Autonomous Agricultural System Including Guidance System for Identifying and Selecting a Transport Vehicle Based on Proximity to the Autonomous Agricultural System and Related Methods

A method of guiding operation of an agricultural vehicle during an agricultural operation, the method comprising:

• capturing image data of at least one transport vehicle via at least one sensor of the agricultural vehicle;
• analyzing the captured image data to determine whether the at least one transport vehicle comprises a single transport vehicle or a plurality of transport vehicles;
• responsive to determining that the at least one transport vehicle comprises a single transport vehicle, causing the agricultural vehicle to automatically align with the detected single transport vehicle;
• responsive to determining that the at least one transport vehicle comprises a plurality of transport vehicles, analyzing the captured image data to identify a transport vehicle of the plurality of transport vehicles most proximate the agricultural vehicle;
• designating the transport vehicle of the plurality of transport vehicles most proximate the agricultural vehicle as a target transport vehicle;
• and
• responsive to designating the target transport vehicle, causing the agricultural vehicle to automatically align with the target transport vehicle.

An agricultural vehicle having a cart operably coupled thereto, the agricultural vehicle comprising:

• a guidance system for controlling operation of the agricultural vehicle and the cart and comprising:
• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the guidance system, during an agricultural operation, to:
• capture image data of a plurality of transport vehicles;
• analyze the captured image data to identify a transport vehicle of the plurality of transport vehicles most proximate the agricultural vehicle;
• designate the transport vehicle of the plurality of transport vehicles most proximate the agricultural vehicle as a target transport vehicle;
• and
• responsive to designating the target transport vehicle, cause the agricultural vehicle to automatically align with the target transport vehicle.