Abstract: An automated system for administering food to laboratory animals housed in aquatic tanks includes a plurality of individual feeding units that independently communicate with a common feed management hub. Each feeding unit includes a rack for holding a collection of aquatic tanks and a wireless robotic feeder configured to move in three dimensions relative to the rack. The robotic feeder precisely meters and delivers liquid and/or dry food to each rack-mounted tank in accordance with user-modifiable feed schedules which are maintained by the feed management hub. To compensate for any adjustments to the particular arrangement of tanks within a feeding unit, the robotic feeder periodically scans the rack for tanks and transmits the scan data back to the feed management hub. Accordingly, the feed management hub ensures that the proper type of food is accurately and timely delivered to each aquatic tank in compliance with the stored feed schedules.

Abstract: A vegetation attachment device, includes a foldable, bendable or rollable planar sheet of material with a center portion configured as a narrow band; edges of the planar sheet of material include one or more of a notch, a slot, a groove, and a recess; at least one of the recesses is positioned for placement of a supporting string, cable, or wire; and at least one of the recesses is positioned for affixing to a supporting structure, including one of a cage, a trellis, and a net.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a plant cradle including a main body including a first and second end. Some embodiments include a segmented main body and at least one portion pivotable with respect to another. In some embodiments, the plant cradle includes an outer surface extending from the first to the second end and which includes a ridge adjacent a first surface. The plant cradle also includes an aperture extending at least partially through the main body from the first end towards the second end. Further, in some embodiments, the plant cradle includes a hinge section coupled to the at least two portions. The hinge section is configured to enable at least two portions to be pivoted with respect to each other about the hinge section. In some embodiments, the main body can be a polymer, a foamed polymer, a polymer fiber, polymer mesh, polymer weave, or polymer mat.