AUTOMATIC ROW ALIGNMENT DRIVING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HIGH STEM CROP HARVESTER

A system and method for automatic row alignment driving by a harvester when harvesting above-ground crops includes an elastic row sensing module, a processing module, a controlling module, and a steering module. The elastic row sensing module is disposed on a front grain thresher/grain isolator of the harvester, collecting data as to physical contact with the crop. The elastic row sensing module includes a deformable elastomer in contact with the high stem crop, the sensor detects and reports deformation of the elastomer. The processing module determines current alignment state of the harvester and the controlling module determines any corrective steering signal for the harvester. The steering module controls steering direction.