Abstract: An automatic wireless decoy jerk string system is disclosed. The system includes a main housing, a drive housing, and a flotation housing. The main housing contains a retractable reel wound with a line. The drive housing contains a direct current motor, a battery for powering the motor, and a wireless receiver. The flotation housing contains a counterweight and flotation material. The drive housing and the flotation housing are attached to either side of the main housing. A drive shaft runs from the drive housing through the main housing and into the flotation housing. The motor engages the drive shaft to operate the reel. The motor is controlled by signals from the receiver in response to a wireless signal received by the receiver from a remote control to cause the reel to alternatingly retract the line and let out the line.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining a plant health parameter based on a measured IR parameter of the plant are provided. If the measured plant health parameter indicates the plant is experiencing a stress condition, an alert can be provided and/or a control system can be activated to supply environmental elements such as water to the plant to ameliorate the stress condition.

Abstract: A method of providing light to plants. The method comprises providing a plurality of plants within a room, grouping each plant of the plurality of plants into one of a plurality of groups of plants based at least in part on a desired total light integral (“TLI”) for each of the plurality of plants and providing the corresponding desired TLI to each plant of the plurality of plants by sequentially providing light to each of the plurality of groups of plants during a time period. For each group of plants, each plant has a substantially similar photoperiod and a sum of the photosynthetic photon flux densities (“PPFDs”) of all plants in the group of plants is substantially similar.

Abstract: A lighting fixture has an extruded aluminum housing, at least one light source mechanically supported by the extruded aluminum housing, and at least one copper pipe thermally coupled to the extruded aluminum housing to carry a fluid coolant. During operation of the lighting fixture, the fluid coolant flowing through the at least one copper pipe extracts heat generated by the lighting fixture, and the fluid coolant does not contact the extruded aluminum housing. In one example, a copper fluid coolant circuit is thermally coupled to the housing to contain the fluid coolant, and the lighting fixture does not contain any internal seals or internal O-rings for the fluid coolant.

Abstract: A controlled growth system is provided herein. The controlled growth system includes a controlled growth environment, a controller, a sensor, and a computing system. The controlled growth environment is configured to grow a biologic. The controller is in communication with the controlled growth environment. The controller is configured to manage process parameters of the controlled growth environment. The sensor is configured to monitor the biologic during a growth process. The computing system is in communication with the sensor and the controller. The computing system is programmed to perform operations for achieving a desired final quality metric for the biologic.

Abstract: Systems and methods for rearing invertebrates by utilize a plurality of crates (4) arranged into a plurality of stacks (6), each crate (4) in each stack (6) defining an airflow path (80) there through from an inlet opening (48) in a first wall (46) to an outlet opening (48) in a second wall (46) opposite the first wall (46) of each crate (4). The plurality of crates (4) are arranged in a climate controlled chamber (2).

Abstract: A disposable animal cage which can be used in a ventilated or static caging rack system includes a cage top and a cage base. Any corner or edge present in the interior of the cage base or the cage top that is accessible to an animal that can be contained in the cage is defined by surfaces having a conical section which is non-circular to prevent gnawing of the cage. A perforation section including a plurality of small apertures adjacent to one another can be formed in the cage for ventilation and prevention of gnawing by the animals.

Abstract: An insect larvae rearing system is disclosed. The system comprises a waste management module configured to receive organic waste and to convert the organic waste into a feed for insect larvae and at least one rearing module configured to handle a plurality trays for holding or housing larvae and to provide the feed to the trays. The feed is supplied directly from the waste management module to each of the at least one rearing modules.

Abstract: Embodiments for an improved horse, livestock, and other guadruped's garment and method of use are disclosed. The EquiVest comprises a one-piece water-resistant vest having an open-oval-neckline with bib-tab design for slipping over the animal's head. Optionally, the garment includes hardware for attaching overlapping side panels. Coupled with the side panel attaching hardware, the bib-tab design provides side tabs with a hook-and-loop mechanism in a secure fit. The vest covers the top-line, both sides, abdominal area, center-front chest, and hind area to allow the horse to have complete ease of movement while maintaining a stable core body temperature.

Abstract: An aeroponics apparatus (1, 201) comprising a grow bed (3, 203) with a reservoir (11, 211) for containing a liquid or a solution. An ultrasonic nebulizer module (5, 205) is attached to the grow bed (3, 203). The ultrasonic nebulizer module (5, 205) comprises an ultrasonic horn (23, 223) having an input end (25, 225) connected to an ultrasonic transducer (27, 227) and an output tip (35, 235). The ultrasonic horn (23, 223) is in contact with a wall (33, 233) of the reservoir (11, 211).

Abstract: The present invention discloses a foldable suction cup-type pet hammock, which comprises at least one fixed component and a bedstead, wherein the back of the fixed component is provided with at least one suction cup; the bedstead is rotatably connected with the fixed component and comprises at least one L-shaped pipe; the bedstead has a first position and a second position relative to the fixed component; the fixed component is provided with a limiting component to keep the bedstead in the first position or the second position; and a mattress with a thickness is also arranged on the bedstead, and when a pet hammock is in the folded or unfolded state, the mattress has a relatively flat surface.

Abstract: A door for use with a cage for transporting poultry including a door assembly for mounting the door to the cage which is configured to limit vibration associated with the transporting of poultry in the cage and prevent the unintentional opening of the door.

Abstract: An inflatable monotub system includes a body having plural surfaces defining an interior cavity. One or more of the plural surfaces includes a pocket disposed within the one or more of the plural surfaces. The plural surfaces define plural side surfaces and a bottom surface of the body. The body includes a first passage extending into at least a portion of one of the plural surfaces and fluidly coupled with one or more of the pockets of the plural surfaces. A first fluid is directed into or out of the first passage. Directing the first fluid into the first passage inflates at least one of the one or more pockets within the first fluid, and directing the first fluid out of the first passage deflates the at least one of the one or more pockets.

Abstract: A cooling device according to the present invention includes a housing configured to accommodate fungi. Warm air enters the housing through an inlet located in the housing. The air flows through the housing, which holds fungi. The air exits the housing and can be driven by an exhaust fan. In some embodiments, a HEPA filter is included to purify the air and prevent dispersal of fungal spores.

Abstract: A girth for equine sports includes an outside, and an inside intended to rest against a horse's body. A pressure-relieving pad is arranged in the region in which the girth is intended to extend over the sternum of the horse. The pad includes a cushioning material that protrudes further inwards beyond the inside of the girth and a channel of reduced pad thickness. The cushioning material is thicker on either side of the channel, and the channel is intended to extend in front of the sternum while the cushioning material on either side of the sternum is intended to rest against the horse's body.

Abstract: Display clips are disclosed that may include a front plant-receiving upper hoop and a lower support base for supporting the plant or other article. The display clips also include a rear railing support bracket with opposing spring clamps that allow the display clips to be removably mounted on railings between adjacent spindles. For installation, opposed vertical arms of the rear railing support bracket may be drawn together to elastically deform the display clip to allow the rear bracket to fit between the adjacent spindles. Once between the spindles, the opposed spring clamps can be released to spring back to engage the spindles in order to secure the bracket on the railing. The rear spring clamps may have resilient bumpers mounted thereon to cushion and help hold the display clip on the railing spindles.

Abstract: A cat carrier includes a tray, and an enclosure formed of: a lower housing portion with an upper mating flange, and an upper housing portion with a lower mating flange. Protrusions on one mating flange slidably engage openings formed with respect to the other mating flange, to releasably couple the housings together without tools. Holes in each of the mating flanges align, when the housing portions are mated, and each aligned pair of holes receives a fastener to releasably secure the housing portions together. The holes on one flange transition into a keyed opening (e.g. a hexagonal-shaped opening) that receives a hex head of a bolt, to prevent rotation of the bolt when a wing nut is tightened onto the fastener, permitting final assembly without the use of tools. The protrusions create a gap between the flanges, forming a track, which receives/guides a flange of the base.

Abstract: Multiple air handling units feeding into a common air distribution system are used to provide both latent and sensible temperature control. When dehumidification without sensible cooling is required, different air handling units feeding into a common distribution system may be operated in different modes so that both cooling and reheating are occurring simultaneously. The result is an energy efficient means of controlling both ambient air temperature and relative humidity. Air handling units such as water source heat pumps and variable refrigerant flow (VRF) units may be employed.

Abstract: An AI-based system and method for feed monitoring in a land-based fish farm, where the fish farm has a tank containing fish and an effluent pipe that is coupled to the tank where uneaten feed pellets and non-pellet objects flow through the effluent pipe to an exit port. A feed camera is mounted to an effluent pipe for capturing a video feed having images of objects that traverse a field of view of the feed camera when each image is acquired. A special-purpose computer executes a pellet-tracking algorithm that employs a region of interest (ROI) proposal module, an ROI classification module, an ROI tracking module, and a trajectory classification module for at least counting uneaten feed pellets. The computer generates in real time a pellet count based on the pellet trajectories.

Abstract: A mushroom growing appliance includes a grow chamber defined within a cabinet and a climate control system for regulating the humidity and gas concentrations within the grow chamber. The climate control system includes a water reservoir positioned within the grow chamber for receiving water; a wicking filter positioned at least partially within the water reservoir for wicking the water into the wicking filter; a water supply system comprising a water storage tank that is mounted adjacent the cabinet above the water reservoir, the water storage tank fluidly coupled to the water reservoir through a water supply opening defined through the cabinet; a recirculation fan positioned adjacent the wicking filter for selectively urging a flow of recirculation air through the wicking filter and back into the grow chamber; and a fresh air fan positioned adjacent the wicking filter for urging a flow of fresh air through the wicking filter and into the grow chamber.