Vehicle automated unloading

An automated unloading method comprising:

• obtaining a current fill state of a container being moved proximate a moving unloading vehicle;
• consulting a fill model of a fill characteristic of the container as a function of variables comprising material unloading times, material unloading rates and material unloading locations;
• and
• adjusting at least one of a material unloading rate and a material unloading location based upon the current fill state and the fill model.

A vehicle automated unloading system comprising:

• an unloading vehicle;
• a perception system carried by the unloading vehicle and for use during a perception mode of operation, the perception system to sense a container carried by a receiving vehicle during filling of the container with material from the unloading vehicle;
• a fill model of a fill characteristic of the container as a function of variables comprising material unloading times, material unloading rates and material unloading locations, the fill model for use during a model mode of operation;
• and
• an unloading controller to:
• carry out a performance evaluation of the perception system;
• switch between the perception mode of operation and the model mode of operation based upon the performance evaluation;
• and
• output control signals adjusting at least one of a material unloading time, a material unloading rate and a material unloading location based upon perception signals received during the perception mode of operation or based upon the fill model during the model mode of operation.