Use of coverage areas in controlling agricultural machine operations

Abstract

A guidance system that automatically switches guidance modes in connection with executing an end turn. As the agricultural machine travels in a first, row sense guidance mode along a first guidance line in a non-coverage area, an approaching boundary between the non-coverage area and a headland area is identified. If the headland area contains crop rows, then, upon reaching the boundary, the guidance system switches to a second, GPS guidance mode. The agricultural machine travels along a first turn guidance line from the first guidance line to a preexisting headland guidance line, wherein the guidance system switches to the first guidance mode. The agricultural machine then travels in a direction parallel to the crop rows of the headland area. When leaving the headland guidance line, the guidance system switches to the second guidance mode, and then back to the first guidance mode upon the agricultural machine returning to the boundary.