ABSTRACT
Following a task assigned (i.e., programmed) by a human supervisor, an autonomous combine harvester should be capable of the following while maintaining permanent communication with the human supervisor:
• Automatic navigation on the road and in the field • Self-acting and reacting to its environment (other vehicles, obstacles, road condi-
tions, etc.) • Self-regulating the harvesting process of a crop
Before becoming autonomous, a combine harvester must have the entire technological process completely automated and self-controlled for maximizing the working capacity and preserving the quality of grain, which may be harvested from dispersed areas featuring certain crop variability. This primary requirement for an autonomous combine harvester can be achieved by using the mathematical models described in this book, control theory, and other specific knowledge in conjunction with in-house acquired design experience and quantified in-field experience.
