Abstract: An animal house climate control system uses a method for operating a baffle of an air inlet of an animal house with a motor using timed inlet control. The method includes performing a calibration sequence to calculate opening velocity and opening inertia values and closing velocity and closing inertia values. The method also includes moving the baffle from an initial position to a final position by calculating a calculated power on time for the motor using the opening inertia or closing inertia values. The method can also include calculating a real position error value by comparing the calculated on time for the motor and a measured on time for the motor and using the real position error value to calculate adjusted opening and closing velocity values.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system comprising plural equipment, each of the plural equipment having a different functionality; a controller; and a switch comprising plural states, the switch operably coupling the plural equipment to the controller, wherein the switch, when configured in a first state, enables the controller to control operations of the plural equipment using first control logic, and wherein the switch, when configured in a second state, enables the controller to control operations of one or more equipment of the plural equipment using second control logic that bypasses the first control logic.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method executed by a computing system, comprising: receiving pixel samples from three-dimensional (3D) data corresponding to one or more images comprising one or more animals; fitting curves for the received pixel samples; deriving parameters from the curves; determining measurements based on variations in the parameters; and estimating a weight of the one or more animals by applying one or more regression algorithms to the measurements.

Abstract: A climate control system (20) for an animal house (10) is configured by determining a minimum ventilation curve for required minimum ventilation. A plurality of ventilation stages is created based on the minimum ventilation curve and the plurality of ventilation fans (23) in the climate control system, each stage providing a percentage of the required minimum ventilation. Creating the stages includes prioritizing the ventilation fans to create a selection hierarchy and determining a minimum stage ventilation and a maximum stage ventilation for each stage. Ventilation fans are selected following the hierarchy that provides the desired percentage of the minimum required ventilation. An increment between a maximum stage ventilation and a minimum stage ventilation for the next higher stage is defined, wherein the minimum capacity level is a function of the minimum capacity of the group of fans added to the next higher stage and the maximum capacity for the next higher stage is determined based on the increment.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method executed by a computing system, comprising: receiving pixel samples from three-dimensional (3D) data corresponding to one or more images comprising one or more animals; fitting curves for the received pixel samples; deriving parameters from the curves; determining measurements based on variations in the parameters; and estimating a weight of the one or more animals by applying one or more regression algorithms to the measurements.

Abstract: A climate control system is operated by receiving climate information from climate control input devices at one or more plugin modules. The climate information is communicated from the plugin modules to a main control unit, which determines operating instructions for climate output devices and air inlets. When it is detected that the main control unit is not operational, the control system switches to a standby control unit if so equipped. The climate information is then communicated from the plugin modules to the standby control unit. The standby control unit determines operating instructions for the climate output devices and air inlets based on the climate information. When it is detected that the standby control unit is also not operational, the plugin modules switch to an autonomous mode such that operating instructions for the climate output devices and air inlets are determined by the plugin modules.

Abstract: A method for performing a learning cycle to determine a Start Temperature and a Stop Temperature for a PI loop algorithm is used for operating a climate control system (20) in an animal house (10). The climate control system has at least one climate control input device (21) and at least one heater device (23) and a climate control module (27) that receives input information from the at least one input device and controls the operation of the at least one heater device to regulate the climate in the animal house.

Abstract: A climate control system for an animal house is operated by determining a minimum ventilation curve for required minimum ventilation. A plurality of ventilation stages is created based on the minimum ventilation curve and the plurality of ventilation fans in the climate control system, each stage providing a percentage of the required minimum ventilation. Creating the stages includes prioritizing the ventilation fans to create a selection hierarchy and determining a minimum stage ventilation and a maximum stage ventilation for each stage. Ventilation fans are selected following the hierarchy that provides the desired percentage of the minimum required ventilation. The system advances from a lower stage a higher stage based on ventilation requirements. When it is determined that a fan is not operating, the system returns to the lower stage to substitute ventilation fans.

Abstract: A climate control system (20) for an animal house (10) is configured by determining a minimum ventilation curve for required minimum ventilation. A plurality of ventilation stages is created based on the minimum ventilation curve and the plurality of ventilation fans (23) in the climate control system, each stage providing a percentage of the required minimum ventilation. Creating the stages includes prioritizing the ventilation fans to create a selection hierarchy and determining a minimum stage ventilation and a maximum stage ventilation for each stage. Ventilation fans are selected following the hierarchy that provides the desired percentage of the minimum required ventilation. An increment between a maximum stage ventilation and a minimum stage ventilation for the next higher stage is defined, wherein the minimum capacity level is a function of the minimum capacity of the group of fans added to the next higher stage and the maximum capacity for the next higher stage is determined based on the increment.

Abstract: An animal house climate control system uses a method for operating a baffle of an air inlet of an animal house with a motor using timed inlet control. The method includes performing a calibration sequence to calculate opening velocity and opening inertia values and closing velocity and closing inertia values. The method also includes moving the baffle from an initial position to a final position by calculating a calculated power on time for the motor using the opening inertia or closing inertia values. The method can also include calculating a real position error value by comparing the calculated on time for the motor and a measured on time for the motor and using the real position error value to calculate adjusted opening and closing velocity values.

Abstract: A climate control system is operated by receiving climate information from climate control input devices at one or more plugin modules. The climate information is communicated from the plugin modules to a main control unit, which determines operating instructions for climate output devices and air inlets. When it is detected that the main control unit is not operational, the control system switches to a standby control unit if so equipped. The climate information is then communicated from the plugin modules to the standby control unit. The standby control unit determines operating instructions for the climate output devices and air inlets based on the climate information. When it is detected that the standby control unit is also not operational, the plugin modules switch to an autonomous mode such that operating instructions for the climate output devices and air inlets are determined by the plugin modules.

Abstract: A climate control system for an animal house having a plurality of climate control outputs such as heaters or ventilation fans has a control unit that regulates operation of climate control outputs. The control unit has a plurality of input terminals and a plurality of sensing devices, each of the plurality of sensing devices located in a different portion of the animal house and connected to one of the plurality of input terminals of the control unit with a connector to provide a signal to the control unit which is used to control the climate in the animal house. Each sensing device includes a thermal resistive sensor and an indicating LED configured to be selectively turned on by the control unit to indicate when the sensing unit is connected to the control unit.

Abstract: A climate control system for an animal house is operated by determining a minimum ventilation curve for required minimum ventilation. A plurality of ventilation stages is created based on the minimum ventilation curve and the plurality of ventilation fans in the climate control system, each stage providing a percentage of the required minimum ventilation. Creating the stages includes prioritizing the ventilation fans to create a selection hierarchy and determining a minimum stage ventilation and a maximum stage ventilation for each stage. Ventilation fans are selected following the hierarchy that provides the desired percentage of the minimum required ventilation. The system advances from a lower stage a higher stage based on ventilation requirements. When it is determined that a fan is not operating, the system returns to the lower stage to substitute ventilation fans.