communicate the feedback to a GUI for user visualization of the feedback and semi-automated operations of the harvester or the receiving vehicle. For example, readings from LIDAR and a camera of the harvester detect a topography of the material deposited in the bin of the receiving vehicle, and a GUI outputs the topography.

Abstract: Described herein are technologies that use LIDAR and computer vision to detect locations of receiving vehicles grouped together relative to a forage harvester and detect fill levels of crop material within each receiving vehicle and path and landing position of material expelled from the harvester into a bin of a receiving vehicle of the group. Such information is used as feedback for operating the harvester or one or more self-propelled vehicles moving the receiving vehicles. Some embodiments detect ground level in front of the harvester or the receiving vehicles and use such information as feedback. Some embodiments include a link to communicate the feedback to a GUI for user visualization of the feedback and semi-automated operations. For example, readings from LIDAR and a camera of the harvester detect a position and a crop material fill level for each receiving vehicle in the group, and the GUI outputs the information.

Abstract: Systems and methods for mapping the distribution of residue material in an environment in which one or more agricultural machines are operable. A sensing arrangement having one or more sensors mounted or otherwise coupled to an agricultural machine operating within the environment is used to obtain sensor data indicative of residue material spread by a spreader tool of the agricultural machine. From this a local distribution of residue material associated with the spreader tool is determined which is used to update a map of a global distribution of the residue material across the environment. The map comprises a grid-based map having a plurality of cells corresponding to sub-regions within the environment, wherein a value associated with each cell is representative of a measure of the residue material present within the corresponding sub-region.

Abstract: Methods and systems for mapping the distribution of residue material in an environment in which one or more agricultural machines are operable. A sensing arrangement including one or more sensors mounted or otherwise coupled to an agricultural machine operating within the environment is used to obtain sensor data indicative of residue material spread by a spreader tool of the machine. A local distribution of material associated with the spreader tool is determined and used to update a map of a global distribution of the material across the environment. The map of the global distribution comprises one or more sub-regions categorized based on the local distribution dependent on material characteristics at those sub-regions.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring the distribution of residue material from a spreader tool of an agricultural machine. A sensing arrangement including one or more sensors, with the sensors defining a sensing region corresponding to an operating area of the spreader tool. A lighting arrangement including one or more light sources for illumination to at least part of the sensing region depending on a capture state of the one or more sensors of the sensing arrangement.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring the distribution of residue material from a spreader tool of an agricultural machine including a first sensor with a sensing region defining a first sensing boundary corresponding to a first direction with respect to the agricultural machine, a second sensor with a sensing region defining a second sensing boundary corresponding to a second direction with respect to the agricultural machine, and using the sensing data from the first and second sensors to determine a distribution of residue material associated with the spreader tool. One or more systems of the agricultural machine are then controlled based on the determined distribution.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring the distribution of residue material from a spreader tool of an agricultural machine including receiving image data from an imaging sensor indicative of a residue material spread by the spreader tool within a sensing region rearwards of the agricultural machine and where one or more image transformations are applied to image data to generate an enhanced image of the distribution of the residue material including colour, distortion and/or correction transformations for generating an enhanced image for view by an operator of the machine and controlling a user interface associated with the agricultural machine to provide an indicator indicative of the enhanced image which is easily interpreted.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring the distribution of residue material from a spreader tool of an agricultural machine including an imaging sensor coupled to an unloading auger of the agricultural machine used to image an area to the rear of the agricultural machine where the Image data is analysed to determine a distribution of residue material associated with the spreader tool and one or more operational parameters of the agricultural machine or components are controlled based on the determined distribution.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring the distribution of residue material from a spreader tool of an agricultural machine including a sensor, preferably a LIDAR or other scanning transceiver-type sensor mounted or otherwise coupled to the machine and orientated with a sensing region pointing rearwards of the agricultural machine, where operational data indicative of an operational parameter of the spreader tool is obtained and used to control operation of the sensor.