Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of determining the feasibility of growing one or more crops by evaluating a plurality of risk factors associated with the growing and determining the feasibility of the growing based on the evaluation of the risk factors. In some embodiments, the methods of the present disclosure also include steps of tailoring the risk factors based on the determination of the feasibility of the growing and re-determining the feasibility of the growing by evaluation of the tailored risk factors. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure also include a step of implementing the growing based on the determination of the feasibility of the growing.

Abstract: A robotic coupling joint system and method are discussed herein, which may be utilized with a daylighting system or photovoltaic system to track sunlight. The system may provide a spherical joint allowing axial motion about two or more axes of the spherical joint. The joint comprises a first plate with four or more sockets, a second plate, a connector, and one or more spheres positioned between the first and second plates. The connector secures the sphere between the first and second plates. The system may also include a stand, an end effector coupled to the stand by the spherical joint, and a mobility system that is capable of actuating the end effector. The mobility system includes two or more linking elements coupled to the end effector, and a motor coupled to the linking elements to actuate the end effector to track sunlight.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to methods and systems for optimizing a property of a plant. In some embodiments, the methods of the present disclosure include: (1) receiving one or more growth-related parameters of the plant; (2) receiving one or more phenotype-related parameters of the plant; (3) receiving one or more qualitative parameters of the plant; (4) utilizing a computing unit to evaluate said one or more growth-related parameters, phenotype-related parameters and qualitative parameters of the plant; and (5) utilizing the computing unit to adjust the one or more of the growth-related parameters of the plant based on the evaluation. In some embodiments, the aforementioned steps are repeated a plurality of times. In some embodiments, the parameters are stored in a database and utilized by a machine-learning algorithm to optimize the evaluation of the parameters and adjustment of the growth-related parameters.

Abstract: A method for moving an end effector based on receipt of sunlight, the end effector divided into a first and second upper quadrant located above a Y-axis that corresponds to a solar azimuth and a first and second lower quadrant located below the Y-axis, the first upper and first lower quadrant located on a first side of an X-axis that corresponds to a solar angle and the second upper and second lower quadrant located on a second side of the X-axis, determining a vertical difference between an average of the illuminance received in first and second upper quadrants and an average of the illuminance received in first and second lower quadrants, determining a lateral difference between an average of the illuminance received in the first upper quadrant and the first lower quadrant and an average of the illuminance received in the second upper quadrant and the second lower quadrant, moving end effector along the X-axis in response to the vertical difference being greater than a vertical tolerance; and moving the end

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of determining the feasibility of growing one or more crops by evaluating a plurality of risk factors associated with the growing and determining the feasibility of the growing based on the evaluation of the risk factors. In some embodiments, the methods of the present disclosure also include steps of tailoring the risk factors based on the determination of the feasibility of the growing and re-determining the feasibility of the growing by evaluation of the tailored risk factors. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure also include a step of implementing the growing based on the determination of the feasibility of the growing.

Abstract: A robotic coupling joint system and method are discussed herein, which may be utilized with a daylighting system or photovoltaic system to track sunlight. The system may provide a spherical joint allowing axial motion about two or more axes of the spherical joint. The joint comprises a first plate with four or more sockets, a second plate, a connector, and one or more spheres positioned between the first and second plates. The connector secures the sphere between the first and second plates. The system may also include a stand, an end effector coupled to the stand by the spherical joint, and a mobility system that is capable of actuating the end effector. The mobility system includes two or more linking elements coupled to the end effector, and a motor coupled to the linking elements to actuate the end effector to track sunlight.