Abstract: A system for controlling an operative parameter of a harvesting header of an agricultural harvesting machine comprises a first sensing arrangement for sensing a property of a field in front of the header in a contact-less manner, a second sensing arrangement for providing a signal suited to derive a value of an adjustable work parameter of the header, an actuator for adjusting the work parameter, and a control unit for determining a control signal for the actuator based on the signal from the first sensing arrangement and on the signal from the second sensing arrangement. The second sensing arrangement is arranged to detect the position of a reference point, which indicates the work parameter, in a contact-less manner, and that the first sensing arrangement and the second sensing arrangement are relatively fixed.

Abstract: An overall machine operational state (such as a problem state, field state, machine state, other non-problem state, etc.) is identified, and exit and entry conditions are monitored to determine whether the machine transitions into another operational state. When the machine transitions into a problem state, a multiple input, multiple output control system uses a state machine to identify the problem state and a solution is identified. The solution is indicative of machine settings that will return the machine to an acceptable, operational state. Control signals are generated to modify the machine settings based on the identified solution.

Abstract: A crop residue spread monitoring system for an agricultural harvester, the agricultural harvester comprising a self-propelled agricultural harvesting vehicle with a threshing rotor supported in a grating, a chopper disposed to chop crop residue exiting the threshing rotor, and a spreading mechanism disposed to receive chopped material from the chopper and spread the chopped residue over the ground, wherein the crop residue spread monitoring system comprises at least one camera disposed below an exit of the spreading mechanism to image a plume of residue leaving the spreading mechanism from an underside of the plume of residue.

Abstract: A system for controlling an operative parameter of a harvesting header of an agricultural harvesting machine comprises a first sensing arrangement for sensing a property of a field in front of the header in a contact-less manner, a second sensing arrangement for providing a signal suited to derive a value of an adjustable work parameter of the header, an actuator for adjusting the work parameter, and a control unit for determining a control signal for the actuator based on the signal from the first sensing arrangement and on the signal from the second sensing arrangement. The second sensing arrangement is arranged to detect the position of a reference point, which indicates the work parameter, in a contact-less manner, and that the first sensing arrangement and the second sensing arrangement are relatively fixed.

Abstract: An overall machine operational state (such as a problem state, field state, machine state, other non-problem state, etc.) is identified, and exit and entry conditions are monitored to determine whether the machine transitions into another operational state. When the machine transitions into a problem state, a multiple input, multiple output control system uses a state machine to identify the problem state and a solution is identified. The solution is indicative of machine settings that will return the machine to an acceptable, operational state. Control signals are generated to modify the machine settings based on the identified solution.

Abstract: A residue spreader control system for an agricultural combine is provided that includes an operator input device for entering a wind direction and wind speed, a satellite navigation receiver for providing signals indicating the bearing of the agricultural combine, a residue spreader including crop residue deflectors at the rear of the combine that are movable by an actuator to steer the crop residue to the left or the right of the rear of the combine, and an ECU connected to all of these devices to receive the wind direction and/or speed from the operator, to determine the bearing of the combine traveling through the field harvesting crops, and to calculate a control signal to applied to the actuator, wherein the control signal repositions the actuator and crop deflectors to counteract the effects of wind improperly blowing the residue off to one side of the combine.

Abstract: A residue spreader control system for an agricultural combine is provided that includes an operator input device for entering a residue spreader setting, a satellite navigation receiver for providing signals indicating the bearing of the agricultural combine, a residue spreader including crop residue deflectors at the rear of the combine that are movable by an actuator to steer the crop residue to the left or the right of the rear of the combine, and an ECU connected to all of these devices, wherein the ECU is configured to store the bearing of the agricultural combine in association with the residue spreader setting.