PRECISION WATER DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR INSECTS

• US 20180007875A1
• Filed: 12/13/2016
• Published: 01/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aspire Food Group Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Aspire Food Group USA Inc.
• Inventors: Hall, Michael Todd, Mott, Gabriel, Ashour, Mohammed
• Granted Patent: US 10,595,516 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/005 Monitoring or measuring activity, e.g. detecting heat or mating
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 67/033 Rearing or breeding invertebrates; New breeds of invertebrates
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 7/02 Automatic devices ; Medication dispensers

Abstract

A water delivery system for supplying water to an insect habitat. The water delivery system including a water tray equipped with a sensor to monitor an amount of water within a water tray. The sensor to cause water to be delivered to the water tray when the amount of water within the tray falls below a predefined threshold amount.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A water tray positioned within an insect habitat to provide moisture to an insect comprising:

a sensor to collect data related to a level of the moisture associated with the water tray;

a float having perforations sized to allow insects access to the moisture and to prevent the insects from drowning;

at least one wall having a coefficient of friction below a threshold, the threshold selected to allow the float to move vertically within the water tray while in contact with the at least one wall; and

a communication interface to send the data to a water delivery system.

3. The water tray as recited in claim 2, wherein the data includes an indication that the level of moisture falls below a first threshold.

4. The water tray as recited in claim 2, wherein the data also includes an indication that the level of moisture has exceed a second threshold, the first threshold less than the second threshold.

5. The water tray as recited in claim 2, further comprising an image device, the image device to collect data associated with the state of the water tray.

6. The water tray as recited in claim 2, further comprising a monitoring device, the monitoring device to collect data associated with the state of the water tray.

7. The water tray as recited in claim 6, wherein the state of the water tray is associated with a location and a health of the insect.

8. A water tray positioned within an insect habitat to provide moisture to an insect comprising:

a sensor to collect data related to a level of moisture associated with the water tray;

a float configured to move vertically based at least in part on the level of moisture in the water tray; and

a communication interface to send the data to a management system.

9. The water tray as recited in claim 8, wherein the float including perforations sized to allow the insects access to the moisture and to prevent the insects from drowning.

10. The water tray as recited in claim 8, wherein the water tray includes a porous material, the porous material to absorb the moisture.

11. The water tray as recited in claim 10, wherein the porous material is coconut fiber.

12. The water tray as recited in claim 8, wherein the sensor is at least one of:

a moisture sensor;

temperature sensor;

PH monitor;

a contact or pressure sensor positioned on a top surface of a base of the water tray;

a contact or pressure sensor positioned on a bottom surface of a float of the water tray;

a weight sensor;

a proximity sensor positioned on a top surface of a base of the water tray;

or

a water gauge.

13. The water tray as recited in claim 8, further comprising a monitoring device, the monitoring device to collect data associated with the state of the water tray.

14. The water tray as recited in claim 13, wherein the state of the water tray is associated with a location and a health of the insect.

15. A system comprising:

a water retention area for receiving water from a water delivery system;

a sensor to determine that an amount of water contained in the water retention area is less than a threshold; and

a wireless communication interface to notify the water delivery system in response to the sensor determine the amount of water is less than the threshold.

16. The system as recited in claim 15, further comprising a float configured to move vertically based at least in part on the amount of water.

17. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the water tray includes a plurality of fibrous material positioned within the receptacle, the fibrous material to absorb the water.

18. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein the fibrous material is at least one of peat moss, coconut fiber, rocks, pebbles, perforated plastic rings, or plastic balls/objects.

19. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein the water retention area to receive water from the water deliver tube and disperse the water into the fibrous material within the receptacle.

20. The system as recited in claim 19, wherein the sensor is at least one of:

a moisture sensor;

a contact or pressure sensor positioned on a top surface of a base of the water tray;

a contact or pressure sensor positioned on a bottom surface of a float of the water tray;

a weight sensor;

a proximity sensor positioned on a top surface of a base of the water tray;

or

a water gauge.

21. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein the data includes a signal to cause the water delivery system to dispense water.