Abstract: Systems and methods for resisting intrusion by a pest include a reservoir extending between a proximal end and a distal end, and the reservoir defining an interior. A basin is mounted to the reservoir. The basin has a basin body and a basin surface. A sleeve assembly has a sleeve body and a port defined in the sleeve body. A tensioner translationally mounts the sleeve body relative to the basin body. The sleeve body translates distally from an accessible position to an occluded position when a weight applied to the sleeve assembly exceeds a weight threshold set by the tensioner. The accessible position includes bird food on the basin surface being accessible through the port. The occluded position includes the port being disposed distal to the basin surface such that the bird food on the basin surface is inaccessible through the port.

Abstract: A system and method for shrimp aquaculture is disclosed. All growth phases and essential operations are modularized and integrated in a system controlled by a cyber-physical platform. The system comprises one or more post-larvae nursery module(s), grow-out production module(s), recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) module(s), feed distribution module(s), and regulatory elements comprised of Program Logic Controllers (PLCs) integrated with Human Interface Modules (HIMs).

Abstract: A removable netting system includes a netting tunnel adapted to be placed surrounding the fruit along a row of multiple vines without touching the fruit, thus protecting vine fruit from destruction by birds. The netting tunnel includes a pair of nets joined along top and bottom edges and rings which maintain the netting tunnel along the row of multiple vines.

Abstract: A system for storing and cultivating plants and enhancing usable area, space or volume is provided. One or more racks are provided for housing plants, such as potted plants, in arrays extending in at least a vertical direction. Lighting is provided to provide ultraviolet and infrared radiation in the system. At least one rack is selectively moveable with respect to at least one lighting element, such that proximity between plants and at least one lighting element may be selectively varied.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for providing and operating a pump control module and pumps in an assembly line grow pod are provided herein. Some embodiments include an assembly line grow pod having a plurality of fluid lines fluidly coupled between a fluid source and a fluid destination within the assembly line grow pod, a plurality of pumps, each coupled to a fluid line such that fluid is moved within the fluid line by the pump, and a master controller communicatively coupled to the pumps. The master controller is programmed to receive information relating to fluid delivery within the assembly line grow pod, determine one or more pumps to deliver the fluid, determine pump parameters for each of the pumps that achieve the fluid delivery, and transmit one or more control signals to the pumps for delivering the fluid within the assembly line grow pod.

Abstract: A process where materials are applied to a plastic fishing lure surface, producing a lure that possesses chromatic vicissitude as a result of water temperature fluctuations. A non-thermochromatic base layer of one or more colors is applied to the plastic fishing lure. This layer acts as the visual appearance of the fishing lure in the absence of temperature fluctuations. Clear extender is then used as an additive to the thermochromatic ink. This addition to the ink then allows the ink to be sprayed onto the surface of the lure. This ink-extender amalgam can be applied in multiple layers however the bottom layer must have the least amount of hue saturation. Each layer thereafter would increase in hue saturation. Multiple hue combinations can be utilized. Once the desired number of thermochromatic layers has been applied, an ultra-clear super high gloss lacquer finish is sprayed on to the exterior of all layers.

Abstract: An entertainment and training device (toy) for animals, specifically for domestic pets such as dogs, has a tube or tubes, through which a flexible material, such as a rope, is passed from a near end of the tube or tubes and out a far end of the tube or tubes. Attached at a far end of the rope is an object, which can be shaped as a flat disk, an oblong disk, a ball, a tail, a wing, or other shape, and which is thrown to entertain, train, and exercise the animal. A braking device at a near end of the rope prevents the rope from passing into and out of the far end of the tube or tubes and allows easy retrieval of the thrown object.

Abstract: A utility bit for training, riding, and restraining a horse improving the health of and physical contact with the horse's mouth. The utility bit includes two side shanks, and a mouthpiece. Each of the two side shanks includes a purchase bar, a bottom shank and a leverage bar. The purchase bar includes the bottom shank attached at a first end and the leverage bar at a second end. The bottom shank includes a bottom ring. The leverage bar includes a leverage ring. The first side shank and the second side shank rotate about a first shank axis and a second shank axis.

Abstract: Fishing tackle has a body with two ends, each end defining a respective groove. The fishing tackle also includes two fastening elements, each being movably connected to the body at a respective one of the ends. The first and second fastening elements are selectively movable between respective first and second positions with respect to the body. In their first positions, the fastening elements do not obstruct the grooves, thereby permitting a fishing line to be inserted into the grooves or removed from the grooves. In their second positions, the fastening elements obstruct the grooves, thereby retaining fishing line within the grooves.

Abstract: Plants are positioned in containers on a conveyor having conveyor rails. The conveyor rails pass into a radiation space above a roof of a building, along an exterior side of the building and into a processing space below the roof of the building. One or more of the conveyor rails in the radiation space may be supported by a frame. A part of the conveyor extends horizontally above the roof of the building, and another part of the conveyor extends vertically along the exterior side of the building. Water pipelines and a dispenser are provided in the processing space and not in the radiation space, the dispenser being positioned below the roof of the building. The conveyor moves the plants between the radiation space and the processing space during the plants' lives. The frame may be moved to raise or reposition the conveyer in the radiation space.

Abstract: A system and method of controlling iguana infestation is provided. The system and method, being harmless to people and pets, can include a wall barrier, sea barrier, ground barrier, and climbing (tree, piling) barrier. The Iguana Sea Wall Barrier prevents iguanas from accessing property from the water. Iguana Piling Wraps can be included to prohibit access to the property via the dock. Iguana Tree Guards can be included to prevent iguanas from climbing up into trees.

Abstract: A system bypasses harvesting in an assembly line grow pod when it is determined that a plant in a cart is not ready to harvest. The system includes a track, a cart configured to move on the track, one or more sensors and a controller. The cart includes an upper plate that supports a plant. The controller receives information about the plant from the one or more sensors, determines whether the plant in the cart is ready to harvest based on the information; and transmits an instruction for bypassing harvesting the plant in the cart in response to determination that the plant in the cart is not ready to harvest.

Abstract: A method for reducing a population size of a colony of magnetosensitive insects includes placing wire loop near a nest sheltering the colony, driving the wire loop with an electrical current sufficient to produce a transmitted magnetic field stronger than the earth's natural magnetic field, exposing eggs and pupae from the colony to the transmitted magnetic field, and maintaining exposure of the colony to the transmitted magnetic field until the population size of the colony decreases.

Abstract: An assembly line grow pod includes a fluid source and a fluid distribution manifold. The fluid distribution manifold includes a fluid inlet, a plurality of fluid outlets, a plurality of valves coupled within the fluid outlets and movable between an open position and a closed position, a plurality of biasing assemblies coupled to the of valves to bias the valves in the closed position, and a plurality of tension rings coupled to the biasing assemblies to adjust an amount of biasing force applied by the biasing assemblies. Fluid from the fluid source having a fluid pressure that exceeds the biasing force causes the valves to move to the open position such that a specific amount of the fluid is ejected from the fluid outlets.

Abstract: A device having a frame, a grooming unit connected to the frame, a rotatable brush belt within the grooming unit, and a drive operatively connected to the brush belt for rotating the brush belt. The brush belt is held at an angle relative to the skin lying beneath the coat so that hairs of the coat, are brushed away from the skin and preventing jamming of the belt. The device also includes a guard which assists in lifting the hairs of the coat away from the skin and further prevents the hairs from being wrapped around the moving parts of the device. The brush belt is held at an angle relative to the skin by a curved spacer so that loose hairs can be properly suctioned away when the device is in use.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for providing a predetermined amount of fluid in an assembly line grow pod are provided. Some embodiments include an assembly line grow pod including a tray held by a cart supported on a track, the tray including at least one section. The assembly line grow pod further includes a fluid source and a watering station. The watering station includes a robot device having a movable arm and at least one peristaltic pump coupled to the arm, the peristaltic pump having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet fluidly coupled to the fluid source. A predetermined amount of fluid from the fluid source is delivered to the at least one section of the tray via movement of the movable arm of the robot device to align the outlet of the peristaltic pump with the at least one section and via ejection of the fluid from the outlet.

Abstract: A system and method for cultivating plants is described. The system may include a tower structure having a vertical series of vessels for holding a netted pot or other container. The system may have a pressurized irrigation system that is in fluid communication with each vessel. The system may further include lamps to provide an adequate light source. The system may also include sensors, monitors and controls to establish and maintain environmental conditions suitable for proper plant growth. The system may further be implemented as a scalable system in which multiple tower structures may be installed into a scaffold system. Sets of towers may be slidably affixed to a scaffold such that the towers may be slid along a track thereby creating easy access to the plants, vessels, lights and the irrigation system. The system may be expanded to include multiple scaffolds affixed to a skeletal frame or compartment interior.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for providing and operating a valve control module and pressure valves in an assembly line grow pod are provided herein. Some embodiments include an assembly line grow pod having a plurality of fluid lines fluidly coupled between a fluid source and a fluid destination within the assembly line grow pod, a plurality of pressure valves, each coupled to a fluid line such that fluid pressure in the fluid lines is selectively controlled by the pressure valves, and a master controller communicatively coupled to the pressure valves. The master controller is programmed to receive information relating to fluid delivery within the assembly line grow pod, determine one or more pressure valves to direct the fluid, determine pressure valve parameters for each of the pressure valves that achieve the fluid pressurization, and transmit one or more control signals to the pressure valves for pressurizing the fluid within the assembly line grow pod.

Abstract: An animal enclosure for housing or transporting an animal such as a dog includes a kennel body having a top side, a bottom side opposite the top side, a front side, a back side opposite the front side, a right side and a left side opposite the right side. The animal enclosure includes a lower rear edge at the intersection between the back side and the bottom side. First and second wheels are passively disposed along the lower rear edge when the animal enclosure is in a resting position. A user can move the animal enclosure by lifting up the front edge of the kennel body, causing the first and second wheels to engage a surface on which the kennel rests. Once the wheels are engaged, a user may then maneuver the kennel in a tilted position using the first and second wheels as a rolling fulcrum.

Abstract: A molecular air control system includes a shell including an enclosed area, a cart moving on a track within the enclosed area, an air supplier configured to output air into the enclosed area, and a controller. The controller includes one or more processors, one or more memory modules, and machine readable instructions stored in the one or more memory modules that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the controller to: identify a plant on the cart; determine a target carbon dioxide concentration level for the identified plant based on a molecular recipe for the identified plant; receive a current carbon dioxide concentration level from a carbon dioxide sensor; compare the target carbon dioxide concentration level with the current carbon dioxide concentration level; and adjust carbon dioxide concentration level of the air output from the air supplier based on the comparison.