Abstract: Embodiments herein are directed to methods of heterotrophically culturing a. Embodiments herein are directed to methods, systems, and bioreactors for heterotrophically culturing Euglena sp. microorganism, a Schizochytrium sp. microorganism, or a Chlorella sp. microorganism comprising: culturing the microorganism in a culture media containing one or more carbon source, one or more nitrogen source, and one or more salt; maintaining a pH of between about 2.0 to about 4.0; maintaining a temperature of about 20° C. to about 30° C.; and maintaining an environment with substantially no light; wherein the culturing occurs in three cultivation stages.

Abstract: A method is presented. The method includes receiving a first user's travel information and identifying one or more second user's scheduled for a same travel vehicle as the first user. The one or more second user's may be identified based on the first user's travel information and the one or more second user's travel information. The method also includes providing an interface for the first user to communicate with the one or more second user's.

Abstract: A mobile platform structured and operable to perform: in-field phenotype and/or genotype data acquisition; image data acquisition; tissue sampling; selection and/or counting of plants growing in a plot; plant height measurement; product and treatment application to plants growing in the plot (e.g., prescriptive and localized insecticide products); sampling of soil where such plants are growing; removal of weeds in such plots; and real-time analysis of all such data and/or samples acquired/collected. Additionally, when combined with location positioning technology and path planning, such a vehicle is further structured and operable to re-enter a field numerous times throughout a season to accurately and repeatably monitor growing conditions, plant response or prescriptive application of a product.

Abstract: A system enables individual organizations of multiple different organizations to manage access of employees to a remotely located application hosted by an application service provider. The system includes a database and a command processor. The database contains data representing multiple user interface images and multiple executable procedures. The multiple user interface images are associated with corresponding multiple organizations. The multiple executable procedures are associated with corresponding multiple user interface images. An executable procedure supports a user of a particular organization in managing access of employees of the particular organization to an application hosted by an application service provider. The command processor employs the database for initiating execution of a particular executable procedure in response to a command initiated using a particular user interface image associated with the particular executable procedure and with the particular organization.

Abstract: A controller for a solar electric generator that permits the generator to produce power substantially at its maximum capacity while also providing efficient charging at three charging stages; i.e., bulk charging, acceptance charging and float charging. Power is transferred from the generator to a temporary electric storage device that is periodically partially drained of power to maintain the temporary electric storage device at a voltage corresponding to the voltage needed by the generator to provide maximum generator power. The electric power drained from the temporary storage device is used to charge conventional batteries. In a preferred embodiment, the temporary storage device is a capacitor that is part of a buck regulator operating at 50 kHz with duty factor control between 0% and 100%. This buck topology switching type regulator provides the periodic draining.

Abstract: A controller for a solar electric generator that permits the generator to produce power substantially at its maximum capacity. Power is transferred from the generator to a temporary electric storage device that is periodically partially drained of power to maintain the temporary electric storage device at a voltage corresponding to the voltage needed by the generator to provide maximum generator power. The electric power drained from the temporary storage device is used to charge conventional batteries. In a preferred embodiment, the temporary storage device is a capacitor that is part of a buck regulator operating at 50 kHz with duty factor control between 0% and 100%. This buck topology switching type regulator provides the periodic draining. In the preferred embodiment control of the duty factor of the buck regulator is utilized to limit current, to prevent battery over charging, to test for the voltage corresponding to maximum power, and to operate the solar generator at is maximum power voltage.

Abstract: The voltage between a work instrument and a workpiece varies with the distance between them. A microcoded controller is used to compare the voltage between the work instrument and the workpiece when the instrument moves relative to the workpiece, to generate a correction signal. The correction signal is the sum of a proportional term, a derivative term and an integral term. A servo means responds to the correction signal to correct the distance between the work instrument and the work piece so as to maintain the voltage between them at a set level. A battery-backed memory is used to store crucial parameters necessary for operating the automatic control system to prevent loss of the parameters from the controller memory caused by power interruptions. A stepper motor operating in either the full of half step mode may be used to move the work instrument away from or towards the work piece in response to the correction signal.

Abstract: The optical tracker of this invention is for tracking a boundary on an illuminated surface where the reflectivity of the surface changes at the boundary. In the preferred embodiment the optical tracker includes an optic foot which rides on the surface to be tracked. The optic foot comprises a housing with two channels for receiving a transmitter optical fiber and the receiver optical fiber. The two channels converge to form an opening in the housing which faces the surface to be tracked. Light supplied by the transmitter optical fiber illuminates the portion of the surface underneath the opening and the reflected light from such portion of the surface enters the receiver optical fiber which transmits the light to a detecting means for locating and tracking the boundary on the surface. In the preferred embodiment the receiver optical fiber is oriented substantially normal to the surface and the transmitter optical fiber substantially at 60 degrees thereto to reduce dynamic range.

Abstract: The optical tracker of this invention tracks a boundary on the surface where the light reflectivity of the surface changes at the boundary. The optical tracker includes a sensing means for sensing light reflected from an elongated portion of the surface defining a window. When the sensing means is moved over the surface it will receive consecutively light reflected from a sequence of windows that ir passes over and generates a set of electrical signals indicative of the intensity of light reflected from locations along the length of the window. A microprocessor control means derives from the signals provided by the sensing means secondary sets of signals useful for serving as a template and for finding the boundary when the window includes a selected portion of the boundary. The microprocessor control means can be activated to record a secondary set of signals as a template.