Abstract: A vertical farm system including a rack having a grow channel and a source of moisture/nutrients, the moisture/nutrients being deliverable to the rack. The system includes malleable material inserts in the grow channel. The malleable material inserts have an edge area, a first insert receivable within the grow channel so as to abut a second insert to form an abutting pair of edges, and a spacing component receivable between the pair of inserts, the spacing component and the abutting edge areas forming an opening extending about the spacing component, the source of moisture/nutrients communicable to the opening. In one aspect, the malleable material insert may have a slot with abutting pair of edges. A rod component is receivable between the abutting pair of edges, the rod and the abutting edges forming an opening extending about the rod component, and the source of moisture/nutrients being communicable to the opening.

Abstract: A farming control system for monitoring and controlling one or more contained farms is described herein. The farming control system includes a local system having a plurality of modules to obtain crop data and perform farming operations on crops. The modules transmit the crop data to and receive the farming operations from a local controller, or a cloud controller when the local controller fails. The local system and the cloud system may use machine learning based on the crop data to determine the farming operations to be performed.

Abstract: A tether, and system using such a tether, adapted to provide mechanical and electrical coupling of an airborne flying platform to the ground. The tether may have a center structural core with electrical conductors on or near the outer diameter of the tether. The tether may utilize exterior configurations adapted to reduce drag.

Abstract: A tether, and system using such a tether, adapted to provide mechanical and electrical coupling of an airborne flying platform to the ground. The tether may have a center structural core with electrical conductors on or near the outer diameter of the tether. The tether may utilize exterior configurations adapted to reduce drag.

Abstract: A tether, and system using such a tether, adapted to provide mechanical and electrical coupling of an airborne flying platform to the ground. The tether may have a center structural core with electrical conductors on or near the outer diameter of the tether. The tether may utilize exterior configurations adapted to reduce drag.