Automated flora or fauna retriever

• US 10,124,711 B1
• Filed: 05/11/2017
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2017
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hall Labs, LLC
• Original Assignee: Hall Labs, LLC
• Inventors: Hall, David R., Hall, Mark, Fox, Joe
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M
• Application Number:
  US15/592,612
• Publication Number:
  US 20180326890A1
• Time in Patent Office: 551 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/0236 Transport boxes, bags, cages, baskets, harnesses for animals; Fittings therefor for poultry A01K31/002; for pigeons A01K31/07
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 1/0245 Boxes or cages
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 11/006 Automatic identification systems for animals, e.g. electronic devices, transponders for animals identification systems for access to feeding pens A01K1/0209; ear tags with electronic identification means A01K11/004
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/00 Other apparatus for animal husbandry
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/00 Vehicles adapted to transport, to carry or to comprise special loads or objects ambulances or other vehicles with special provisions for transporting patients or disabled persons, or their personal conveyances A61G3/00; hearses A61G21/00; fire-fighting land vehicles A62C27/00; refuse-collecting vehicles B65F3/00, B65F7/00; snow-removing vehicles E01H; armoured or armed vehicles F41H7/00; self-propelled mine-clearing vehicles F41H11/16
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/04 for transporting animals railway wagons adapted for carrying animals B61D3/163
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0282 generated in a local control room
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0832 Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods

Abstract

A flora or fauna retrieval apparatus, comprising a frame mechanically connected to a transportation module to move the apparatus. The apparatus may comprise a location identification module, a number of flora or fauna attribute sensors communicatively connected to a communication module, and a flora or fauna storage container. The communication module may be configured to communicate with a computing device to exchange information about the animals or plants to be retrieved, and obtain information about optimal conditions for animals or plants scheduled for delivery. The flora or fauna storage container may comprise a temperature regulator, an aperture to let in air, and a humidity controller. The aperture may be adjustable. The temperature regulator, aperture, and humidity controller may use the information about optimal conditions for animals or plants scheduled to be delivered, to adjust the conditions of the flora or fauna storage container to remain within the optimal conditions for animals or plants scheduled to be delivered.

Claims

1. A flora or fauna retrieval apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a sensor identifying the position of the flora or fauna retrieval apparatus;

a number of flora or fauna attribute sensors coupled to a frame, the flora or fauna attribute sensors measuring an attribute of a number of animals or plants having a total volume less than 100 quarts and having been retrieved by the flora or fauna retrieval apparatus;

a movement system, communicatively coupled to the processor, comprising an engine or motor;

a movement system power source;

a transmission comprising at least one of a gearbox, clutch, different, and, at least one wheel,

a flora or fauna storage container mechanically connected to the frame to contain received animals or plants, the flora or fauna storage container comprising

a temperature regulator communicatively coupled to the processor;

an adjustable aperture device communicatively coupled to the processor and defining an aperture, the adjustable aperture device allowing an in-flow volume of air; and

,

a humidity controller communicatively coupled to the processor;

wherein the frame is operably coupled to the at least one wheel

a non-transitory storage medium communicatively connected to the processor;

the non-transitory storage medium comprising;

a transportation module communicatively-coupled to the movement system, the transportation module instructing the movement system to transport the flora or fauna retrieval apparatus between a first location and a second location;

a location identification module communicatively coupled to the sensor, the location identification module being coupled to the frame and identifying the location of the flora or fauna retrieval apparatus;

a communication module communicatively-coupled to the number of flora or fauna attributes sensors, the communication module comprising programmable code stored on the non-transitory storage medium wherein the programmable code comprises instructions for communicating an authentication token to an authentication module operating an enclosure barrier actuator;

communicating with an enclosure actuator module opening and closing an enclosure barrier actuator; and

,

communicating with a computing device to a) receive information about when the animals or plants are to be retrieved and b) obtain information about the optimal conditions for animals or plants scheduled to be delivered to the flora or fauna storage container.

2. The flora or fauna retrieval apparatus of claim 1, the transportation module instructing the flora or fauna retrieval apparatus to roll, fly, or crawl at least 3 feet.

3. The flora or fauna retrieval apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a radio frequency broadcast identification system, the radio frequency broadcast identification system configured to identify the flora or fauna retrieval apparatus to external systems.

4. The flora or fauna retrieval apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a number of user identifiers, to identify a party from whom the animals or plants are being retrieved.

5. The flora or fauna retrieval apparatus of claim 4, wherein the number of user identifiers includes at least one of a biometric reader, a facial recognition module, and an identification reader.

6. The flora or fauna retrieval apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flora or fauna attribute sensors include at least one of a camera, a weight scale, a heartbeat monitor, an oxygen sensor, a motion sensor, a humidity sensor, a soil moisture sensor, and a radio frequency identification reader.

7. The flora or fauna retrieval apparatus of claim 1, the adjustable aperture device communicatively-coupled to the oxygen sensor;

the adjustable aperture device adjusting the size of the aperture to allow an inflow of air resulting in an oxygen level within optimal condition ranges for animals or plants to be retrieved.

8. The flora or fauna retrieval apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising emergency contact information.

9. The flora or fauna retrieval apparatus of claim 8, wherein the communication module notifies an emergency contact that the animals require immediate attention, when the flora or fauna attribute sensors detect that the attributes of the animals or plants are outside the allowed range according to the information about animals or plants scheduled to be delivered to the flora or fauna storage container.

10. The flora or fauna retrieval apparatus of claim 1, wherein the temperature regulator is configured to adjust the temperature of the flora or fauna receptacle according to the information about the optimal conditions for animals or plants scheduled to be delivered to the flora or fauna storage container.

11. The flora or fauna retrieval apparatus of claim 1, wherein the humidity controller is configured to adjust the humidity of the flora or fauna receptacle according to the information about the optimal conditions for animals or plants scheduled to be delivered to the flora or fauna storage container.

12. The flora or fauna retrieval apparatus of claim 1, wherein a flora or fauna attribute sensor is a camera.

13. The flora or fauna retrieval apparatus of claim 10, further comprising an optical live flora or fauna recognition module of the received number of animals or plants.

14. A method of retrieving animals or plants, comprising:

providing a flora or fauna retrieval apparatus for retrieving animals or plants, storing the flora or fauna retrieval apparatus in an enclosure with a number of barriers;

receiving information at the flora or fauna retrieval apparatus, via a communication module, about the optimal conditions for animals or plants scheduled to be delivered;

adjusting, via a temperature regulator, the temperature of a flora or fauna receptacle on the flora or fauna retrieval apparatus, according to the information about optimal conditions for animals or plants scheduled to be delivered;

receiving a notification at the flora or fauna retrieval apparatus, via the communication module, that a delivery agent is within a distance range of the location of the apparatus;

sending a signal from the flora or fauna retrieval apparatus to an enclosure barrier opening mechanism, via the communication module, to actuate one of the number of barriers to an open position;

moving the flora or fauna retrieval apparatus, via a transportation module, through the barrier that has been actuated to an open position, and out of the enclosure to the delivery agent;

opening a cover on the flora or fauna receptacle of the flora or fauna retrieval apparatus, via an automated track;

receiving a flora or fauna into the flora or fauna storage container from the delivery agent;

closing the cover on the flora or fauna storage container of the flora or fauna retrieval apparatus, via the automated track;

moving the flora or fauna retrieval apparatus, via the transportation module, back into the enclosure;

sending a second signal from the flora or fauna retrieval apparatus to the enclosure barrier opening mechanism, via the communication module, to close the barrier that has been actuated to an open position.

15. The method as in claim 14, wherein the distance range is 3 miles away or less.

16. The method as in claim 14, additionally comprising:

adjusting an adjustable aperture on the flora or fauna receptacle to let in air according to the information about optimal conditions for animals or plants scheduled to be delivered to the flora or fauna storage container.

17. The method as in claim 14, additionally comprising:

providing a number of flora or fauna attribute sensors mechanically connected to the flora or fauna receptacle and communicatively connected to the communication module; and

,

measuring, via the flora or fauna attribute sensors, attributes of a number of animals or plants to be retrieved.

18. The method as in claim 16, additionally comprising:

obtaining, via the communication module, information about the animals or plants to be retrieved;

notifying, via the communication module, an emergency contact that the animals or plants require immediate attention, when the flora or fauna attribute sensors detect that the attributes of the animals or plants are outside the allowed range according to the information about the animals or plants scheduled to be retrieved; and

,

providing, via the communication module, an enclosure access code to an emergency contact.

19. A flora or fauna retrieval apparatus, comprising:

a frame;

a transportation module mechanically connected to the frame, the transportation module moving the flora or fauna retrieval apparatus between locations;

a location identification module mechanically connected to the frame, the location identification module identifying the location of the flora or fauna retrieval apparatus;

a number of flora or fauna attribute sensors mechanically connected to the frame, the flora or fauna attribute sensors measuring attributes of a number of animals or plants to be retrieved;

a communication module communicatively connected to the number of flora or fauna attributes sensors, the communication module communicating with a computing device to a) exchange information about the animals or plants to be retrieved;

b) obtain information about the optimal conditions for animals or plants scheduled to be delivered to the flora or fauna storage container,

a flora or fauna storage container mechanically connected to the frame to contain received animals or plants, the flora or fauna storage container comprising a temperature regulator, an adjustable aperture to let in air, and a humidity controller;

the adjustable aperture configured to adjust to let in air according to the information about optimal conditions for animals or plants to be retrieved;

the temperature regulator configured to adjust the temperature of the flora or fauna receptacle according to the information about the optimal conditions for animals or plants scheduled to be delivered to the flora or fauna storage container;

the humidity controller configured to adjust the humidity of the flora or fauna receptacle according to the information about the optimal conditions for animals or plants scheduled to be delivered to the flora or fauna storage container;

the communication module configured to notify an emergency contact that the animals or plants require immediate attention, if the flora or fauna attribute sensors detect that the attributes of the animals or plants are outside the allowed range according to the information about the animals or plants scheduled to be retrieved;

a radio frequency broadcast identification system, the radio frequency broadcast identification system identifying the flora or fauna retrieval apparatus to external systems; and

a number of user identifiers, to identify a party from whom the animals or plants are being retrieved.

20. The flora or fauna retrieval apparatus of claim 19, wherein:

the live organisms are animals weighing in total less than 350 pounds, and the communication module is configured to send a temporary user identifier to the emergency contact and allow the person with the temporary user identifier access to the flora or fauna storage container.