Patent classifications
A01D43/073
VEHICLE AUTOMATED UNLOADING
A vehicle automated unloading system may include a fill model and an unloading controller. The fill model is a model of a fill characteristic of a container as a function of variables comprising material unloading times, material unloading rates and material unloading locations. The unloading controller is to (a) determine a current model-based fill characteristic of the container using the dynamic fill model and (b) output control signals to adjust at least one of a material unloading time, a material unloading rate and a material unloading location based upon the current model-based fill characteristic of the container.
AUTOMATED FILL STRATEGY FOR GRAIN CART USING OPEN-LOOP VOLUMETRIC ESTIMATION OF FILL LEVEL
An agricultural harvester includes a cutting head configured to harvest an agricultural material, a transfer mechanism configured to transfer the harvested agricultural material from the agricultural harvester, and a fill management system. The fill management system is configured to provide open-loop control of an automated transfer of the agricultural material from the agricultural harvester. The fill management system includes a controller, a user interface module coupled to the controller and configured to receive user input indicative of a selected nudge direction, and a wireless communication module coupled to the fill management system and configured to communicate wirelessly with a receiving vehicle. The wireless communication module is configured to obtain storage dimensions relative to the receiving vehicle from the receiving vehicle. At least one sensor is operably coupled to the transfer mechanism and provides a sensor signal that is indicative of flow of the agricultural material through the transfer mechanism. The controller is configured to automatically generate relative positional adjustments between the agricultural harvester and the receiving vehicle based on the signal indicative of flow through the transfer mechanism and the storage dimensions relative to the receiving vehicle.
System and method for calibrating alignment of work vehicles
A control system for a work vehicle includes a controller configured to determine a position of a conveyor outlet relative to a storage compartment, and to select a target unloading area from a set of candidate target unloading areas. The set of candidate target unloading areas includes a target circle having a center at an unloading point and a radius corresponding to a threshold range from the unloading point, a bounding shape within the storage compartment, and a selected zone of a set of non-overlapping zones within the bounding shape. In addition, the controller is configured to engage product flow from the conveyor outlet to the storage compartment while the position of the conveyor outlet is within the target unloading area, and to terminate product flow from the conveyor outlet to the storage compartment while the position of the conveyor outlet is outside of the target unloading area.
RESIDUE QUALITY ASSESSMENT AND PERFORMANCE SYSTEM FOR A HARVESTER
A residue vision system includes a harvesting machine configured to traverse a field and harvest an agricultural material, a residue distribution system carried by the harvesting machine and configured to distribute a residue of the agricultural material onto a first harvested area of the field, at least one camera coupled to the harvesting machine and configured to acquire an image of a second harvested area of the field, and an electronic control unit in communication with the at least one camera and the residue distribution system. The electronic control unit is configured to analyze the image acquired by the at least one camera, and in response to the analysis adjust the residue distribution system to adjust distribution of the residue onto the first harvested area of the field.
RESIDUE QUALITY ASSESSMENT AND PERFORMANCE SYSTEM FOR A HARVESTER
A residue vision system includes a harvesting machine configured to traverse a field and harvest an agricultural material, a residue distribution system carried by the harvesting machine and configured to distribute a residue of the agricultural material onto a first harvested area of the field, at least one camera coupled to the harvesting machine and configured to acquire an image of a second harvested area of the field, and an electronic control unit in communication with the at least one camera and the residue distribution system. The electronic control unit is configured to analyze the image acquired by the at least one camera, and in response to the analysis adjust the residue distribution system to adjust distribution of the residue onto the first harvested area of the field.
MONITOR AND CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A HARVESTER
A harvester including a frame supported by a drive assembly for movement along a support surface, a head unit coupled to the harvester and configured to selectively harvest crop material, a camera coupled to the frame and configured to generate one or more images of a field of view, and a controller in operable communication with the camera and the head unit, where the controller is configured to determine one or more crop attributes based at least in part on the one or more images produced by the camera.
Automated multi-vehicle alignment steering
A navigation system aids a driver of a collection vehicle in keeping pace and distance with a lead harvester while collecting grain. The navigation system can be used for any leader-follower vehicle drive formation. A navigation system steers the head vehicle based on a continuously known position and attitude. Navigation data for the lead vehicle is broadcast to a following collection vehicle. A navigation system in the following vehicle processes the lead vehicle navigation data to determine a relative position and attitude. The navigation system in the following vehicle generates steering and speed commands based on the relative position and attitude to automatically drive to a designated target position alongside the lead vehicle. In one example, an artificial oscillation is induced into the target position to more evenly distribute material in the following vehicle.
Automated multi-vehicle alignment steering
A navigation system aids a driver of a collection vehicle in keeping pace and distance with a lead harvester while collecting grain. The navigation system can be used for any leader-follower vehicle drive formation. A navigation system steers the head vehicle based on a continuously known position and attitude. Navigation data for the lead vehicle is broadcast to a following collection vehicle. A navigation system in the following vehicle processes the lead vehicle navigation data to determine a relative position and attitude. The navigation system in the following vehicle generates steering and speed commands based on the relative position and attitude to automatically drive to a designated target position alongside the lead vehicle. In one example, an artificial oscillation is induced into the target position to more evenly distribute material in the following vehicle.
Monitor and control system for a harvester
A harvester including a frame supported by a drive assembly for movement along a support surface, a head unit coupled to the harvester and configured to selectively harvest crop material, a camera coupled to the frame and configured to generate one or more images of a field of view, and a controller in operable communication with the camera and the head unit, where the controller is configured to determine one or more crop attributes based at least in part on the one or more images produced by the camera.
Agricultural combine with electrostatic grain cleaner
An agricultural combine includes a self-propelled agricultural harvesting vehicle and a feederhouse extending forward from the vehicle. The combine further includes a rotor and concave arrangement for threshing and separating grain received in the feederhouse. A cleaning shoe is disposed below the rotor and concave arrangement. The combine moreover includes a grain tank for receiving and accumulating grain from the cleaning shoe and an unloading conveyor for conveying grain from the grain tank. An electrostatic grain cleaner is coupled to a distal end of the conveyor for electrostatically cleaning grain from the grain tank.