Patent ID: 8010261
Filing Date: 2011-08-30
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
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 if the amount of misalignment is beyond a predetermined range: executing the steering command.