Abstract: An insect sortation system includes a first puff system in a puff-back region for moving insects toward an inlet of an insect pathway and a second puff system in a puff-forward region for moving insects toward an outlet of the pathway. The first puff system is configured to singulate the insects. The second puff system is configured to sort the insects.

Abstract: An insect separating apparatus may include a sensor positioned to detect one or more insects when present within a test chamber. For example, the sensor may emit signals into the test chamber and receive reflected signals indicative of Doppler shifts caused by movement of the one or more insects. Based on information from the sensor, a computing device may determine a characteristic of the one or more insects in the chamber, such as a wing beat frequency, sex, or other characteristic. The computing device may instruct different responses based on the characteristic determined, such as activating an air mover to divert detected mosquitos out of the test chamber in response to the determined characteristics matching those of female mosquitos, or deactivating or maintaining the air mover in an inactive condition in response to the determined characteristics matching those of male mosquitos, for example, to allow passage through the chamber into a collection receptacle.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure can provide an automated mass rearing system for insect larvae. The automated mass rearing system can facilitate hatching, feeding, monitoring the growth and emergence of insect larvae and pupae. In some embodiments, the automated mass rearing system can include a production unit, a transportation unit, a storage unit, a dispensing unit, and a monitoring unit. In some embodiments, this automated mass rearing system can facilitate mass mosquito growth from egg hatching all the way through to full adults or certain stages in between such as the larvae rearing process (i.e., from larvae to pupae) with little or no human intervention. By automating the rearing and transportation of insect eggs, larvae, and pupae, deaths or developmental issues can be minimized. Various techniques and apparatuses are used in this automation that causes minimal disturbance to the insects during development, and thereby maximizing survival rate and fitness of the insects.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure can provide an automated mass rearing system for insect larvae. The automated mass rearing system can facilitate hatching, feeding, monitoring the growth and emergence of insect larvae and pupae. In some embodiments, the automated mass rearing system can include a production unit, a transportation unit, a storage unit, a dispensing unit, and a monitoring unit. In some embodiments, this automated mass rearing system can facilitate mass mosquito growth from egg hatching all the way through to full adults or certain stages in between such as the larvae rearing process (i.e., from larvae to pupae) with little or no human intervention. By automating the rearing and transportation of insect eggs, larvae, and pupae, deaths or developmental issues can be minimized. Various techniques and apparatuses are used in this automation that causes minimal disturbance to the insects during development, and thereby maximizing survival rate and fitness of the insects.

Abstract: An insect sortation system includes a first puff system in a puff-back region for moving insects toward an inlet of an insect pathway and a second puff system in a puff-forward region for moving insects toward an outlet of the pathway. The first puff system is configured to singulate the insects. The second puff system is configured to sort the insects.

Abstract: An insect sortation system can track movement of insects along a predefined pathway. The insect sortation system includes a puff-back system for moving insects toward an inlet of the pathway and a puff-forward system for moving insects toward an outlet of the pathway. An overhead imaging system captures images of the insects at one or more locations along the pathway. Once imaged, the insect may be classified into a category (e.g., sex category, species category, size category, etc.) using a variety of different classification approaches including, for example, an industrial vision classifier and/or a machine learning classifier. Once classified, the insects can be directed to various chambers for subsequent processing.

Abstract: An insect separating apparatus may include a sensor positioned to detect one or more insects when present within a test chamber. For example, the sensor may emit signals into the test chamber and receive reflected signals indicative of Doppler shifts caused by movement of the one or more insects. Based on information from the sensor, a computing device may determine a characteristic of the one or more insects in the chamber, such as a wing beat frequency, sex, or other characteristic. The computing device may instruct different responses based on the characteristic determined, such as activating an air mover to divert detected mosquitos out of the test chamber in response to the determined characteristics matching those of female mosquitos, or deactivating or maintaining the air mover in an inactive condition in response to the determined characteristics matching those of male mosquitos, for example, to allow passage through the chamber into a collection receptacle.

Abstract: An example system for automated aquatic insect rearing includes a frame; at least one trough having a drain, the trough supported by the frame; a drain valve coupled to the drain; a lid coupleable to the at least one trough to cover the trough, the lid defining at least one opening; a fluid supply tube connectable to a fluid supply, the fluid supply tube routed to provide fluid to the at least one trough; a fill valve coupled to the fluid supply tube, the fill valve positioned and configured to regulate a flow of fluid into the at least one trough; a fill pump coupled to the at least one fluid supply tube and coupleable to the fluid supply to pump fluid from the fluid supply through the at least one supply tube; at least one feeding mechanism to dispense food into the at least one trough; and at least one fluid level sensor positioned to detect a fluid level within the at least one trough.

Abstract: An insect sortation system can track movement of insects along a predefined pathway. The insect sortation system includes a puff-back system for moving insects toward an inlet of the pathway and a puff-forward system for moving insects toward an outlet of the pathway. An overhead imaging system captures images of the insects at one or more locations along the pathway. Once imaged, the insect may be classified into a category (e.g., sex category, species category, size category, etc.) using a variety of different classification approaches including, for example, an industrial vision classifier and/or a machine learning classifier. Once classified, the insects can be directed to various chambers for subsequent processing.

Abstract: Insects can be classified into a category (e.g., sex category, species category, size category, etc.) using a variety of different classification approaches including, for example, an industrial vision classifier and/or a machine learning classifier. At least some classification approaches may be used in real-time to make real-time decisions and others can be used to validate earlier-made real-time decisions.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure can provide an automated mass rearing system for insect larvae. The automated mass rearing system can facilitate hatching, feeding, monitoring the growth and emergence of insect larvae and pupae. In some embodiments, the automated mass rearing system can include a production unit, a transportation unit, a storage unit, a dispensing unit, and a monitoring unit. In some embodiments, this automated mass rearing system can facilitate mass mosquito growth from egg hatching all the way through to full adults or certain stages in between such as the larvae rearing process (i.e., from larvae to pupae) with little or no human intervention. By automating the rearing and transportation of insect eggs, larvae, and pupae, deaths or developmental issues can be minimized. Various techniques and apparatuses are used in this automation that causes minimal disturbance to the insects during development, and thereby maximizing survival rate and fitness of the insects.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure can provide an automated mass rearing system for insect larvae. The automated mass rearing system can facilitate hatching, feeding, monitoring the growth and emergence of insect larvae and pupae. In some embodiments, the automated mass rearing system can include a production unit, a transportation unit, a storage unit, a dispensing unit, and a monitoring unit. In some embodiments, this automated mass rearing system can facilitate mass mosquito growth from egg hatching all the way through to full adults or certain stages in between such as the larvae rearing process (i.e., from larvae to pupae) with little or no human intervention. By automating the rearing and transportation of insect eggs, larvae, and pupae, deaths or developmental issues can be minimized. Various techniques and apparatuses are used in this automation that causes minimal disturbance to the insects during development, and thereby maximizing survival rate and fitness of the insects.

Abstract: A sample processing apparatus includes a laser triangulation system that locates the position of a lower end of a pipette tip. When the laser triangulation system identifies a discrepancy between the actual position of the lower end and the proper position of the lower end, the sample processing apparatus may undergo a compensating action to compensate for the discrepancy.

Abstract: An insect separating apparatus may include a sensor positioned to detect one or more insects when present within a test chamber. For example, the sensor may emit signals into the test chamber and receive reflected signals indicative of Doppler shifts caused by movement of the one or more insects. Based on information from the sensor, a computing device may determine a characteristic of the one or more insects in the chamber, such as a wing beat frequency, sex, or other characteristic. The computing device may instruct different responses based on the characteristic determined, such as activating an air mover to divert detected mosquitoes out of the test chamber in response to the determined characteristics matching those of female mosquitoes, or deactivating or maintaining the air mover in an inactive condition in response to the determined characteristics matching those of male mosquitoes, for example, to allow passage through the chamber into a collection receptacle.

Abstract: In one aspect, a singulation chamber apparatus defines a volume having a receiving end and an opposing end. The receiving end may be couplable to an insect chamber for a plurality of ambulatory insects and define an opening to receive the plurality of ambulatory insects from the insect chamber. A surface of the chamber is ramped to provide a pathway between the receiving end and the opposing end such that the opposing end is elevated with respect to the first end via the ramped surface. The pathway has a width sized to accommodate a single-file line of the plurality of ambulatory insects traversing the ramped surface.

Abstract: In one aspect, a singulation chamber apparatus defines a volume having a receiving end and an opposing end. The receiving end may be couplable to an insect chamber for a plurality of ambulatory insects and define an opening to receive the plurality of ambulatory insects from the insect chamber. A surface of the chamber is ramped to provide a pathway between the receiving end and the opposing end such that the opposing end is elevated with respect to the first end via the ramped surface. The pathway has a width sized to accommodate a single-file line of the plurality of ambulatory insects traversing the ramped surface.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure can provide an automated mass rearing system for insect larvae. The automated mass rearing system can facilitate hatching, feeding, monitoring the growth and emergence of insect larvae and pupae. In some embodiments, the automated mass rearing system can include a production unit, a transportation unit, a storage unit, a dispensing unit, and a monitoring unit. In some embodiments, this automated mass rearing system can facilitate mass mosquito growth from egg hatching all the way through to full adults or certain stages in between such as the larvae rearing process (i.e., from larvae to pupae) with little or no human intervention. By automating the rearing and transportation of insect eggs, larvae, and pupae, deaths or developmental issues can be minimized. Various techniques and apparatuses are used in this automation that causes minimal disturbance to the insects during development, and thereby maximizing survival rate and fitness of the insects.

Abstract: A sample processing apparatus includes a laser triangulation system that locates the position of a lower end of a pipette tip. When the laser triangulation system identifies a discrepancy between the actual position of the lower end and the proper position of the lower end, the sample processing apparatus may undergo a compensating action to compensate for the discrepancy.

Abstract: A sample processing apparatus includes a laser triangulation system that locates the position of a lower end of a pipette tip. When the laser triangulation system identifies a discrepancy between the actual position of the lower end and the proper position of the lower end, the sample processing apparatus may undergo a compensating action to compensate for the discrepancy.

Abstract: A sample processing apparatus includes a laser triangulation system that locates the position of a lower end of a pipette tip. When the laser triangulation system identifies a discrepancy between the actual position of the lower end and the proper position of the lower end, the sample processing apparatus may undergo a compensating action to compensate for the discrepancy.