Abstract: A cyclone separation system (1K) for separating live insects carried by an air stream, comprising a main cyclone chamber (2K) having a top chamber part (3K) and a conical shaped bottom chamber part (4K). The top chamber part (3K) is connected to one or more intake channels (5K) each of which is arranged for connection to a primary air source providing an air stream (AK) comprising live insects. The bottom chamber part (4K) is connected to a discharge nozzle (6K) comprising a discharge end (7K) having a main discharge conduit (8K) for discharging the live insects from the cyclone separation system (1K), wherein the discharge end (7K) comprises an air injection member (10K) for connection to a secondary air source and wherein the air injection member (10K) is configured to inject air back into the discharge nozzle (6K).

Abstract: A fan for providing thrust including at least one blade, a hub adapted to carry the at least one blade, a hub motor adapted to rotate the hub 360 degrees about a first axis extending perpendicular to the at least one blade, a first mount adapted to carry the hub, and a first mount motor adapted to rotate the hub 360 degrees about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis and extending through the first mount first and second side securing points. The first mount may include a first mount first side securing point adapted to pivotally carry the hub, and a first mount second side securing point adapted to pivotally carry the hub.

Abstract: A propeller system including a propeller including a central attachment member and a plurality of blade apparatuses, each including a blade body attached to the central attachment member and a magnetic coupling member attached to a radially outward end of the blade body. The propeller system further comprises a propeller frame configured to at least partially circumscribe the magnetic coupling member of each blade apparatus and a plurality of electromagnets positioned on the propeller frame and operable to generate magnetic fields to suspend the magnetic coupling members, laterally translate the magnetic coupling members, rotate the magnetic coupling members along the radial axis of the propeller system, thereby rotating the blade bodies.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for use in large-scale industrial insect farming. More in particular, the invention relates to a live insects transport device for transporting live insects from a first location to a predetermined second location, the live insects transport device comprising a fluid guiding unit, a fluid discharge member and a feeder arrangement, wherein the live insects transport device is configured to receive live insects such as freshly hatched neonate larvae, for example of black soldier fly, wherein the live insects are taken up in a laminar flow of fluid and while in said fluid are transported to a predetermined location in the live insects transport device. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of the device in industrial insect farming, such as large-scale farming of black soldier flies, and the invention relates to a method of dosing live insects, wherein preferably live insects are doses which are essentially of the same age, such as freshly hatched neonate larvae.

Abstract: Disclosed are image based counting systems and methods. Image based counting systems and methods employ one or more imaging devices (e.g., one or more color cameras) and one or more illumination devices (e.g., one or more illumination sources to provide variable and/or dynamic lighting). In some examples, the image based counting system provides illumination to a tray upon which one or more items (e.g., pills) are placed. The illuminated items are then imaged by the one or more imaging devices based on one or more imaging techniques or processes to determine and/or present information associated with one or more properties of the item.

Abstract: The invention relates to a climate control device for controlling the temperature and humidity of air supplied to colonies of insects cultured in an industrial scale insect farm. In particular, the invention relates to a controllable air conditioning system involving a network of pipes connecting at least one cluster having at least one insect farming cage, such that air is conditionable in the cages at the cluster level. More specifically, the invention relates to a system having a central main air conditioning facility providing temperature conditioned air and absolute air humidity conditioned air to each of a number of local air conditioning devices, each separate local air conditioning device providing temperature conditioned air and absolute air humidity conditioned air to each of a plethora of clusters of insect breeding cages separately, said cages housed in a temperature conditioned farming room.

Abstract: One or more switchable magnetic systems is located near a battery attachment surface of an electric vehicle, where the battery attachment surface is configured to accept and electronically connect to a battery pack. The electric vehicle also includes a control system that operates the one or more switchable magnetic system switching from a first to a second state. In the first state the magnetic field of the switchable magnetic system secures the battery pack to the battery attachment surface so that the battery pack is electronically coupled to an electric motor of the electric vehicle. When the control system receives a message corresponding to removal of the battery pack, the control system switches the switchable magnetic system to the second state such that the battery pack is removable from the battery attachment surface.

Abstract: A propeller system with directional thrust control comprising a hub, a plurality of blade attachment apparatuses attached to the hub, and a plurality of blades, each blade of the plurality of blades being attached to a blade attachment apparatus of the plurality of blade attachment apparatuses. The hub is operable to rotate about a rotation axis thereof. The plurality of blades is attached to the hub via the plurality of blade attachment apparatuses such that the plurality of blades rotates about the rotation axis of the hub when the hub rotates about the rotation axis thereof. Each blade attachment apparatus of the plurality of blade attachment apparatuses is operable to rotate the blade attached thereto about a blade rotation axis.

Abstract: A propeller system including a propeller including a central attachment member and a plurality of blade apparatuses, each including a blade body attached to the central attachment member and a magnetic coupling member attached to a radially outward end of the blade body. The propeller system further comprises a propeller frame configured to at least partially circumscribe the magnetic coupling member of each blade apparatus and a plurality of electromagnets positioned on the propeller frame and operable to generate magnetic fields to suspend the magnetic coupling members, laterally translate the magnetic coupling members, rotate the magnetic coupling members along the radial axis of the propeller system, thereby rotating the blade bodies.

Abstract: A sensor system includes a body, which includes an outer wall defining an inner opening centered about an axis, and radiating structures disposed in the opening and extending radially from the axis to the outer wall. The radiating structures are spaced circumferentially around the axis by a substantially equal angle. The system includes sensors that generate signals in response to deformations of the radiating structures. The signals provide vectors corresponding to the deformations. The deformations are caused by: (i) a torque about the axis, and (ii) a secondary torque or force. The system includes a controller electrically coupled to the sensors and configured to determine, by combining the vectors provided by the signals, a measurement of the torque about the axis. The sensors are arranged on the radiating structures such that combining the vectors substantially eliminates any effect of the secondary torque or force from the measurement.

Abstract: A fan for providing thrust including at least one blade, a hub adapted to carry the at least one blade, a hub motor adapted to rotate the hub 360 degrees about a first axis extending perpendicular to the at least one blade, a first mount adapted to carry the hub, and a first mount motor adapted to rotate the hub 360 degrees about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis and extending through the first mount first and second side securing points. The first mount may include a first mount first side securing point adapted to pivotally carry the hub, and a first mount second side securing point adapted to pivotally carry the hub.

Abstract: A propeller system with directional thrust control comprising a hub, a plurality of blade attachment apparatuses attached to the hub, and a plurality of blades, each blade of the plurality of blades being attached to a blade attachment apparatus of the plurality of blade attachment apparatuses. The hub is operable to rotate about a rotation axis thereof. The plurality of blades is attached to the hub via the plurality of blade attachment apparatuses such that the plurality of blades rotates about the rotation axis of the hub when the hub rotates about the rotation axis thereof. Each blade attachment apparatus of the plurality of blade attachment apparatuses is operable to rotate the blade attached thereto about a blade rotation axis.

Abstract: A magnetic end effector utilizing a switchable Halbach array includes a pair of opposing members that can move towards and away from each other. The switchable Halbach arrays are located on or near the inner surface of the opposing members. A mechanical switching system is used to control the switchable Halbach arrays by moving one or more magnets that make up the switchable Halbach arrays. When manipulated in a certain way, the switchable Halbach arrays cause the opposing members to move towards each other, and when manipulate in a different manner, cause the opposing members to move away from each other.

Abstract: A luminaire comprising a heat sink, a light source and a light guide. The light source is carried by the heat sink and configured to emit a source light. The light source includes a heat spreader having an inner surface and an outer surface, and a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) carried by a circuit board and disposed generally along an outer peripheral perimeter portion of the inner surface of the heat spreader, and positioned in thermal communication with the heat spreader. The light guide includes a lens with a plurality of optical elements disposed within the lens.

Abstract: A magnetic end effector utilizing a switchable Halbach array includes a pair of opposing members that can move towards and away from each other. The switchable Halbach arrays are located on or near the inner surface of the opposing members. A mechanical switching system is used to control the switchable Halbach arrays by moving one or more magnets that make up the switchable Halbach arrays. When manipulated in a certain way, the switchable Halbach arrays cause the opposing members to move towards each other, and when manipulate in a different manner, cause the opposing members to move away from each other.

Abstract: A magnetic end effector utilizing a switchable Halbach array includes a pair of opposing members that can move towards and away from each other. The switchable Halbach arrays are located on or near the inner surface of the opposing members. A mechanical switching system is used to control the switchable Halbach arrays by moving one or more magnets that make up the switchable Halbach arrays. When manipulated in a certain way, the switchable Halbach arrays cause the opposing members to move towards each other, and when manipulate in a different manner, cause the opposing members to move away from each other.

Abstract: A luminaire includes a housing and a light source carried by the housing. The housing may include a first and second set of light emitting elements and a lens assembly. The lens assembly may include a lens with a first refraction section having a surface smoothness within a first range, and a second refraction section having a surface smoothness within a second range. The lens assembly may include a plurality of light source receiving members with each light source receiving member comprising a ridge. The first and second set of light emitting elements may be configured to emit light at a first and second beam angle. The light emitted by the first set and second set of light emitting elements may form a combined light with a center beam and gradient wherein the center beam has a greater candle power than the gradient.

Abstract: Example implementations may relate to a rotary transformer configured to transmit data. In some implementations, the rotary transformer may include a primary transformer component with a primary winding magnetically coupled to a secondary transformer component with a secondary winding. The rotary transformer may also include a resonant circuit including a frequency determining element and an amplifier. The frequency determining element may consist of the primary and secondary windings connected in parallel to respective capacitors. The primary transformer component may be coupled to a fixed-frequency signal generator. The rotary transformer may include a modulator coupled to the secondary transformer component and configured to vary the phase of the resonant circuit to generate an output signal and a demodulator coupled to the primary transformer component and configured to demodulate the output signal.

Abstract: A luminaire including a housing and a light source carried by the housing. The housing may include a first and second set of light emitting elements and a lens assembly. The lens assembly may include a lens with a first refraction section having a surface smoothness within a first range, and a second refraction section having a surface smoothness within a second range. The lens assembly may include conical frustum light source receiving members located between the light source and the lens. The first and second set of light emitting elements is configured to emit light at a first and second beam angle. The light emitted by the first set and second set of light emitting elements form a combined light with a center beam and gradient wherein the center beam has a greater candle power than the gradient.

Abstract: A device to detect occupancy of an environment includes a sensor to capture video frames from a location in the environment. The device may compare rules with data using a rules engine. The microcontroller may include a processor and memory to produce results indicative of a condition of the environment. The device may also include an interface through which the data is accessible. The device may generate results respective to the location in the environment. The microcontroller may be in communication with a network. The video frames may be concatenated to create an overview to display the video frames substantially seamlessly respective to the location in which the sensor is positioned. The overview may be viewable using the interface and the results of the analysis performed by the rules engine may be accessible using the interface.