Automatic steering correction of an agricultural harvester using integration of harvester header row sensors and harvester auto guidance system

1. A method for automatically steering an agricultural harvesting machine, comprising the steps of:

planting crops in rows utilizing a row planter;

generating and storing a map of information representative of locations of the rows of crops planted by the row planter, the map identifying and storing a centerline of the row of crops in a swath formed by the row planter;

providing an automatic guidance system for guiding the harvesting machine along the rows;

retrieving the map for use by the harvesting machine;

aligning row dividers of the harvesting machine with the rows;

determining a steering command to steer the harvesting machine row dividers along the rows, wherein fewer row dividers of the harvesting machine are provided in which to align to rows in each swath formed by the row planter relative to a greater number of rows planted by the row planter in each swath;

providing an apparatus for re-calculating a new centerline from a combination of the previous map and present row alignment information by

i. providing a pair of sensors disposed on row dividers of a header and having a portion of each sensor extending to a centerline of the harvesting machine for

ii. sensing an amount of misalignment between a centerline of the harvesting machine as compared to the centerline of the row planter previously defined by the map and outputting information representative thereof, and

iii. sensing an amount of misalignment between at least one of the row dividers and at least one of the rows of crops and outputting information representative thereof; and

if the amount of misalignment is beyond a predetermined range:

i. determining if the steering command will maintain the amount of misalignment beyond the predetermined range; and

ii. correcting the steering command as a function of

a) the amount of misalignment between the previously defined centerline and the centerline defined by the harvesting machine row dividers, and

b) the amount of misalignment between the row dividers and the row of crops; and

executing the steering command.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus for sensing the amount of misalignment between at least one of the row units and at least one of the rows of crops and outputting information representative thereof comprises one of each of the pair of sensors positioned on a row divider of the header positioned next to the centerline of the harvesting machine, each sensor having a finger extending therefrom and through a space to the centerline, both fingers cooperating to contact a periphery of crops in the row and providing information regarding alignment with the row of crops and providing information regarding alignment of the centerline of the harvesting machine relative to the row of crops.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein a differential guidance positioning system is used for generating the map and determining the steering command to steer the harvesting machine along the rows.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of correcting the steering command includes incrementally shifting a reference line of the automatic guidance system.

5. A method for harvesting row crops utilizing an auto guidance system, comprising the steps of:

periodically outputting a steering command to a steering control system of a harvesting machine as a function of signals received from a remote positioning system and a stored map representative of locations of crops, the map identifying and storing a centerline of the rows of crops in swaths formed by a row planter, wherein each swath formed by the row planter is larger than a swath formed by the harvesting machine;

monitoring proximity of sensors of the harvesting machine to the crops as the harvesting machine is harvesting the crops, the sensors positioned on each side of a centerline of a header of the harvesting machine, a portion of each of the sensors extending toward the centerline and outputting a signal representative of both crop position and centerline position, the sensors providing information for re-calculating a new centerline from a combination of the previous map and the present row alignment; and

modifying the steering control signal as a function of the information representative of alignment with the new centerline of the harvesting machine and row alignment of the harvesting machine relative to the crops during harvesting.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the remote positioning system comprises a differential guidance positioning system.