Patents by Inventor Michael Stephen Hurst

Michael Stephen Hurst has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20220053712
    Abstract: A controller for an air supplier of an assembly line grow pod is provided. The controller identifies a plant on one or more carts; determines an airflow rate based on an airflow recipe for the identified plant; controls an air supplier to output air through one or more outlet vents at the airflow rate; obtains an image of the plant; identifies a type of contaminants deposited directly on the plant based on the obtained image; and adjusts a power of the air output from the air supplier to remove the contaminants from the plant by the air based on the identified type of contaminants deposited directly on the plant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Applicant: Grow Solutions Tech LLC
    Inventors: Gary Bret Millar, Mark Gerald Stott, Todd Garrett Tueller, Michael Stephen Hurst, Alan Ray Bentley, Taylor John Woodbury
  • Publication number: 20220015305
    Abstract: An assembly line grow pod includes a seeding region, a harvesting region, a track that extends between the seeding region and the harvesting region, a cart including a tray for holding plant matter, and a wheel coupled to the tray, where the wheel is engaged with the track, and a weight sensor positioned on the cart or the track, where the weight sensor is positioned to detect a weight of the plant matter positioned within the cart.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: Gary Bret Millar, Michael Stephen Hurst, Taylor John Woodbury
  • Patent number: 11206768
    Abstract: A cart having a wheel and a cart-computing device communicatively coupled to the wheel, where the cart-computing device receives an electrical signal via the wheel. The electrical signal comprises a communication signal and electrical power. The communication signal corresponds to one or more instructions for controlling an operation of the cart and the electrical power of the electrical signal powers the cart-computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Grow Solutions Tech LLC
    Inventors: Gary Bret Millar, Mark Gerald Stott, Todd Garrett Tueller, Michael Stephen Hurst, Alan Ray Bentley, Taylor John Woodbury, Shane York
  • Patent number: 11191224
    Abstract: An air flow control system for an assembly line grow pod is provided. The air flow control system includes a shell including an enclosed area, one or more carts moving on a track within the enclosed area, an air supplier within the enclosed area, one or more outlet vents coupled to the air supplier, and a controller. The controller includes one or more processors, one or more memory modules, and machine readable instructions stored in the one or more memory modules that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the controller to identify a plant on the one or more carts, determine an airflow rate based on an airflow recipe for the identified plant, and control the air supplier to output air through the one or more outlet vents at the airflow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: GROW SOLUTIONS TECH LLC
    Inventors: Gary Bret Millar, Mark Gerald Stott, Todd Garrett Tueller, Michael Stephen Hurst, Alan Ray Bentley, Taylor John Woodbury
  • Patent number: 11172622
    Abstract: A distributed control system for use in an assembly line grow pod includes a master controller and a hardware controller device. The master controller includes a first processor and a first memory for storing a first set of instructions that dictates plant growing operations and a second set of instructions that dictates a plurality of distributed control functions. The hardware controller device is coupled to the master controller via a plug-in network interface. The hardware controller device includes a second processor and a second memory for storing a third set of instructions that dictate a selected control function of the plurality of distributed control functions. Upon the plug-in connection, the master controller identifies an address of the hardware controller device and sends a set of parameters defining a plurality of tasks relating to the selected control function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Grow Solutions Tech LLC
    Inventors: Gary Bret Millar, Mark Gerald Stott, Michael Stephen Hurst, Kevin Hurst
  • Patent number: 11154016
    Abstract: An assembly line grow pod includes a seeding region, a harvesting region, a track that extends between the seeding region and the harvesting region, a cart including a tray for holding plant matter, and a wheel coupled to the tray, where the wheel is engaged with the track, and a weight sensor positioned on the cart or the track, where the weight sensor is positioned to detect a weight of the plant matter positioned within the cart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Grow Solutions Tech LLC
    Inventors: Gary Bret Millar, Michael Stephen Hurst, Taylor John Woodbury
  • Patent number: 11116155
    Abstract: A system bypasses harvesting in an assembly line grow pod when it is determined that a plant in a cart is not ready to harvest. The system includes a track, a cart configured to move on the track, one or more sensors and a controller. The cart includes an upper plate that supports a plant. The controller receives information about the plant from the one or more sensors, determines whether the plant in the cart is ready to harvest based on the information; and transmits an instruction for bypassing harvesting the plant in the cart in response to determination that the plant in the cart is not ready to harvest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: GROW SOLUTIONS TECH LLC
    Inventors: Gary Bret Millar, Mark Gerald Stott, Michael Stephen Hurst, Taylor John Woodbury
  • Patent number: 11026373
    Abstract: A method for pressurizing an assembly line grow pod system is provided. The method includes arranging a dual wall including an outer wall and an inner wall, controlling, with an air pressure controller, first air pressure in the first sealed area and second air pressure in the second sealed area, and controlling, with a master controller, operations of the air pressure controller. The first air pressure of the first sealed area is controlled to be higher than pressure of an exterior area to the outer wall by a predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Grow Solutions Tech LLC
    Inventors: Gary Bret Millar, Mark Gerald Stott, Michael Stephen Hurst
  • Patent number: 11019773
    Abstract: A molecular air control system includes a shell including an enclosed area, a cart moving on a track within the enclosed area, an air supplier configured to output air into the enclosed area, and a controller. The controller includes one or more processors, one or more memory modules, and machine readable instructions stored in the one or more memory modules that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the controller to: identify a plant on the cart; determine a target carbon dioxide concentration level for the identified plant based on a molecular recipe for the identified plant; receive a current carbon dioxide concentration level from a carbon dioxide sensor; compare the target carbon dioxide concentration level with the current carbon dioxide concentration level; and adjust carbon dioxide concentration level of the air output from the air supplier based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: GROW SOLUTIONS TECH LLC
    Inventors: Gary Bret Millar, Mark Gerald Stott, Todd Garrett Tueller, Michael Stephen Hurst, Alan Ray Bentley, Taylor John Woodbury
  • Patent number: 10999973
    Abstract: A harvesting system is provided. The harvesting system includes a track, a cart configured to move along the track, the cart including an upper plate configured to support a plant, one or more sensors, a lifter, and a controller. The controller includes one or more processors, one or more memory modules, and machine readable instructions stored in the one or more memory modules that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the controller to: receive information from the one or more sensors, determine whether the plant in the cart is ready to harvest based on the information, and send to the lifter an instruction for tilting the upper plate by a degree in response to determination that the plant in the cart is ready to harvest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: GROW SOLUTIONS TECH LLC
    Inventors: Gary Bret Millar, Mark Gerald Stott, Michael Stephen Hurst, Taylor John Woodbury, Alan Ray Bentley
  • Patent number: 10986788
    Abstract: A control system includes a shell including an enclosed area, one or more carts moving on a track within the enclosed area, an air supplier within the enclosed area, one or more vents connected to the air supplier and configured to output air within the enclosed area, and a controller. The controller is configured to: identify a plant on the one or more carts; determine a humidity recipe for the identified plant; control the air output from the one or more vents based on the humidity recipe for the identified plant; receive an image of the plant the in one or more carts captured by the imaging sensor; and update the humidity recipe for the plant based on the captured image of the plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: GROW SOLUTIONS TECH LLC
    Inventors: Gary Bret Millar, Mark Gerald Stott, Todd Garrett Tueller, Michael Stephen Hurst, Alan Ray Bentley, Taylor John Woodbury
  • Patent number: 10918031
    Abstract: An assembly line grow system for measuring growth of a plant, includes a rail system, carts moving along the rail system and carrying plants, seeds, or both, weight sensors, a proximity sensor, a camera and a master controller. The master controller is communicatively coupled to the carts, the weight sensors, the proximity sensor, and the camera. The master controller is operable to receive information from the weight sensors, the proximity sensor, and the camera, determine a growth state of a selected plant based on the information indicative of weight, color, height, or a combination thereof, and control a dosage supply component to provide a modified dosage based on the growth state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Grow Solutions Tech LLC
    Inventors: Gary Bret Millar, Michael Stephen Hurst
  • Patent number: 10913622
    Abstract: A track system for a cart includes a plurality of curved modular track sections for the cart. Each of the plurality of curved modular track sections includes one or more rails configured to engage with the cart on the track, and one or more reservoir sections configured to receive liquid from the cart. Each of the plurality of curved modular track is tilted relative to ground by a predetermined angle such that the one or more reservoir sections are configured to direct the liquid to a predetermined area. Each of the plurality of curved modular track sections includes a gear system configured to engage with a gear of the cart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: GROW SOLUTIONS TECH LLC
    Inventors: Mark Gerald Stott, Gary Bret Millar, Todd Garrett Tueller, Michael Stephen Hurst, Alan Ray Bentley, Taylor John Woodbury
  • Patent number: 10836587
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to systems and methods for emptying and/or cleaning a tray within an assembly line grow pod. In one embodiment, a sanitizer component for cleaning a tray coupled to a cart in an assembly line grow pod is disclosed. The sanitizer component is coupled to a track such that the cart and the tray are received in the sanitizer component via the track. The sanitizer component comprises a first actuator arm positioned underneath the track and extendable through an opening in the track and an aperture at a bottom end of the cart to contact the tray such that the tray rotates in a first direction. The sanitizer component further includes an actuator motor coupled to the first actuator arm for extending the first actuator arm and a controller. The controller is communicatively connected to the actuator motor in the sanitizer component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: GROW SOLUTIONS TECH LLC
    Inventors: Gary Bret Millar, Mark Gerald Stott, Todd Garrett Tueller, Michael Stephen Hurst, Alan Ray Bentley, Taylor John Woodbury
  • Publication number: 20200170195
    Abstract: A cart having a wheel and a cart-computing device communicatively coupled to the wheel, where the cart-computing device receives an electrical signal via the wheel. The electrical signal comprises a communication signal and electrical power. The communication signal corresponds to one or more instructions for controlling an operation of the cart and the electrical power of the electrical signal powers the cart-computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Applicant: Grow Solutions Tech LLC
    Inventors: Gary Bret Millar, Mark Gerald Stott, Todd Garrett Tueller, Michael Stephen Hurst, Alan Ray Bentley, Taylor John Woodbury, Shane York
  • Publication number: 20200154647
    Abstract: A control system includes a shell including an enclosed area, one or more carts moving on a track within the enclosed area, an air supplier within the enclosed area, one or more vents connected to the air supplier and configured to output air within the enclosed area, and a controller. The controller is configured to: identify a plant on the one or more carts; determine a humidity recipe for the identified plant; control the air output from the one or more vents based on the humidity recipe for the identified plant; receive an image of the plant the in one or more carts captured by the imaging sensor; and update the humidity recipe for the plant based on the captured image of the plant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Applicant: Grow Solutions Tech LLC
    Inventors: Gary Bret Millar, Mark Gerald Stott, Todd Garrett Tueller, Michael Stephen Hurst, Alan Ray Bentley, Taylor John Woodbury
  • Patent number: 10602676
    Abstract: A cart having a wheel, a drive motor coupled to the wheel such that an output of the drive motor causes the wheel to rotate and propel the cart, a cart-computing device communicatively coupled to the drive motor; and one or more sensors communicatively coupled to the cart-computing device, the one or more sensors generating one or more signals in response to a detected event. The cart-computing device receives a communication signal and electrical power via the wheel. The communication signal corresponds to one or more instructions for controlling an operation of the cart. The cart-computing device receives the one or more signals from the one or more sensors. The cart-computing device generates and transmits a control signal to the drive motor to cause the drive motor to operate based on at least one of the one or more signals generated by the one or more sensors or the communication signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: GROW SOLUTIONS TECH LLC
    Inventors: Gary Bret Millar, Mark Gerald Stott, Todd Garrett Tueller, Michael Stephen Hurst, Alan Ray Bentley, Taylor John Woodbury, Shane York
  • Patent number: 10568275
    Abstract: A temperature control system includes a shell including an enclosed area, one or more carts moving on a track within the enclosed area, an air supplier within the enclosed area, one or more vents connected to the air supplier and configured to output air within the enclosed area, and a controller. The controller includes one or more processors, one or more memory modules, and machine readable instructions stored in the one or more memory modules that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the controller to: identify a plant on the one or more carts, determine a temperature recipe for the identified plant, and control a temperature of the air output from the one or more vents based on the temperature recipe for the identified plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: GROW SOLUTIONS TECH LLC
    Inventors: Gary Bret Millar, Mark Gerald Stott, Todd Garrett Tueller, Michael Stephen Hurst, Alan Ray Bentley, Taylor John Woodbury
  • Publication number: 20200039755
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to systems and methods for emptying and/or cleaning a tray within in an assembly line grow pod. In one embodiment, a sanitizer component for cleaning a tray coupled to a cart in an assembly line grow pod is disclosed. The sanitizer component is coupled to a track such that the cart and the tray are received in the sanitizer component via the track. The sanitizer component comprises a first actuator arm positioned underneath the track and extendable through an opening in the track and an aperture at a bottom end of the cart to contact the tray such that the tray rotates in a first direction. The sanitizer component further includes an actuator motor coupled to the first actuator arm for extending the first actuator arm and a controller. The controller is communicatively connected to the actuator motor in the sanitizer component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Gary Bret Millar, Mark Gerald Stott, Todd Garrett Tueller, Michael Stephen Hurst, Alan Ray Bentley, Taylor John Woodbury
  • Patent number: D909908
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: GROW SOLUTIONS TECH LLC
    Inventors: Gary Bret Millar, Mark Gerald Stott, Todd Garrett Tueller, Michael Stephen Hurst, Alan Ray Bentley, Taylor John Woodbury, Shane York