Abstract: A vertical farming structure having vertical grow towers and associated conveyance mechanisms for moving the vertical grow towers through a controlled environment, while being exposed to controlled conditions, such as lighting, airflow, humidity and nutritional support. The present disclosure describes a reciprocating cam mechanism that provides a cost-efficient mechanism for conveying vertical grow towers in the controlled environment. The reciprocating cam mechanism can be arranged to increase the spacing of the grow towers as they are conveyed through the controlled environment to index the crops growing on the towers. The present disclosure also describes a tower shuttle mechanism that provides operational flexibility by decoupling the loading and unloading operations of the grow towers from the vertical farming structure and, therefore, allowing multiple grow towers to be extracted for harvesting in a batch process before loading new grow towers into the vertical farming structure in a separate process.

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-bearing modules for re-use. The controlled growth environment may include vertical farming structure having vertical grow towers and associated conveyance mechanisms for moving the vertical grow towers along one or more grow lines.

Abstract: A fall protection compliance system includes a connection structure configured for interfacing a connector comprising a frame and a connection sensor assembly. The connection structure includes a connection loop, a connection anchor, and a housing. The housing includes an identification element. The connection sensor assembly includes at least one short-range wireless communication antenna and a control device. The control device includes at least one processor which is configured to receive connection data from the short-range wireless communication antenna, determine a connection status of the connector based on the connection data and perform at least one action based on the connection status.

Abstract: A fall protection compliance system includes a connection structure configured for interfacing an anchor structure and a connection sensor associated with the connection structure. The connection sensor includes an accelerometer or a pressure switch, where the connection sensor is configured to monitor continued connection of the connection structure to the anchor structure over a period of time and to output a signal indicating said continued connection.

Abstract: Provided is a self-retracting device including a rotatable hub assembly. The rotatable hub assembly includes a first half and a second half. The first half includes a slot for an axle. The second half includes a retraction member and a slot for the axle. The self-retracting device also includes an axle with a body extending through the slot of the first half and the slot of the second half and a line. A first end of the line includes a loop, wherein the loop is between the first half and the second half and the axle body extends through an opening defined by the loop. The rotatable hub assembly is configured to retract the line when the rotatable hub assembly moves in the first rotational direction and pay out the line when the rotatable hub assembly moves in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction.

Abstract: A self-retracting device includes a housing assembly having a first housing cover removably connectable to a second housing cover. The self-retracting device further includes a rotatable hub received within an interior of the housing assembly and having a line associated therewith, and retraction member received within an interior of the housing assembly between the rotatable hub and the first housing cover. The self-retracting device further includes an axle having a first end fixedly but removably connected to the first housing cover, a body extending through the retraction member and the rotatable hub, and a second end in engagement with at least a portion of the rotatable hub.

Abstract: A safety helmet includes an outer shell configured for surrounding a head of a user, and an infrared reflective layer disposed in an interior of the outer shell. The infrared reflective layer is configured for reflecting at a least a portion of incident infrared radiation transmitted through the outer shell. The infrared reflective layer has infrared reflectivity of at least 40%. The safety helmet further may have an evaporative cooling pad positioned within a cavity defined by the inner surface of the outer shell. A method of manufacturing a safety helmet is also disclosed.