Harvester spout control system and method

A method for controlling operation of an unload spout of a moving harvester used to supply a crop material to transport vehicle, the method comprising:

• predicting a predicted lateral distance and a predicted longitudinal distance between the moving harvester and the transport vehicle;
• determining if the predicted longitudinal distance is within a predetermined longitudinal distance range;
• determining if the predicted lateral distance is within a predetermined lateral distance range;
• transmitting a control signal to a harvester spout control system in response to at least one of the predicted longitudinal distance or the predicted lateral distance not being within the corresponding predetermined lateral and longitudinal distance ranges;
• adjusting an operational configuration of a harvester spout from a first configuration in response to the transmission of the control signal to the harvester spout control system;
• determining a velocity of the harvester;
• determining a velocity of the transport vehicle receiving crop material from the harvester;
• determining an actual longitudinal distance between the harvester and the transport vehicle;
• determining an actual lateral distance between the harvester and the transport vehicle;
• determining a harvester spout control response time
• predicting a predicted longitudinal distance deviation from a normal longitudinal distance based on the harvester spout control response time, the velocity of the harvester and the velocity of the transport vehicle;
• and
• predicting a predicted lateral distance deviation from a normal lateral distance based on the harvester spout control response time, the velocity of the harvester and the velocity of the transport vehicle.