IP Library › Granted Patent US 12660746

Granted Patent B2

US 12660746 · App. 18/493,193 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

System and method for controlling the operation of an agricultural implement

Inventors: Garin R. Ingalls (Lititz, PA); Jeffrey B. Fay, II (Oxford, PA)

Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC

A01D34/006 A01D34/66 A01D34/74 A01D2101/00

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12660746
App. No.: 18/493,193
Granted: Jun 23, 2026
Kind: B2

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Abstract

A system for controlling the operation of an agricultural implement includes a cutting assembly configured to be pivoted between the first and second sides of a vehicle centerline. Additionally, the system includes a pivot actuator configured to pivot the cutting assembly between the first and second sides. Furthermore, the system includes an imaging device configured to generate data depicting a portion of the field. Moreover, the system includes a computing system configured to receive input that the implement is at the end of the field. Additionally, the computing system is configured to determine the location of the uncut crop material based on the data. Furthermore, after receipt of the input that the implement is at the end of the field, the computing system is configured to control the operation of the pivot actuator such that the cutting assembly is pivoted based on the determined location of the uncut crop material.

Claims (73)

1 . A system for controlling the operation of an agricultural implement, the system comprising:

a cutting assembly including a plurality of crop-engaging blades for cutting crop material as an agricultural implement traverses a field, the cutting assembly configured to be pivoted between first and second sides of a centerline of an agricultural vehicle extending parallel to a direction of travel;

a pivot actuator configured to pivot the cutting assembly between the first and second sides of the centerline such that the agricultural implement cuts crop material on the first side of the centerline when the cutting assembly is pivoted to the first side and cuts crop material on the second side of the centerline when the cutting assembly is pivoted to the second side;

an imaging device configured to generate data depicting a portion of the field present within a field of view of the imaging device; and

a computing system communicatively coupled to the imaging device, the computing system configured to:

receive an input indicating that the agricultural implement is at an end of the field;

identify a side at which uncut crop material is located based on the data generated by the imaging device, wherein the identified side is one of the first side or the second side of the centerline; and

after receipt of the input that the agricultural implement is at the end of the field, control an operation of the pivot actuator such that the cutting assembly of the agricultural implement is pivoted to the identified side.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein identifying the side at which the uncut crop material is located comprises:

determining a height of the crop material on the first and second sides of the centerline based on the data generated by the imaging device;

comparing the determined height of the crop material on the first side of the centerline to the determined height of the crop material on the second side of the centerline;

identifying that the uncut crop material is located on the first side of the centerline in response to the determined height of the crop material on the first side of the centerline exceeding the determined height of the crop material on the second side of the centerline by a predetermined height range; and

identifying that the uncut crop material is located on the second side of the centerline in response to the determined height of the crop material on the second side of the centerline exceeding the determined height of the crop material on the first side of the centerline by the predetermined height range.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein controlling the operation of the pivot actuator comprises:

controlling the operation of the pivot actuator such that the cutting assembly of the agricultural implement is pivoted to the first side of the centerline in response to identifying that the location of the uncut crop material is on the first side; and

controlling the operation of the pivot actuator such that the cutting assembly of the agricultural implement is pivoted to the second side of the centerline in response to identifying that the location of the uncut crop material is on the second side.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein, after receipt of the input that the agricultural implement is at the end of the field, the computing system is further configured to:

initiate a decrease in a ground speed of the agricultural implement.

5 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a wheel actuator configured to raise and lower the cutting assembly of the agricultural implement relative to the field, and

wherein, after receipt of the input that the agricultural implement is at the end of the field, the computing system is further configured to:

control an operation of the wheel actuator to raise the cutting assembly of the agricultural implement.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein, after controlling the operation of the pivot actuator such that the cutting assembly of the agricultural implement is pivoted, the computing system is further configured to:

receive an input that the agricultural implement is initiating a pass of the field; and

after receipt of the input that the agricultural implement is initiating the pass of the field, initiate an increase in a ground speed of the agricultural implement.

7 . The system of claim 5 , wherein, after controlling the operation of the pivot actuator such that the cutting assembly of the agricultural implement is pivoted, the computing system is further configured to:

receive an input that the agricultural implement is initiating a pass of the field; and

after receipt of the input that the agricultural implement is initiating the pass of the field, controlling the operation of the wheel actuator to lower the cutting assembly of the agricultural implement.

8 . A method for controlling the operation of an agricultural implement, the agricultural implement including a cutting assembly including a plurality of crop-engaging blades for cutting crop material as the agricultural implement traverses a field, the cutting assembly configured to be pivoted between first and second sides of a centerline of an agricultural vehicle extending parallel to a direction of travel, the method comprising:

receiving, with a computing system, an input indicating that the agricultural implement is at an end of the field;

receiving, with the computing system, image data depicting a portion of the field within a field of view of an imaging device;

identifying, with the computing system, a side at which uncut crop material is located based on the received image data, wherein the identified side is one of the first side or the second side of the centerline; and

after receipt of the input that the agricultural implement is at the end of the field, controlling, with the computing system, an operation of a pivot actuator such that the cutting assembly of the agricultural implement is pivoted to the identified side.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein identifying the side at which the uncut crop material is located comprises:

determining, with the computing system, a height of the crop material on the first and second sides of the centerline based on the received image data;

comparing, with the computing system, the determined height of the crop material on the first side of the centerline to the determined height of the crop material on the second side of the centerline;

identifying, with the computing system, that the uncut crop material is located on the first side of the centerline in response to the determined height of the crop material on the first side of the centerline exceeding the determined height of the crop material on the second side of the centerline by a predetermined height range; and

identifying, with the computing system, that the uncut crop material is located on the second side of the centerline in response to the determined height of the crop material on the second side of the centerline exceeding the determined height of the crop material on the first side of the centerline by the predetermined height range.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein controlling the operation of the pivot actuator comprises:

controlling, with the computing system, the operation of the pivot actuator such that the cutting assembly of the agricultural implement is pivoted to the first side of the centerline in response to identifying that the location of the uncut crop material is on the first side; and

controlling, with the computing system, the operation of the pivot actuator such that the cutting assembly of the agricultural implement is pivoted to the second side of the centerline in response to identifying that the location of the uncut crop material is on the second side.

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein, after receipt of the input that the agricultural implement is at the end of the field, the method further comprises:

initiating, with the computing system, a decrease in a ground speed of the agricultural implement.

12 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

after receipt of the input that the agricultural implement is at the end of the field, controlling, with the computing system, an operation of a wheel actuator to raise the cutting assembly of the agricultural implement.

13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein after controlling the operation of the pivot actuator such that the cutting assembly of the agricultural implement is pivoted based on the determined location of the uncut crop material, the method further comprises:

receiving, with the computing system, an input that the agricultural implement is initiating a pass of the field; and

after receipt of the input that the agricultural implement is initiating the pass of the field, initiating, with the computing system, an increase in a ground speed of the agricultural implement.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein after controlling the operation of the pivot actuator such that the cutting assembly of the agricultural implement is pivoted based on the determined location of the uncut crop material, the method further comprises:

receiving, with the computing system, an input that the agricultural implement is initiating a pass of the field; and

after receipt of the input that the agricultural implement is initiating the pass of the field, controlling, with the computing system, the operation of the wheel actuator to lower the cutting assembly of the agricultural implement.

15 . An agricultural implement, comprising:

a frame;

a cutting assembly supported on the frame, the cutting assembly including a plurality of crop-engaging blades for cutting crop material as the agricultural implement traverses a field;

a tow bar coupled to the frame of the agricultural implement and configured to be coupled to an agricultural vehicle, the tow bar pivotable relative to the agricultural vehicle such that the cutting assembly is pivotable between first and second sides of a centerline of the agricultural vehicle extending parallel to a direction of travel;

a pivot actuator configured to pivot the cutting assembly between the first and second sides of the centerline such that the agricultural implement cuts crop material on the first side of the centerline when pivoted to the first side and cuts crop material on the second side of the centerline when pivoted to the second side;

an imaging device configured to generate data depicting a portion of the field present within a field of view of the imaging device; and

a computing system communicatively coupled to the imaging device, the computing system configured to:

receive an input that the agricultural implement is at an end of the field;

16 . The agricultural implement of claim 15 , wherein identifying the side at which the uncut crop material is located comprises:

determining a height of the crop material on the first and second sides of the centerline based on the data generated by the imaging device;

comparing the determined height of the crop material on the first side of the centerline to the determined height of the crop material on the second side of the centerline;

17 . The agricultural implement of claim 16 , wherein controlling the operation of the pivot actuator comprises:

18 . The agricultural implement of claim 15 , further comprising:

a wheel actuator configured to raise and lower the cutting assembly of the agricultural implement relative to the field, and

wherein, after receipt of the input that the agricultural implement is at the end of the field, the computing system is further configured to:

control an operation of the wheel actuator to raise the cutting assembly of the agricultural implement.