Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for digitally providing access to one or more articles is disclosed. The system includes one or more locking units to secure the articles in a locked state. A server generates or stores a digital key associated with the article or the locking unit. When the digital key is provided to a portable electronic device of a user, the digital key enables the portable electronic device to alter the locking unit between the locked state and the unlocked state without the user paying for the article or authorizing payment for the article. Upon a first event, the digital key is assigned to the user and provided to the portable electronic device of the user. The first event includes the user initiating a request for access to the article or the digital key, and verification that the user satisfies a predetermined condition.

Abstract: This disclosure sets forth systems and techniques that trace plant provenance and determine a likelihood of plant spoilage within a plant growth operation. Particularly, a plant health monitoring system may monitor and record plant growth data of one or more individual plants during a plant life cycle from germination through to harvest. The plant growth data may include data relating to environmental conditions that surround the individual plants, and plant-specific data drawn from time-lapse images captured during the plant life cycle. A plant grower may use the time-lapse image data to identify changes in plant structure that indicate the degree of health of an individual plant, or the encompassing batch of plants. Further, a plant grower may use the plant growth data to generate one or more financial instruments that may be distributed to one or more financial institutions as support for securing capital to fund the plant growth operation.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for digitally providing access to an article is disclosed. The system includes a locking unit to secure and article in a locked state and a server. The server generates a digital key associated with the article or the locking unit. When the digital key is provided to a portable electronic device of a user, the digital key enables the portable electronic device to alter the locking unit between the locked state and the unlocked state without the user paying for the article or authorizing payment for the article. Upon a first event, the digital key is assigned to the user and provided to the portable electronic device of the user. The first event includes the user initiating a request for access to the article or the digital key, and verification that the user satisfies a predetermined condition.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques that facilitate the sale and exchange of plant growth systems to consumer plant growers. Particularly, a script offering system may act as an intermediary medium that allows merchants to advertise plant growth scripts to consumer plant growers via an electronic marketplace. In some examples, the script offering system may allow merchants to advertise plant growth scripts to consumer plant growers that have expressed an interest or need for a particular plant growth script. In other examples, the script offering system may allow a consumer plant grower to solicit merchant bids for the sale of plant growth script. A consumer plant grower may solicit bids for plant growth scripts that address specific needs identified via key word inputs or sensor data attributable to an existing plant growth operation that exhibits less than optimal plant growth.

Abstract: This disclosure sets forth systems and techniques that trace plant provenance and determine a likelihood of plant spoilage within a plant growth operation. Particularly, a plant health monitoring system may monitor and record plant growth data of one or more individual plants during a plant life cycle from germination through to harvest. The plant growth data may include data relating to environmental conditions that surround the individual plants, and plant-specific data drawn from time-lapse images captured during the plant life cycle. A plant grower may use the time-lapse image data to identify changes in plant structure that indicate the degree of health of an individual plant, or the encompassing batch of plants. Further, a plant grower may use the plant growth data to generate one or more financial instruments that may be distributed to one or more financial institutions as support for securing capital to fund the plant growth operation.

Abstract: Lids for preserving materials in accordance with various embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment, a preservation lid for preserving materials stored within a container is provided, the preservation lid comprising: a top disk comprising a first face and a second face; a handle that is affixed to the second face of the top disk; a bottom disk that is affixed to the first face of the top disk, wherein the bottom disk comprises a skirt having a threshold force for deformation; wherein internal air escapes from the container when a pressure inside of the container exceeds the threshold force of the skirt.

Abstract: A retail security system that includes a locking system having locking assemblies that can be locked and unlocked directly by a consumer or clerk/employee using his or her mobile phone or other portable electronic device. Each of the locking assemblies may be configured to lock an article so that it cannot be freely accessed. The security system may include a sanitizing system that sanitizes the article after a consumer returns the article to the locking system without making a purchase. The security system may include a computer apparatus that allows an owner of the security system to access a software application that provides the owner with information/data about access to the locked articles.

Abstract: Disclosed are techniques for detecting and mitigating pest infestations within a grow operation. In some embodiments, such techniques comprise receiving, from a visual observer device, image data associated with a location within a grow operation. The image data is then used to determine at least one pest classification and a count associated with the pest classification. Distribution data is generated based on the at least one pest classification, count, and location. A level of risk can then be determined based on the distribution data. In some embodiments, if the level of risk is greater than a threshold level of risk, a recommendation may be generated based at least in part on the distribution data.

Abstract: A retail security system that includes a locking system having locking assemblies that can be locked and unlocked directly by a consumer or clerk/employee using his or her mobile phone or other portable electronic device. Each of the locking assemblies may be configured to lock an article so that it cannot be freely accessed. The security system may include a sanitizing system that sanitizes the article after a consumer returns the article to the locking system without making a purchase. The security system may include a computer apparatus that allows an owner of the security system to access a software application that provides the owner with information/data about access to the locked articles.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes techniques that facilitate a Governance Regulatory Compliance (C-GRC) controller that is configured to dynamically monitor and collate data associated with an agricultural operation for demonstrating compliance with an agricultural compliance plan. The C-GRC controller may act as a centralized server that dynamically monitors the cycle of agricultural activities for an agricultural product and in doing so, automates the governance of an agricultural compliance plan across a plurality of entities that are each responsible for one or more agricultural activities. The C-GRC controller may detect independent interactions conducted between a complying entity and a participating entity. These interactions may be intended to gather information relating to compliance of a pending task. In doing so, the C-GRC controller may update an agricultural compliance plan accordingly.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for a sensor carrier, and intelligent track infrastructure for the navigation and operation of the sensor carrier are described. The sensor carrier is an autonomous robot navigating a track. The carrier holds cameras and other sensors to receive horticultural images and telemetry for plants in a grow operation. The carrier reads embedded signals in the track including Radio Frequency Identifier (RFID) tags, embedded positioning magnets, and drilled hole patterns for a beam breaking system to determine navigation and operation. For tracks placed at sharp angles, a transfer station with wall guards to prevent the carrier from falling enable safe transfers from different track segments. Additional features include an emergency stop (e-stop) switch and power management for autonomous sensor carriers.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system for digitally providing access to an article is disclosed. The system includes a locking unit to secure and article in a locked state and a server. The server generates a digital key associated with the article or the locking unit. When the digital key is provided to a portable electronic device of a user, the digital key enables the portable electronic device to alter the locking unit between the locked state and the unlocked state without the user paying for the article or authorizing payment for the article. Upon a first event, the digital key is assigned to the user and provided to the portable electronic device of the user. The first event includes the user initiating a request for access to the article or the digital key, and verification that the user satisfies a predetermined condition.

Abstract: Disclosed are techniques for providing automated scouting of a grow operation in order to facilitate early detection and treatment of various conditions. Such techniques may comprise receiving sensor data from a number of sensors within a grow operation, determining current data values for a number of attributes to be associated with locations within the grow operation, identifying one or more regions within the grow operation potentially associated with a condition, providing instructions to at least one robotic device to perform a scouting operation of the one or more regions, and determining, based on information collected during the scouting operation, whether the condition is present in the one or more regions.

Abstract: A system and method for securely encrypting and booting a headless appliance. A method includes providing the headless appliance with content stored in a memory, wherein the content is encrypted with a key, and wherein the key is separately stored on a remote computing device; booting the headless appliance and loading a fallback configuration; in response to a user device connecting to the headless appliance, directing the user device to a captive portal and capturing credentials of a user; forwarding the credentials to the remote computing device for verification by an identity provider; in response to the credentials being verified as a non-administrator, granting access to a public network for the user; and in response to the credentials being verified as an administrator, obtaining the key from the remote computing device to decrypt the content to provide access to a private network for the user.

Abstract: Infrastructure and methods to implement a platform for a horticultural operation are disclosed. Sensor data is received from one or more sensors configured to capture data for plants within a plant growth operation. Accumulated data associated with other plants in other plant growth operations is access. The data is analyzed to determine conditions of the plants within the plant growth operation. Plant grower actions to improve plant growth are determined. Instructions are transmitted to a controller device associated with the plant growth operation. Agricultural products or services associated with the plant grower actions are determined. An agricultural exchange service processes electronic commerce information from servicers of the products or services. Bids from the servicers are received, and selection and fulfillment of the bids are facilitated.

Abstract: A retail security system that includes a locking system having locking assemblies that can be locked and unlocked directly by a consumer or clerk/employee using his or her mobile phone or other portable electronic device. Each of the locking assemblies may be configured to lock an article so that it cannot be freely accessed. The security system may include a sanitizing system that sanitizes the article after a consumer returns the article to the locking system without making a purchase. The security system may include a computer apparatus that allows an owner of the security system to access a software application that provides the owner with information/data about access to the locked articles.

Abstract: An augmented reality-based horticultural care tracking system to collect information about plants on a per plant or near per plant basis in order to identify issues and generate itineraries that include task lists for remedial courses of actions is disclosed. A network-enabled augmented reality device can be employed by operators of various growing operations in order to overlay digital information such as tasks, images, and related information in a real-time environment. The augmented reality device can communicate with administrative personnel at an operating station and/or intermediate servers in the network in order to send and receive status updates and notifications to properly execute the tasks in the itinerary and evaluate the courses of actions' efficacy.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system, method, and apparatus for managing a packaging article secured via a locking unit alterable between a locked state and an unlocked state. An indication that a user desires to handle the article may be received and an authorization of the user to handle the article may be performed. An actuator may cause the locking unit to alter from the locked state to the unlocked state, for example, based on the user being authorized to handle the article. Based on the user desiring to purchase the article, inventory information of the article may be updated by decreasing the number of articles in inventory by the article purchased. An account of the user may be charged a cost of the article. An indication may be provided to the user that the article has been purchased.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques that facilitate the sale and exchange of plant growth systems to consumer plant growers. Particularly, a script offering system may act as an intermediary medium that allows merchants to advertise plant growth scripts to consumer plant growers via an electronic marketplace. In some examples, the script offering system may allow merchants to advertise plant growth scripts to consumer plant growers that have expressed an interest or need for a particular plant growth script. In other examples, the script offering system may allow a consumer plant grower to solicit merchant bids for the sale of plant growth script. A consumer plant grower may solicit bids for plant growth scripts that address specific needs identified via key word inputs or sensor data attributable to an existing plant growth operation that exhibits less than optimal plant growth.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques that facilitate the sale and exchange of plant growth systems to consumer plant growers. Particularly, a script offering system may act as an intermediary medium that allows merchants to advertise plant growth scripts to consumer plant growers via an electronic marketplace. In some examples, the script offering system may allow merchants to advertise plant growth scripts to consumer plant growers that have expressed an interest or need for a particular plant growth script. In other examples, the script offering system may allow a consumer plant grower to solicit merchant bids for the sale of plant growth script. A consumer plant grower may solicit bids for plant growth scripts that address specific needs identified via key word inputs or sensor data attributable to an existing plant growth operation that exhibits less than optimal plant growth.