Abstract: A system comprising a robotic arm and a robotic arm controller. The robotic arm receives instructions from the robotic arm controller and moves along a path. The robotic arm controller comprises an interface, a memory, and a processor. The interface communicates with the robotic arm. The memory stores a first path and a second path. The processor applies a decreasing weight to the waypoints of the first path and an increasing weight to the waypoints of the second path. The processor combines the weighted waypoints of the first path and the second path to generate a third path wherein the third path defines a transition path from the first path to the second path. The processor further instructs the robotic arm to transition from the first path to the second path by traversing the third path.

Abstract: A system for killing pests in an affected area of a structure comprises a heat pump unit placed within an affected area and a thermostatic control. The heat pump unit is configured to receive a flow of water from a faucet, and generate heated air by transferring heat from the flow of water, the heated air being emitted into the affected area in order to raise the temperature of the affected area to a target temperature greater than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The thermostatic control is configured to monitor a temperature of a flow of water as it is received by the heat pump, monitor a temperature of air, and automatically cease operation of the heat pump when the temperature of the flow of water is above a predefined limit.

Abstract: A method comprises receiving a flow of milk at an inlet of a manifold. The inlet comprises a first end coupled to a hose that receives a flow of milk from a teat cup and a second end terminating in a chamber of the manifold. The manifold comprises one or more other inlets and a plurality of outlets. The plurality of outlets includes one or more milk collector outlets and one or more drain outlets. The method proceeds by causing the flow of milk to be directed to a corresponding milk collector outlet by causing a shut-off valve corresponding to the inlet to open, and by causing a drain valve corresponding to the inlet to close. The method concludes by causing the flow of milk to be directed to a corresponding drain outlet by causing the drain valve corresponding to the inlet to open.

Abstract: A method for killing pests including bed bugs in an affected area comprises heating a fluid to a first temperature and supplying the fluid to each of a plurality of heat exchanger units. The method continues by positioning each of the plurality of heat exchanger units within an associated region of an affected area, each heat exchanger unit being operable to emit heated air by transferring heat from the fluid to ambient air within the affected area. The method concludes by positioning a plurality of air movers proximate to each of the plurality of heat exchanger units, the plurality of air movers being operable to circulate heated air emitted by the plurality of heat exchanger units and inhibit stratification of the heated air. In operation, a temperature difference between the fluid received by the plurality of heat exchanger units and the ambient air within the affected area results in the affected area being raised to a target temperature greater than 122 degrees Fahrenheit.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, an apparatus for killing pests in an affected area includes a fuel source, a first air inlet configured to receive a first air flow from the affected area, and a second air inlet configured to receive a second air flow from an unaffected area. The system further includes a premix system operable to generate an air-fuel mixture by mixing a fuel flow received from the fuel source with the second air flow received from the second air inlet. The system further includes a burner operable to generate combustion air by combusting the air-fuel mixture. The combustion air is mixed with the first air flow subsequent to combustion to generate a heated air flow, and the heated air flow is discharged into the affected area. The fuel source, the premix system, and the burner are configured for positioning in the affected area.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a system includes a front wall, a rear wall positioned substantially parallel to the front wall, and first and second side walls each extending between the front wall and the rear wall. The first side wall includes a gate, and the second side wall is spaced apart from the first side wall such that the front wall, the rear wall, the first side wall, and the second side wall define a milking box stall of a size sufficient to accommodate a dairy livestock. The system includes an equipment portion located adjacent to the rear wall. The equipment portion houses a robotic attacher configured to extend between the rear legs of a dairy livestock located within the milking box stall in order to attach milking equipment to the dairy livestock.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a system for applying disinfectant to the teats of a dairy livestock includes a carriage mounted on a track, the carriage operable to translate laterally along the track. The system further includes a robotic arm including a first member pivotally attached to the carriage such that the first member may rotate about a point of attachment to the carriage, a second member pivotally attached to the first member such that the second member may rotate about a point of attachment to the first member, and a spray tool member pivotally attached to the second member such that the spray tool member may rotate about a point of attachment to the second member. The robotic arm further includes a spray tool attached to the spray tool member.