System and method for controlling harvesting implement operation of an agricultural harvester based on tilt actuator force

An agricultural harvester, comprising:

• a chassis;
• a feeder housing pivotably coupled to the chassis;
• a fluid-driven lift actuator coupled between the feeder housing and the chassis, the fluid-driven lift actuator configured to pivot the feeder housing relative to the chassis;
• a feeder face plate adjustably coupled to the feeder housing;
• a fluid-driven tilt actuator coupled between the feeder face plate and the feeder housing, the fluid-driven tilt actuator configured to pivot the feeder face plate relative to the feeder housing;
• a sensor provided in operation association with the fluid-driven tilt actuator, the sensor configured to capture data indicative of a pressure of fluid within the fluid-driven tilt actuator;
• and
• a computing system communicatively coupled to the sensor, wherein the computing system:
• monitors the pressure of fluid within the fluid-driven tilt actuator relative to a predetermined minimum pressure value;
• when the monitored pressure of fluid within the fluid-driven tilt actuator falls below the predetermined minimum pressure value, monitors a time period across which the monitored pressure is below the predetermined minimum pressure value;
• compares the monitored time period to a predetermined minimum time period;
• and
• when the monitored time period exceeds the predetermined minimum time period, determines that a harvesting implement of the agricultural harvester has contacted a field surface of a field across which the agricultural harvester is traveling.

A method for controlling harvesting implement operation of an agricultural harvester, the agricultural harvester including a fluid-driven lift actuator configured to a position of a harvesting implement of the agricultural harvester relative to a field surface, the agricultural harvester further including a fluid-driven tilt actuator configured to adjust a position of the harvesting implement relative to a feeder housing of the agricultural harvester, the method comprising:

• receiving, with a computing system including one or more computing devices, sensor data indicative of a pressure of fluid within the fluid-driven tilt actuator;
• monitoring, with the computing system, the pressure of fluid within the fluid-driven tilt actuator relative to a predetermined minimum pressure value;
• monitoring, with the computing system, a time period across which the monitored pressure is below the predetermined minimum parameter pressure value when the monitored pressure of fluid within the fluid-driven tilt actuator falls below the predetermined minimum pressure value;
• comparing, with the computing system, the monitored time period to a predetermined minimum time period;
• determining, with the computing system, that the harvesting implement has contacted a field surface of a field across which the agricultural harvester is traveling when the monitored time period exceeds the predetermined minimum time period;
• and
• initiating, with the computing system, a control action associated with lifting the harvesting implement off the field surface based on the determination that the harvesting implement has contacted the field surface.