Abstract: A dosing station comprises a receiving area for receiving a module and a sampling system for acquiring water from the module, analyzing the water and determining a refill recipe based on one or more parameters of the water. The dosing station includes a nutrient dispenser arranged to dispense at least one nutrient into the module according to the refill recipe. The recipe can be based on the type of plants in the module, the age of the plant and/or the physical condition of the plants. The dosing station can change refill recipes for each module within an agricultural facility based on one or more parameters to optimize the nutrient supply for all plants within the agricultural facility.

Abstract: A propagation system for growing seeds to seedlings, the propagation system comprising: a holding tank configured to be coupled to a water supply; a first plurality of rack docks and a second plurality of rack docks; a central wall disposed between and separating the first plurality of rack docks from the second plurality of rack docks, the central wall comprising water supply infrastructure configured to deliver nutriated water from the holding tank to the first and second plurality of rack docks and water return infrastructure configured to return nutriated water from the first and second plurality of rack docks to the holding tank; one or more pumps operatively coupled to pump nutriated water through the water supply infrastructure and through the water return infrastructure; wherein each rack dock in the first plurality of rack docks and each rack dock in the second plurality of rack docks defines a set of propagation tray locations, each propagation tray location in each set of propagation tray locations

Abstract: One variation of a method for automating transfer of plants within an agricultural facility includes: dispatching a loader to autonomously deliver a first module—defining a first array of plant slots at a first density and loaded with a first set of plants at a first growth stage—from a first grow location within an agricultural facility to a transfer station within the agricultural facility; dispatching the loader to autonomously deliver a second module—defining a second array of plant slots at a second density less than the first density and empty of plants—to the transfer station; recording a module-level optical scan of the first module; extracting a viability parameter of the first set of plants from features detected in the module-level optical scan; and if the viability parameter falls outside of a target viability range, rejecting transfer of the first set of plants from the first module.

Abstract: A multistage thermal desalination system, together with its associated method of use, allows de-scaling of subsystems exposed to saturated saltwater by alternating the saturation stage of the process between two neighboring physical desalination stages. The desalination system is provided with at least one transfer conduit, at least one pump, and valving to permit saltwaters being desalinated by higher and lower stage desalination subsystems to be swapped. By replacing the saturated saltwater in a higher salt concentration desalination subsystem with lower salt concentration saltwater, the scaling in higher salt concentration desalination subsystem is reduced while the saturation load is placed on another of the desalination subsystems.

Abstract: A multistage thermal desalination system, together with its associated method of use, allows de-scaling of subsystems exposed to saturated saltwater by alternating the saturation stage of the process between two neighboring physical desalination stages. The desalination system is provided with at least one transfer conduit, at least one pump, and valving to permit saltwaters being desalinated by higher and lower stage desalination subsystems to be swapped. By replacing the saturated saltwater in a higher salt concentration desalination subsystem with lower salt concentration saltwater, the scaling in higher salt concentration desalination subsystem is reduced while the saturation load is placed on another of the desalination subsystems.

Abstract: A saw grinding apparatus comprises a saw blade mount for mounting a saw blade thereto; a tool rack comprising multiple tool bays each for storing a grinding tool; and at least one computer numerically controlled (CNC) multiple axes grind wheel manipulator which uses each grinding tool to perform a saw grinding operation. The manipulator includes a spindle connectable to a grinding tool and is movable to a grinding position wherein a grinding operation can be performed on a saw blade mounted to the saw blade mount. The manipulator is also movable to a tool change position wherein the spindle can engage a grinding tool stored in a tool bay and can deposit a grinding tool in an empty tool bay.

Abstract: A saw grinding apparatus comprises a saw blade mount for mounting a saw blade thereto; a tool rack comprising multiple tool bays each for storing a grinding tool; and at least one computer numerically controlled (CNC) multiple axes grind wheel manipulator which uses each grinding tool to perform a saw grinding operation. The manipulator includes a spindle connectable to a grinding tool and is movable to a grinding position wherein a grinding operation can be performed on a saw blade mounted to the saw blade mount. The manipulator is also movable to a tool change position wherein the spindle can engage a grinding tool stored in a tool bay and can deposit a grinding tool in an empty tool bay.