In a crop harvesting machine there is provided a pair of hydraulic float cylinders for a header relative to a vehicle, where a float pressure to the cylinders is directly controlled by an electronic control supplying a variable control signal to a PPRR valve arrangement to maintain the float pressure at a predetermined value. At the set pressure a predetermined lifting force is provided to the header. A position sensor is used to generate an indication of movement and/or acceleration. The electronic control is arranged, in response to changes in the sensor signal, to temporarily change the control signal to vary the lifting force and thus change the dynamic response of the hydraulic float cylinder. In order to reduce static friction so that the system can react quickly, an arrangement is provided for causing relative reciprocating movement in an alternating wave pattern between the piston and cylinder.

A map is obtained by an agricultural system. The map includes values of one or more characteristics at different geographic locations in a worksite. In-situ sensor data indicative of values of one or more crop constituents at cut heights is obtained as the mobile machine operates at the worksite. A predictive model generator generates a predictive model that models a relationship between values of the one or more crop constituents at cut heights and the values of the one or more characteristics in the map. A predictive map generator generates a predictive map that predicts values of the one or more crop constituents at two or more cut heights at different geographic locations in the worksite based on the predictive model. The predictive map can be output and used in automated machine control.

In one aspect, a system for monitoring crop fill-levels of transport receptacles includes a crop transport receptacle defining a storage volume configured to receive harvested crops, and a plurality of switch-based fill-level sensors positioned within the storage volume of the crop transport receptacle. The fill-level sensors are arranged in a sensor array such that each fill-level sensor is spaced apart both vertically and horizontally relative to one or more other fill-level sensors of the plurality of fill-level sensors. In addition, the system includes a computing system communicatively coupled to the plurality of fill-level sensors, with the computing system being configured to monitor a fill-level of the crop transport receptacle based on data derived from the plurality of fill-level sensors.

A harvesting header includes a header frame, at least one cutting tool carried by the header frame, and at least one crop lifter extending forward of the cutting tool. The crop lifter is coupled to the header frame by a rotatable arm. At least one sensor coupled to the crop lifter is configured to measure an angle of the rotatable arm relative to the header frame. A crop-harvesting machine includes a chassis, a feederhouse, a processing system, a grain bin, a harvesting header, and a control system configured to adjust a position of the harvesting header based at least in part on the measured angle of the rotatable arm. A method of operating a crop-harvesting machine includes determining an angle of the rotatable arm of the crop lifter relative to the header frame and adjusting a height of the harvesting header based at least in part on the angle.

A system for controlling harvesting implement operation of an agricultural harvester includes a fluid-driven actuator configured to adjust a position of a harvesting implement of the agricultural harvester relative to a feeder housing of the agricultural harvester. Additionally, the system includes a sensor provided in operative association with the fluid-driven actuator, with the sensor configured to capture data indicative of a parameter associated with a force acting on the fluid-driven actuator. Furthermore, the system includes a computing system configured to monitor the parameter relative to a predetermined minimum parameter value. Moreover, when the monitored parameter falls below the predetermined minimum parameter value, the computing system is configured to determine that the harvesting implement has contacted a field surface of a field across which the agricultural harvester is traveling.

An agricultural harvester comprises a feederhouse pivotally attached to a chassis, where the feederhouse defines a conduit for conveying crop material rearwardly from a front opening. A header interface frame is pivotally mounted to the feederhouse over the front opening to permit header pitch adjustment around a pitch adjustment axis. Upper and lower linear actuators are connected on one side of the feederhouse between the feederhouse and interface frame to control the pitch adjustment.

The invention relates to a system for adjusting the height of an agricultural implement, including an arm that can be controlled so as to raise and lower the implement; a height measuring sensor mounted on the arm and positioned in front of the implement in the direction of travel of the vehicle equipped with the arm. A calculator configured to provide a control set point for the height of the arm on the basis of the measurements obtained by the sensor, wherein the sensor is a light screen device formed by an emitter in the form of a column of light sources and a receiver in the form of a column of photoreceptors. The emitter and the receiver are mounted on the arm facing one another and extending along their longitudinal axis, perpendicularly to the ground, in order to measure the height of plants located therebetween.

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.

A multiple row sugar cane harvester having automatic and independent control of multiple base cutters utilized to severe sugar cane stalks in adjacent rows. Position sensors sense the height of the base cutters relative to the chassis of the sugar cane harvester and feed the signals to a controller for adjusting the height to a preselected level. The base cutters are individually driven by hydraulic motors through individual hydraulic circuits and the operating pressure is sensed and fed to the controller for determining whether a choke condition exists. A load sensor is incorporated between the linkage and the sugar cane harvester chassis for determining whether the base cutters have ground contact to elevate the base cutters.

A chopper assembly having a discharge conduit. A first and a second beater disposed within the discharge conduit and a first door and a second door in the bottom wall of the discharge conduit positioned below the first beater and the second beater respectively.