Abstract: An automated system for mitigating risk from a wind turbine includes a plurality of optical imaging sensors. A controller receives and analyzes images from the optical imaging sensors to automatically send a signal to curtail operation of the wind turbine to a predetermined risk mitigating level when the controller determines from images received from the optical imaging sensors that an airborne animal is at risk from the wind turbine.

Abstract: Implementations described and claimed herein provide systems, apparatuses, and methods for exercising and entertaining a pet. In one implementation, a pet exercise and entertainment device includes a launch funnel for launching projectiles for a pet to retrieve. The launch funnel has a feeder and a chute. The feeder is configured to receive a projectile and transport the projectile to an intake end of the chute. A sensor is configured to sense the projectile in the intake end of the chute and to command one or more motors to power up in response to sensing the projectile. An actuator is configured to release the projectile from the intake end of the chute into the launch end of the chute after a pre-determined time has elapsed. One or more wheels, rotated by the one or more motors, are configured to launch the projectile from the launch end of the chute.

Abstract: Provided herein are compression pad window hanging devices and systems. Compression pad window hanging devices include a compression pad attached to an item, with the compression pad designed to be compressed between the lower sash of a closed window and a window sill to thereby secure the item in place on an exterior or interior of the window. Such window hanging devices can include one or more adjustable support members extending from a bottom of the item to support the item on the exterior or interior window sill ledge and compensate for a downward slope of the exterior or interior window sill ledge. Bird feeders, flags, decorations and storage systems are examples items to be secured to a window sill using a compression pad window hanging device and system as disclosed herein.

Abstract: A reversible pet harness includes a body portion having a first side and a second side and one or more straps coupled to the body portion and configured to secure the body portion to a chest/belly of a pet. An aperture defines an opening that extends through the body portion from the first side to the second side. A ring is positioned in the opening and a central strap extends across the opening and through a center of the ring to moveably couple the ring relative to the body portion. The opening and central strap are configured to allow the ring to extend outwardly at least primarily from the first side of the body portion in a first position and outwardly at least primarily from the second side of the body portion in a second position.

Abstract: A washable, reusable mat that serves as a stimulation device for animals, the mat having a base a base with a pile thereon, the pile being formed from a plurality of fingers which are arranged to form a structure with a plurality of spaces. Food or treats for the animal (e.g., a dog), are placed on the mat, and the food or treats fall among the fingers and are captured within the spaces formed in the pile by the fingers. The animal locates the food or treats by employing the animal's olfactory senses, such as smell and taste, to locate the food within the matt pile. The animal may use its nose (or paws) to gain access to the captured food by tunneling among the fingers, moving the fingers aside, or other action to access the hidden food.

Abstract: Provided is a microfluidic device comprising an incubation layer, the incubation layer including at least one dock, each of the at least one dock defines a stepped tank comprising an upper tank and a lower tank, an inflow channel in fluid communication with the stepped tank for supplying a fluid to the stepped tank, and an outflow channel in fluid communication with the stepped tank for draining the fluid from the stepped tank, wherein the geometry of the upper tank is configured to allow culturing of a fish larva therein, and wherein the geometry of the lower tank is configured to reversibly receive the fish larva from the upper tank and to dock the fish larva at a controlled orientation for imaging or observation.

Abstract: A system for cleaning a dairy animal milker unit and applying dip to a dairy animal, the system includes a main control, an air supply, a water supply, a backflush fluid supply, a dip supply, a stall control for receiving the air, water, backflush fluid and dip supplies, and a safety valve that is adjacent to a downstream portion of the milker unit to control backflush and dip fluids being fed to the milker unit.

Abstract: A mobile telephone adapts to use as a gundog training tool by interfacing with a dog collar using a wireless communication device, such as a WWAN text or IP interface, a WLAN interface or a radio transceiver that couples to the mobile telephone and is accessible to a training application running on the mobile telephone. The dog collar includes a GPS receiver to provide position information to the mobile telephone and a shock device to provide training stimulus to the dog. A wireless headset interfaces with the mobile telephone to provide audible indications of position to an end user, such as a dog point and tone indicators of directions to the dog. A wireless handset interfaces with the mobile telephone to accept inputs for application to the collar, such as training stimulus.

Abstract: Litter compositions are provided comprising sodium bentonite and various fillers. These litter compositions have substantially the same clumpability properties as a composition consisting of only the sodium bentonite.

Abstract: Provided is a litter box for animals that is hygienic and easy to clean. A litter box for animals is provided with a lower container, the upper part of which is open and which has a lower bottom surface part and a lower side wall part standing up from the peripheral edge of the lower bottom surface part, and an upper container, the upper part of which is open and which is disposed above the lower container. The upper container is provided with a upper bottom surface part in which a plurality of through holes is formed, an upper wall part standing up from the peripheral edge of the upper bottom surface part, and an extending wall part that extends downward from the outer surface of the upper wall part. The lower end part of the extending wall part is disposed lower than the upper bottom surface part.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is directed to a system for cleaning teats of multiple milk-producing animals, wherein the animals are housed in a parlor area and the teats are cleaned or disinfected before a milking operation is started. The system comprises a disinfectant solution source provided at the parlor area; and, a hand-held applicator having a housing volume within which one or more scrubbing elements are positioned for engaging a teat of the milk-producing animal having been inserted in the volume for cleaning. The scrubbing elements include a brush that has an array of bristles including a first set of bristles having a first radial length and a second set of bristles that have a second radial length that is longer than the first radial length.

Abstract: A system for cleaning a dairy animal milker unit and applying dip to a dairy animal, the system includes a main control, an air supply, a water supply, a backflush fluid supply, a dip supply, a stall control for receiving the air, water, backflush fluid and dip supplies, and a safety valve that is adjacent to a downstream portion of the milker unit to control backflush and dip fluids being fed to the milker unit.

Abstract: A system includes a first milking box stall of a size sufficient to accommodate a first dairy livestock and a second milking box stall of a size sufficient to accommodate a second dairy livestock. The first and second milking box stalls face opposite directions. An equipment portion is located between the first milking box stall and the second milking box stall. A robotic attacher is housed in the equipment portion and configured to service both stalls at different times. The robotic attacher comprises a gripping portion having a spray nozzle. The gripping portion is operable to rotate around a longitudinal axis such that during a milking operation the spray nozzle is positioned on the bottom of the gripping portion, and after the milking operation the spray nozzle is positioned on the top of the gripping portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for drying piglets immediately after birth includes a container shaped and arranged for receiving up to three or four of the piglets having an opening arrangement for manual insertion by the worker of the piglets to be confined within the container during a drying period. The container has a system for applying air movement and optionally heat to the piglets while confined with the container for drying and a release arrangement having a door controlled by a settable timer or a system for detecting when the piglets are dry for allowing release from the container of the piglets after a sufficient drying time period has elapsed. The container includes a base mounted in each farrowing crate and a cover portion which is removable from one crate to another.

Abstract: An apparatus for drying piglets immediately after birth includes a container shaped and arranged for receiving up to three or four of the piglets having an opening arrangement for manual insertion by the worker of the piglets to be confined within the container during a drying period. The container has a system for applying air movement and optionally heat to the piglets while confined with the container for drying and a release arrangement having a door controlled by a settable timer or a system for detecting when the piglets are dry for allowing release from the container of the piglets after a sufficient drying time period has elapsed. The container includes a base mounted in each farrowing crate and a cover portion which is removable from one crate to another.

Abstract: An improved animal feeder with an insertable feed restrictor.

Abstract: Composite particles and methods for making the same. An absorbent material is formed into a particle. An optional performance-enhancing active is coupled to the absorbent material before, during, or after the particle-forming process, homogeneously and/or in layers. Additionally, the composite absorbent particle may include a core material. Preferred methods for creating the absorbent particles include a pan agglomeration process, a high shear agglomeration process, a low shear agglomeration process, a high pressure agglomeration process, a low pressure agglomeration process, a rotary drum agglomeration process, a mix muller process, a roll press compaction process, a pin mixer process, a batch tumble blending mixer process, an extrusion process, and a fluid bed process.

Abstract: The object of invention is an animal cage litter composition, especially suitable for cats, in the form of compacted and/or ground down sunflower hulls, in the amount from 1% to 100%, preferably 100%, with addition of the known binder, in the amount from 0% to 50%, and/or the known filler, in the amount from 0% to 80%, in the total mass of compacted sunflower hulls.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system configured to inject objects, such as eggs, with a fluid, wherein said objects each comprise at least two object parts, such as embryo tissue, embryotic or allantoic fluid and an air pocket, of which at least one object part is to be injected, by advancing injection needles to a determined depth, which depth is expected to correspond with the at least one object part to be injected, into the objects and injecting fluid into the objects at the determined injection depth. The system a sensor to monitor pressure or flow of the fluid during injecting, and to generate a monitoring signal, the control being configured to detect an operational state of the needles and/or the fluid, indicating proper operation or defect in the system, such as a blocked fluid line and/or needle, based on the monitoring signal representing the monitored pressure or flow.

Abstract: A tug toy that includes at least two gripping members and a central portion, wherein the at least two gripping members are attached to the central portion, and wherein the central portion further includes a noise maker.