Abstract: A neck collar includes a body, a tensioning cord, and a pair of mating fastener straps. The body defines an opening configured to wrap around the neck of an animal and includes a pair of distal ends forming a gap therebetween. The tensioning cord is at least partially disposed through the body and configured to adjust the size of the opening. Each fastener strap is disposed on an outer surface of the body proximate a respective distal end and at least one fastener strap extends across the gap.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides generally for a system and method for planting flora, fauna, and dispersing various organisms through drone delivery. The system may comprise of a drone with seedling box that may hold and drop the pods containing flora or fauna. The seedling box may hold the pods with the flora or fauna in them and at specific intervals drop the pod with the flora or fauna. The seedling box may also hold various organisms or other materials and drop these organisms or materials when directed. A seedling box may comprise loading mechanism and deploying mechanism to facilitate accurate, timely deployment of the pods containing the seedlings. A pod may comprise a weighted tip with hollow cavity for seedling placement and a vertical rod for securing seedling during deployment. Where the system comprises uneven number of seedlings, seedling box may include counterweights to provide stability in configured flight patterns for duration of seedling deployment.

Abstract: A method of using a reconfigurable pet enrichment system to help pets fulfill their natural behaviors is provided. The system can be arranged to facilitate an environment that helps stimulate, entertain, and exercise a pet, and also provides a defensible space for napping, resting, or sleeping. The system can be constructed from two pieces of pliable material: a base component and a top-covering component attached to the base component by means of semi-permanent fasteners to create a variety of forms such as ripples, nooks and tunnels. The top component can contain several openings of different sizes. Openings appeal to a pet's predatory nature, as the openings provide a source of stimulation and interaction. The system may also be configured with a plurality of members attached via semi-permanent fasteners.

Abstract: A system for providing a growth environment for a plant positioned in an automated plant growing system is disclosed. Light sources with each light source positioned in the automated plant growing system to expose the plant to the light sources and to generate light to trigger photosynthesis in the plant. A controller that monitors a growth parameters associated with the plant to determine whether the growth parameters deviate beyond a corresponding growth threshold. Each of the growth parameters provides an indicator as to a growth status of the plant and the growth status of the plant decreases when the growth parameters deviate beyond the corresponding growth threshold. The controller automatically adjusts an environmental parameter when the growth parameters deviate beyond the growth thresholds. Each of the environmental parameters impact the growth environment of the plant positioned in the automated plant growing system.

Abstract: A hydroponic tray for agricultural use. More particularly, the hydroponic tray allows control on fluid flowing there through. The tray includes an inlet end for the ingress of fluid and an outlet end for the egress of fluid, a trough extending continuously between the inlet end and the outlet end along which, in use, the fluid flows, and at least one fluid regulator device extending transversely across the trough, wherein each fluid regulator device comprises a sluice panel adapted to allow a predetermined rate of fluid flow there through and a control panel moveable relative to the sluice panel to vary the rate of fluid flow through the fluid regulator.

Abstract: A guidance vehicle guides a dog for a walk, and includes a leash attachment, a distance sensor, and an electronic control unit. The leash attachment is configured to attach a leash that connects the dog. The distance sensor is configured to detect a dog-to-vehicle distance being a distance between the dog and the guidance vehicle. The electronic control unit is configured to execute a travel control of the guidance vehicle. The electronic control unit includes, as one of modes of the travel control, a walk guidance mode that causes the guidance vehicle to automatically travel along a walk route while guiding the dog to walk. The walk guidance mode executed by the electronic control unit includes a basic walk mode that controls the dog-to-vehicle distance so as to maintain a constant distance when the dog is moving along the walk route.

Abstract: A container for dispensing bait in variable amounts and at variable rates. A method can include changing configurations of two attachable sleeves, where the different configurations result in different overlapping of openings in the attachable sleeves. The different overlapping of openings allows fishermen the flexibility to better control the dispensing of bait and/or chum by varying the size of the openings.

Abstract: Facility layouts and configurations for an automated crop production system for controlled environment agriculture. In particular implementations, the core of the facility comprises a controlled growth environment and a central processing system. The controlled growth environment includes systems for exposing crops housed in modules, such as grow towers, to controlled environmental conditions. The central processing system may include various stations and functionality both for preparing crop-bearing modules to be inserted in the controlled growth environment for harvesting crops from the crop-bearing modules after they have been extracted from the controlled growth environment, and for cleaning or washing crop-hearing modules for re-use.

Abstract: A fuselage structure for an aircraft has a frame structure, which extends in a circumferential direction and has a first connecting section and a second connecting section, which is arranged spaced apart from the first connecting section, a reinforcing structure, which extends between the first and the second connecting sections and is connected respectively to the first and the second connecting sections, an outer shell, which is secured on an outer side of the reinforcing structure, and an inner shell, which is secured on an inner side of the reinforcing structure. The reinforcing structure has a profiled cross section when viewed in a longitudinal direction extending transversely to the circumferential direction and, together with the inner shell and the outer shell, forms a plurality of channels, which are adjacent to one another in the circumferential direction and each extend in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A growing system and/or plant support structure may include one or more feet supporting at least one or more uprights, on which a plurality of plants and/or grow boards for growing plants may be positioned. A nutrient delivery system may be positioned between opposing uprights to provide nutrient supply to a root zone of plants, which nutrient delivery system may be positioned adjacent each opposing upright in an interior chamber of the plant support structure. A light system may be positioned between two adjacent plant support structures such that it simultaneously provides light to the exterior surface of the two plant support structures. A collapsible light may be positioned adjacent plants and plant support structures for improved access to the plants or plant support structures while allowing variable and controllable light distribution beneficial to control of adjacent plants and plant structures.

Abstract: An aeroponic grow tower is provided. The tower includes a modular wall system located between a cover and a base. The wall system includes a plurality of individual flat, four-sided wall panels. The identical wall panels are removably connected along their side edges into one or more levels having a polygonal shape. Levels are aligned and stack atop the base and each other. The wall panels have openings defining grow sites configured to support plants such that foliage extends to the outside and roots hang inside the tower. A pump delivers nutrient solution from the base to a high-rotational speed spray nozzle which aerosolizes the solution. The spray also impacts the interior surface further aerosolizing the solution. Channels direct the solution running down the interior surface to the grow sites which include secondary reservoirs to provide a further source of nutrient solution. A ventilation system and seedling covers are also provided.

Abstract: In various representative aspects, the present invention relates generally to an improved dog collar that protects the safety of the dog and its larynx and trachea by utilizing padded and resilient cushions on the inside of the dog collar in combination with one or more elastic bands within the perimeter of the dog collar. These elements provide a means for absorbing shock forces when a dog suddenly jerks or exerts force on the dog collar when it is connected to a stationary object or its owner by a leash.

Abstract: A hydroponic system is provided. The system includes a grow assembly. The grow assembly includes a body including at least one aperture, and a porous layer. The system may include a support to support the grow assembly. The system includes a fluid table that may be disposed underneath the body. The system includes a fluid reservoir that may be disposed underneath the fluid table. The system may include a fluid pump in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir. The system includes a fluid riser in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir and the fluid table. A method for utilising a hydroponic system is also provided.

Abstract: A reversible harness for an animal having a neck region and a waist region. The harness includes a chest piece, and a back piece having a back-side tethering strap. A leash connector is rotatably disposed on the tethering strap. The reversible harness further includes a first adjustable strap to secure the chest piece to the back piece about the neck region of the animal, and a second adjustable strap to secure the chest piece to the back piece about the waist region of the animal. The harness is adapted to fit a wide variety of sizes of animals. Additionally, owing to at least one top fabric portion and at the least one bottom fabric portion of the back piece, and a first chest-side fabric portion and a second chest-side fabric portion of the chest piece, the harness is reversible.

Abstract: A pressure bulkhead for a pressurized fuselage of a vehicle has an axial inner surface and an axial outer surface. The pressure bulkhead includes a tank that is seated on at least one of the inner surface and the outer surface, and extends in the axial direction. The tank includes at least one connection for introducing and/or discharging a fluid.

Abstract: A separation device for a spacecraft or launcher comprising a nut divided into at least two nut portions locked to each other by a locking device in a locking position. A releasing device is arranged to switch the locking device from the locking position to a releasing position. The separation device comprises at least two bearing elements arranged between the locking device and the nut. The nut comprises an outer envelope surface which comprises as many indentations as the number of bearing elements and locking surfaces between the indentations. In the locked state each bearing element is jammed between the locking surface and an inner envelope surface of the locking device and in the released state each bearing element is positioned facing the indentations.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for milking a milk-producing animal, in particular a cow, that set a target milk quantity which is lower than a possible expected milk quantity, carry out the milking process, determine the milked quantity and compares the milked quantity with the target milk quantity, and terminate milking when the milked quantity corresponds substantially to the target milk quantity.

Abstract: A furniture animal deterrent system for deterring pets from jumping, or lying, on furniture comprising a housing; a controller located within the housing; an animal presence sensor; a vibration device; and a multi-positional switch, movable between an off position, and at least two on positions relating to different vibration levels; wherein the animal presence sensor, the vibration device, and the multi-positional switch are operably connected to the controller within the housing.

Abstract: A hydroponic growing system is presented. The system can include multiple growing trays in a vertical arrangement, where a pump supplies the top-most tray and each lower tray is supplied by the overlying tray, and where the plumbing elements for supply and drainage are arranged to one side of the system. The system includes variations to support different crop types within the same system, including removable growing structures for root vegetable, microgreens and supports for vining crops. The system can monitor and adjust the nutrients and other features of the systems water profile to concurrently group multiple crops in differing developing stages.

Abstract: Embodiments include a control apparatus, a control method, and a control system that can effectively utilize an index regarding light incident on a measured object by obtaining the index effective for the measured object. The control apparatus can effectively utilize an effective index by controlling improvement of an environment that affects calculation of the effective index on the basis of the effective index representing an index that is related to light incident on a measured object and that is effectively utilized for the measured object. The measured object may be a plant.