Fire risk detection system for an agricultural harvester

A fire risk detection system for a self-propelled agricultural harvester having a front side, a rear side and two lateral sides, the harvester comprising a set of wheels (3,4) or tracks and a main body that is supported by said wheels or tracks and that comprises a power source, the system comprising:

• at least one thermal imaging camera that is:
• mounted or positionable in a position so that a field of view of the camera comprises at least a portion of a lateral side of the harvester during operation of the harvester in a field and
• configured to capture a thermal image of at least said portion of the lateral side,
• a processing unit coupled to the thermal imaging camera and configured to execute one or more of the following actions:
• determine if the average and/or maximum temperature in one or more areas in the thermal image exceeds a threshold,
• determine if a change in the average and/or maximum temperature in one or more areas in the thermal image compared to a previously captured thermal image exceeds a threshold,
• determine whether a change in the shape of one or more areas in the thermal image has taken place compared to a previously captured thermal image and/or to a reference shape, and whether said change exceeds a threshold,
• a control unit coupled to the processing unit, and configured to execute one or more of the following actions when one or more thresholds are exceeded:
• give a visual and/or auditive warning signal to an operator of the agricultural harvester,
• modify a setting of the agricultural harvester to reduce the risk for fire and/or slow down or contain a fire,
• activate a fire extinguishing system in the agricultural harvester.