Abstract: The invention provides a light generating system for arthropod keeping, configured to generate system light, wherein in a first operational mode the light generating system is configured to provide the system light having a spectral power distribution, wherein the spectral power distribution comprises: a first spectral power E1 in a first wavelength range of 360-780 nm; a second spectral power E2 in a second wavelength range of 360-400 nm; a third spectral power ES in a third wavelength range of 400-480 nm; a fourth spectral power EM in a fourth wavelength range of 480-580 nm; a fifth spectral power EL in a fifth wavelength range of 580-700 nm; a sixth spectral power E6 in a sixth wavelength range of 620-700 nm; a seventh spectral power E7 in a seventh wavelength range of 700-780 nm; and wherein: 1.75?EM/ES?20; E2/E1?0.005; E7/E1?0.022; and EL/E1?0.3; or 0.3<EL/E1?0.8, and 3.4?E6/ES?14, and wherein the sixth wavelength range comprises a peak between 650-690 nm.

Abstract: In an agricultural product, a seed is contained within a composite coating. The composite coating has successive layers, and one or more of the layers can include fertilizer, a binder, and/or lime.

Abstract: Cameras and lights positioning system for hose inspection during air-to-air refueling, which comprises a substructure that can be attached to a container or capsule or Pod, one or two guidance-substructures (13) that enclose the hose, a toroid volume, to house the cameras (22) and lights (23) and a cameras and lights control subsystem. The system allows for the cameras (22) and lights (23) to maintain a fixed relative position with respect to the hose (1) during moments of imagery acquisition, despite the inclination and the five different movements that the hose has and makes, at the same time allowing protuberances (38) to pass through the system.

Abstract: A birding accessory assembly includes a birding accessory, such as a bird bath, a pole for supporting the bird bath on the ground or other surface, and a removably interlocking feature between the bottom face of the accessory and the top end of the pole. The interlocking interface can include a plurality of knobs projecting from the bottom face of the accessory and a cam plate mounted on the pole. The cam plate defines a like plurality of ramp segments to receive the knobs. With the knobs disposed within the ramp segments, the accessory is rotated so that the knobs advance toward a lower end of the ramp segments. A side opening at the end of each segment receives a boss projecting from each knob to snap or click into engagement. An array of magnets carried by the cam plate can magnetically engage a metal plate integrated into the bottom face of the accessory.

Abstract: An auxiliary power unit system of an aircraft includes an auxiliary power unit (APU), a cooling unit for the APU including a heat exchanger, an air inlet in communication with the APU and/or with the cooling unit, an air inlet door unit located at the air inlet, a first duct configured to draw air into the APU and having an entrance in communication with the air inlet, a second duct having an entrance in communication with the air inlet, the heat exchanger being at least partially located within the second duct, an air turbine located within the second duct downstream of the heat exchanger, and an electrical generator coupled to the air turbine.

Abstract: The application provides a rodent or possum trap (101) comprising: a tunnel (102) for receiving a rodent or possum, a mechanical kill mechanism (103), the kill mechanism comprising, a spring-loaded strike edge (105) and optionally additionally comprises a mechanical trigger, and at least one trap door (104) having a closed position and an open position; wherein when the kill mechanism (103) is arranged so that when it is activated by a rodent in the tunnel (102) it kills the rodent and opens the trap door (104) to release the deceased rodent from the rodent trap.

Abstract: An aircraft lavatory monument is provided that includes a first lavatory including a first door providing access to the first lavatory from an aisle of an aircraft; a second lavatory proximate the first lavatory, the second lavatory including a second door providing access to the second lavatory from the aisle of the aircraft; and a movable wall disposed between the first lavatory and the second lavatory, the movable wall including a latching mechanism positioned on an exterior edge of the movable wall and accessible from the aisle of the aircraft, where the latching mechanism, responsive to being in a locked position, causes the movable wall to be positioned at a first position separating the first lavatory from the second lavatory and providing privacy therebetween, and where the latching mechanism, responsive to being in an unlocked position, allows the movable wall to collapse thereby forming an enlarged bathroom space.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a frame and a plurality of propellers coupled to the frame and configured to produce sufficient thrust to allow the apparatus to hover. Each propeller from the plurality of propellers having a horizontally oriented blade and a first propellor from the plurality of propellors overlapping a second propellor from the plurality of propellers in a vertical plane.

Abstract: A lavatory system within an internal cabin of a vehicle includes an enclosure defining an interior chamber, a first lavatory unit within the interior chamber, and a second lavatory within the interior chamber. The first lavatory unit is adjacent to the second lavatory unit. In at least one embodiment, a lavatory within an internal cabin of a vehicle includes an interior chamber defined by one or more outer walls, and a storage compartment extending outwardly from at least one of outer walls. The storage compartment defines an internal storage space that connects to the interior chamber. In at least one embodiment, a lavatory includes a first lavatory unit, a second lavatory adjacent to the first lavatory unit, and a containment compartment common to the first lavatory unit and the second lavatory unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for growing invertebrates, such as arthropods, rheumatoid worms and nematodes is described. The apparatus includes a rotatable casing defining a chamber and at least one growing platform inside said casing. Inside the casing there is a group of first pipes having a pipe wall. The first pipes are configured to act as growing platforms providing growing spaces for the invertebrates. Preferably the number of first pipes is more than three. The first pipes may be immovably attached to the casing.

Abstract: A base station is disclosed that is configured for use with a UAV. The base station includes: an enclosure with an outer housing that defines a roof section and an inner housing that is connected to the outer housing; one or more heating elements that are supported by the enclosure and which are configured to heat the roof section; one or more fiducials that are supported by the enclosure; an illumination system that is supported by the enclosure and which is configured to illuminate the one or more fiducials; and a visualization system that is supported by the enclosure.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a compact vertiport system. The vertiport system may be efficient and compact by combining, into one space and time period, multiple activities that typically take place in different spaces and different times. For example, when an aircraft is being moved from a landing zone to a takeoff zone, the aircraft may also be charged simultaneously. Also, passenger exchange may take place while the aircraft is being moved. As a result, compact vertiport systems may fit into smaller spaces (e.g., tops of buildings, or smaller plots of land).

Abstract: A pulley system for enabling an object attached to a line to pass around a rotating pulley at least partially enclosed by a housing, without causing the object to encounter interference from the housing structure as the object passages through. An inward beveled edge of the housing structure may act to guide the line into the pulley groove. An object passthrough window for allowing the object to pass around the pulley while the pulley is rotating, without encumbrance of the object, may comprise a substantially solid, or continuous, inner surface formed of the inward beveled edge and the pulley groove. An exemplary use of the pulley system is in drive or transfer pulleys, or both, in systems utilizing pulley arrangements: for example, in systems such as lure coursing systems that continuously loop a line having a lure attached, for the enjoyment of domesticated animals.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus for shortening a wingspan of an aircraft is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a first track affixed to a fixed wing of the aircraft. A first roller assembly is affixed to a wingtip of the aircraft, with the first roller assembly moveably captured within the first track. A second track is also affixed to the fixed wing. A second roller assembly is affixed to the wingtip and is moveably captured within the second track. A wingtip actuation assembly is configured to translate the first roller assembly within the first track and the second roller assembly within the second track to move the wingtip between an extended position and a stowed position under the fixed wing.

Abstract: There is provided a mono-wing aerial device which includes a housing member having disposed thereon electronic components and a power source, including a controller configured to control a thrust unit; a wing member coupled to the housing member, the wing member configured to produce aerodynamic forces for autorotation of the aerial device, the wing member comprising a first edge portion proximal to the housing member and a second edge portion distal to the housing member, wherein the wing member is coupled to the housing member at the first edge portion; and the thrust unit coupled to the wing member at the second edge portion, wherein the thrust unit is configured to generate thrust in a direction substantially tangential to a rotational plane of the wing member. There is also provided a method of forming the mono-wing aerial device.

Abstract: A bee nutrition device is configured with a frame positionable between the brood chamber and honey super components of a stacked bee hive. Fondant and/or water or nurturing liquid is positionable within trays located within a recess located with a sidewall of the frame of the device. Access into and out of the recess for bees can be regulated by a translating member having openings therein which can be selectively aligned with the central opening communicating through the bottom surface of the frame.

Abstract: An exemplary inventive parafoil includes a soft wing and a semi-rigid skeleton. Configured to effect ram-air flight, the soft wing forms adjacent elongate cells directed from leading edge to trailing edge, with respective inflow vents arranged along the leading edge. The semi-rigid skeleton includes one or more cell-compatible support structures, each joined with a cell in furtherance of maintaining the cell's inflated shape and preventing its collapse under adverse aerodynamic circumstances. Each cell-compatible support structure includes a ring-like frame and two parallel rod-like projections attached perpendicular to the ring-like frame at laterally opposite locations. According to each coupling of a cell-compatible support structure with a cell, the ring-like frame is affixed at or near the cell's inflow vent, fitting onto or inside the cell lip; the two rod-like projections extend backward from the ring-like frame along part of the cell length, each integrated with or interiorly contiguous to the cell.

Abstract: According to one implementation of the present disclosure, a rotorcraft includes a fuselage, an airframe, a main rotor, first and second wings, and a wing rotation system. The wing rotation system may be coupled to the first and the second wings and includes a first drive shaft, a second drive shaft, and a uniform actuator. The first drive shaft may be coupled to the first wing for rotation around a central wing axis, the second drive shaft may be coupled to the second wing for rotation around the central wing axis, and the uniform actuator may be coupled between the first drive shaft and the airframe. Also, the wing rotation system can be configured to actuate rotation of the first and the second wings from a first direction to a second direction.

Abstract: A roller gate system for a livestock transportation vehicle includes a rack and pinion gate movement system, with a roller gate assembly having toothed rollers connected by a rotatable roller shaft positioned in line with the center of gravity of the roller gate assembly when hanging substantially vertically. The pinion is a roller having a plurality of teeth, and the rack is a track having a plurality of openings for receiving the roller teeth. At each end of the rotatable roller shaft, the toothed roller is fixedly mounted thereto for travel along the track. The toothed rollers operate in unison to move the roller gate assembly in a uniform and smooth manner. By having the toothed rollers and the rotatable roller shaft positioned in line with the center of gravity of the roller gate assembly when hanging substantially vertically, the roller gate assembly remains in a substantially vertical orientation during travel.

Abstract: A collapsible pet travel crate for use with at least one car seat includes an internal frame and a housing. The internal frame has two side members and four foldable members extending between the side members. Each side member has an upright rear portion. Each foldable members a first piece and a second piece coupled to the first piece through a lockable hinge. Each first piece is coupled to one side member through a first pivot hinge. Each second piece is coupled to the other side member through a second pivot hinge. The housing includes two oppositely disposed side panels and a central panel. Each side panel also has an upper mounting slot and a lower mounting slot. The housing includes a front mounting strap. The car seat belt extends through the first and second slots and across the front surface of the rear portions of the two side members.