Header attachment system for agricultural vehicles

A method for coupling an agricultural vehicle to an attachment, the method comprising:

• (a) determining, by a controller, a travel parameter for each relative position threshold of a plurality of relative position thresholds, each relative position threshold of the plurality of relative position thresholds corresponding to a different relative position between the agricultural vehicle and the attachment, the travel parameter for one or more relative position thresholds of the plurality of relative position thresholds being different than the travel parameter for at least another relative position threshold of the plurality of relative position thresholds, the travel parameter for at least one relative position threshold of the plurality of relative position thresholds further comprising an orientation parameter comprising one or more settings for an orientation of a first connection interface of the agricultural vehicle relative to a second connection interface of the attachment;
• (b) implementing, in response to a satisfaction of a relative position threshold of the plurality of relative position thresholds, the travel parameter of the relative position threshold determined to be satisfied, the travel parameter for one or more of the relative position thresholds refining the travel parameter for one or more other relative position thresholds that correspond to a larger variance in the relative positions of the agricultural vehicle and the attachment;
• (c) repeating step (b) for each relative position threshold of the plurality of relative position thresholds;
• and
• (d) adjusting the orientation of the first connection interface in response to the at least one relative position threshold being determined to be satisfied, based at least on the orientation parameter,
• wherein the one or more settings comprises a recorded actuator setting stored in a memory for one or more actuators corresponding to a prior positional relationship of the first connection interface relative to the second connection interface when the first connection interface was matingly engaged with, or detached from, the second connection interface, and
• wherein step (d) further comprises refining the recorded actuator setting based on a sensor output from before or during the adjusting of the orientation of the first connection interface.

A system for coupling an agricultural vehicle to an attachment, the system comprising:

• an attachment actuator to adjust an orientation of a first connection interface of the agricultural vehicle;
• a guidance system and a steering system, the steering system configured to execute a guidance directive determined by the guidance system;
• a sensor system configured to provide a sensor output indicative of at least a position or orientation of the first connection interface relative to a second connection interface of the attachment;
• a memory device coupled to at least one processor, the memory device including instructions that when executed by the at least one processor cause the system to:
• determine, for a first relative position threshold, a first travel parameter corresponding to a first guided movement using the guidance system and the steering system to align the agricultural vehicle to the attachment;
• implement, in response to a satisfaction of the first relative position threshold, the first travel parameter;
• determine, for a second relative position threshold, a second travel parameter corresponding to a second guided movement using the guidance system and the steering system to align the agricultural vehicle to the attachment, the second travel parameter being a refinement of at least one parameter of the first travel parameter with respect to at least one of a value and a tolerance of the at least one parameter, the second travel parameter further including an orientation parameter comprising one or more settings for the orientation of the first connection interface relative to the second connection interface of the attachment, the second relative position threshold being different than the first relative position threshold;
• and
• implement, in response to a satisfaction of the second relative position threshold, the second travel parameter, the implementation of the second travel parameter comprising an adjustment, using the attachment actuator, of the orientation of the first connection interface based at least on the orientation parameter,
• wherein the one or more settings comprises a recorded actuator setting stored in the memory device for one or more actuators corresponding to a prior positional relationship of the first connection interface relative to the second connection interface when the first connection interface was matingly engaged with, or detached from, the second connection interface, and
• wherein the implementation of the second travel parameter further comprises refining the recorded actuator setting based on the sensor output from before or during the adjustment of the orientation of the first connection interface.