Environmental control systems for livestock housings, and related systems and methods

Abstract

A method of operating a livestock housing includes receiving, from a plurality of environmental sensors disposed within the livestock housing, environmental data indicative of an environmental status of the livestock housing, at each of a plurality of times, determining an average environmental status based on the environmental data from the plurality of environmental sensors, at each of the plurality of times, determining a compensation level to cause the environmental status to return to a setpoint environmental status, determining an accumulated error between a currently applied compensation level and the determined compensation level, and responsive to the accumulated error exceeding a predetermined threshold accumulated error, adjusting the currently applied compensation level. Related environmental control systems and system are also disclosed.

Description

TITLEENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR LIVESTOCK HOUSINGS, AND RELATED SYSTEMS AND METHODSCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] N / AFIELD

[0002] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to operating a livestock housing. More particularly, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to livestock housings including an environmental control system including an environmental status manager that manages an environmental status for livestock housing utilizing a filter and a debouncer to process environmental data received from environmental sensors distributed throughout the livestock housing.BACKGROUND

[0003] Precision livestock farming (PLF) is an emerging sector in the field of research and development of tools for livestock management and continuous real-time monitoring of livestock. One of the primary goals of PLF is to facilitate animal welfare, avoid diseases, and increase productivity.

[0004] For example, a piggery (also referred to as a hog house, a pig sty, a swing house, a hog pen, a pig pen) houses swine (pigs, hogs) is structured to house a plurality of swine. The hog house may be designed to protect the swine from excessive temperatures (e.g., heat and cold), sanitary bedding, and feeding. Conditions within the piggery may affect the health of the swine. For example, excessive levels of gases, such as carbon dioxide and ammonia, may accumulate in the piggery depending on the activity level of the swine, among other things. Measuring the concentration of the gases in the piggery is a challenging problem due to the size of the piggery, sensor bias, sensor drift, sensor noise, issues with one or more sensors (e.g., failure of one or more sensors, such as due to animal interactions, short circuits, disconnected, frozen) and the distribution of multiple sensors throughout the piggery. Structures for housingother animals (e.g., a hen house, an aviary, a stable, etc.) face similar issues with controlling the environment to be suitable for the animals housing therein. Due to multiple variables within such housing structures, controlling the conditions therein is a dynamic process and can be difficult to control to a desired level.BRIEF SUMMARY

[0005] According to an aspect of the disclosure, a method of operating a livestock housing includes receiving, from a plurality of environmental sensors disposed within the livestock housing, environmental data indicative of an environmental status of the livestock housing, at each of a plurality of times, determining an average environmental status based on the environmental data from the plurality of environmental sensors, at each of the plurality of times, determining a compensation level to cause the environmental status to return to a setpoint environmental status, determining an accumulated error between a currently applied compensation level and the determined compensation level, and responsive to the accumulated error exceeding a predetermined threshold accumulated error, adjusting the currently applied compensation level.

[0006] Adjusting the currently applied compensation level includes adjusting at least one environmental controller to change the environmental status within the livestock housing.

[0007] In some embodiments, determining a compensation level to cause the environmental status to return to a setpoint environmental status includes determining a setpoint for one or more environmental controls of the livestock housing based on a relationship between the one or more environmental controls and the average environmental status.

[0008] Determining a compensation level to cause the environmental status to return to a setpoint environmental status may include determining an operating status for one or more environmental controls based on predefined rules based on the average environmental status.

[0009] In some embodiments, determining an accumulated error between a currently applied compensation level and the determined compensation level includes determining an error between the currently applied compensation level and the determined compensation level at each of the plurality of times, and summing the error at each of the plurality of times.

[0010] For each of the plurality of times, the method may further include multiplying the error responsive to the currently applied compensation level being less than the determined compensation level. In some embodiments, the method further includes, for each of the plurality of times, exponentiating the error responsive to the currently applied compensation level being less than the determined compensation level.

[0011] The method may further include, concurrently with adjusting the currently applied compensation level, setting the accumulated error to zero and determining the accumulated error between the adjusted currently applied compensation level and the determined compensation level based on the environmental data received from the plurality of environmental sensors received after adjusting the currently applied compensation level.

[0012] Adjusting the currently applied compensation level may include adjusting at least one environmental controller of the livestock housing. In some embodiments, adjusting at least one environmental controller includes adjusting at least one of a louver, a fan, a cooler, or a heater.

[0013] Determining a compensation level to cause the environmental status to return to a setpoint environmental status may include determining the compensation level based on a difference between the average environmental status and a threshold environmental status.

[0014] In some embodiments, a system includes environmental sensors disposed within a livestock housing and configured to receive environmental data indicative of one or more environmental conditions within the livestock housing, environmental controls configured to change the one or more environmental conditions within the livestock housing, and an environmental control system in operable communication with the environmental sensors and the environmental controls. The control system includes at least one processor, and at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the environmental control system to at a plurality of times, receive the environmental data from the environmental sensors, at each of the plurality of times, determine an average environmental status within the livestock housing based on the environmental data, at each of the plurality of times, determine an accumulated error between a currently applied compensation level and a calculated compensation level to cause the averageenvironmental status to return to a setpoint environmental status, and responsive to the accumulated error exceeding a predetermined threshold accumulated error, adjust the currently applied compensation level to adjust one or more of the environmental controls.

[0015] In some embodiments, the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the environmental control system to determine a rolling average environmental status within the livestock housing and determine the calculated compensation level at each of the plurality of times based on the rolling average environmental status.

[0016] The instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, may cause the environmental control system to determine the accumulated error based on a summation of a difference between the currently applied compensation level and the calculated compensation level at each of the plurality of times.

[0017] In some embodiments, the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the environmental control system to multiply the difference between the currently applied compensation level and the calculated compensation level at each time when the calculated compensation level is greater than the currently applied compensation level.

[0018] In some embodiments, the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the environmental control system to determine the calculated compensation level based on a difference between the average environmental status and the setpoint environmental status, and a difference between a threshold environmental status and the setpoint environmental status.

[0019] The instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, may cause the environmental control system to set the accumulated error to zero responsive to adjusting the currently applied compensation level.

[0020] In some embodiments, the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the environmental control system to determine the calculated compensation level based on at least one of data stored in memory, a PID controller, or a relationship between the average environmental status and the one or more environmental controls.

[0021] In some embodiments, an environmental control system includes at least one processor, and at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storinginstructions thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the environmental control system to at a plurality of times, receive time-series environmental data indicative of at least one environmental condition within a livestock housing, determine an average environmental status within the livestock housing at each time of the plurality of times based on the time-series environmental data, determine, at each time of the plurality of times, a calculated compensation level to cause the average environmental status to return to a setpoint environmental status, and using a debouncer, adjust at least one environmental controller based on an accumulated difference between a currently applied compensation level and the calculated compensation level at each time of the plurality of times.

[0022] The instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, may cause the environmental control system to adjust the at least one environmental controller responsive to the accumulated difference exceeding a threshold accumulated difference.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming what are regarded as embodiments of the present disclosure, various features and advantages may be more readily ascertained from the following description of example embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0024] FIG. 1 is a simplified representation of an environmental control system, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure;

[0025] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of an environmental control system, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure;

[0026] FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B are graphs illustrating an implementation of an environmental status manager of the environmental control system, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure;

[0027] FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B are graphs illustrating an implementation of an environmental status manager of the environmental control system, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure;

[0028] FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are graphs illustrating an implementation of an environmental status manager of the environmental control system, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure;

[0029] FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating an implementation of an environmental status manager of the environmental control system, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure;

[0030] FIG. 7 is a simplified flow chart illustrating a method of operating an environmental control system, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure;

[0031] FIG. 8 is a simplified flow chart illustrating a method of operating an environmental control system, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure; and

[0032] FIG. 9 is a schematic of a computer-readable storage medium including processor-executable instructions configured to embody one or more of the methods of determining at least one flow condition within a flow channel of an agricultural machine.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] The illustrations presented herein are not actual views of any agricultural machine or portion thereof, but are merely idealized representations to describe example embodiments of the present disclosure. Additionally, elements common between figures may retain the same numerical designation.

[0034] The following description provides specific details of embodiments. However, a person of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced without employing many such specific details. Indeed, the embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced in conjunction with conventional techniques employed in the industry. In addition, the description provided below does not include all elements to form a complete structure, assembly, spreader, or agricultural implement. Only those process acts and structures necessary to understand the embodiments of the disclosure are described in detail below. Additional conventional acts and structures may be used. The drawings accompanying the application are for illustrative purposes only, and are thus not drawn to scale.

[0035] As used herein, the terms "comprising," "including," "containing," "characterized by," and grammatical equivalents thereof are inclusive or open-ended terms that do not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps, but also include the more restrictive terms "consisting of" and "consisting essentially of" and grammatical equivalents thereof.

[0036] As used herein, the term "may" with respect to a material, structure, feature, or method act indicates that such is contemplated for use in implementation of an embodiment of the disclosure, and such term is used in preference to the more restrictive term "is" so as to avoid any implication that other, compatible materials, structures, features, and methods usable in combination therewith should or must be excluded.

[0037] As used herein, the term "configured" refers to a size, shape, material composition, and arrangement of one or more of at least one structure and at least one apparatus facilitating operation of one or more of the structure and the apparatus in a predetermined way.

[0038] As used herein, the singular forms following "a," "an," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0039] As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0040] As used herein, spatially relative terms, such as "beneath," "below," "lower," "bottom," "above," "upper," "top," "front," "rear," "left," "right," and the like, may be used for ease of description to describe one element's or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Unless otherwise specified, the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the materials in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures.

[0041] As used herein, the term "substantially" in reference to a given parameter, property, or condition means and includes to a degree that one of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the given parameter, property, or condition is met with a degree of variance, such as within acceptable manufacturing tolerances. By way of example, depending on the particular parameter, property, or condition that is substantially met, the parameter, property,or condition may be at least 90.0% met, at least 95.0% met, at least 99.0% met, or even at least99.9% met.

[0042] As used herein, the term "about" used in reference to a given parameter is inclusive of the stated value and has the meaning dictated by the context (e.g., it includes the degree of error associated with measurement of the given parameter).

[0043] As used throughout, ranges are used as shorthand for describing each and every value that is within the range. Any value within the range can be selected as the terminus of the range.

[0044] From reading the following description it should be understood that the terms "longitudinal" and "transverse" are made in relation to a machine's (e.g., agricultural implement's, agricultural application machine) normal direction of travel. In other words, the term "longitudinal" equates to the fore-and-aft direction, whereas the term "transverse" equates to the crosswise direction, or left and right. As used herein, the terms "lateral" and "transverse" are used interchangeably. Furthermore, the terms "axial" and "radial" are made in relation to a rotating body such as a shaft, wherein axial relates to a direction along the rotation axis and radial equates to a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis.

[0045] Embodiments include devices, systems, and methods for operating a livestock housing. An environmental control system for a livestock housing includes a housing monitoring system in operable communication with a set of environmental sensors configured to measure one or more environmental conditions within the livestock housing. The environmental control system includes an environmental status manager configured to determine one or more compensation actions for controlling the environmental status (e.g., the environmental conditions) within the livestock housing within predetermined suitable levels for the livestock. The environmental control system includes an environmental control manager in operable communication with the environmental status manager and with one or more environmental controls. The one or more environmental controls include, for example, one or more of ventilation fans, ventilation louvers, coolers (e.g., air conditioners), heaters (e.g., furnaces), or other controls for modifying the environmental status within the livestock housing.

[0046] The environmental sensors may be disposed throughout the livestock housing and configured to measure one more environmental conditions within the livestock housing. For example, the environmental sensors may measure one or more of (e.g., each of) a carbon dioxide concentration, an ammonia concentration, a carbon monoxide concentration, a methane concentration, an oxygen concentration, a particulate matter concentration, a temperature, or a humidity, within the livestock housing. The environmental status manager may be in operable communication with the housing monitoring system, which may provide the measured environmental conditions to the environmental status manager.

[0047] The environmental status manager may be configured to determine an environmental status of the livestock housing based on the measured environmental conditions. In some embodiments, the environmental status manager is configured to determine an average environmental status of the livestock housing (or within particular regions of the livestock housing) based on the environmental conditions measured by the environmental sensors. The average environmental status may include an instantaneous environmental status based on instantaneous environmental data from the environmental sensors. In some embodiments, the average environmental status includes a rolling average environmental status. The environmental status manager may be configured to determine whether the environmental status is within or outside of a predetermined threshold environmental status (e.g., whether the environmental status exceeds a predetermined threshold and / or falls outside of a suitable range for the livestock). Responsive to determining that the average environmental status is outside of the threshold environmental status, the environmental status manager may determine that a compensation should be applied to adjust the environmental status within the livestock housing. Responsive to determining that a compensation should be applied, the environmental status manager provides a control signal (e.g., a compensation signal) to the environmental control manager to adjust one or more operating conditions of one or more environmental controls.

[0048] In some embodiments, the environmental status manager includes a debouncer configured to provide the control signal to the environmental control manager at predetermined intervals. For example, the debouncer may be configured to cause the environmental status manager to ignore the average environmental status, except for at the predetermined intervals.In some such embodiments, the environmental status manager provides the control signal to the environmental control manager at the predetermined intervals responsive to determining that the average environmental status is outside of the predetermined threshold environmental status. Providing the control signal at the predetermined intervals, rather than continuously (e.g., every second), may improve the efficiency of the environmental control system, such as by reducing electricity consumption, fuel consumption, and wear and tear on environmental controls, which would otherwise be caused by continuous adjustment of the environmental controls.

[0049] The control signal and the corresponding amount of the compensation (e.g., an adjustment of the one or more environmental controls) may be determined based on the average environmental status and / or a rate of change of the average environmental status. In some embodiments, the amount of the compensation (also referred to herein as the "compensation level," a "calculated compensation level," or a "determined compensation level") is determined based, at least in part, on a difference between the average environmental status and the threshold environmental status. In some embodiments, the compensation level may include the amount of compensation (adjustment of the one or more environmental controls) to cause the environmental status to return to a setpoint environmental status. The compensation level may be based, at least in part, on a relationship between the environmental controls and the environmental status (e.g., how much a particular change in an environmental control changes the environmental status). In some embodiments, the compensation level is based on data stored in memory (e.g., in a look-up table), such as a compensation level corresponding to a particular environmental condition (e.g., a compensation level for each of a plurality of different temperatures, pressures, humidities, concentrations of various components).

[0050] In some embodiments, the environmental status manager is configured to determine the calculated compensation level that would be applied to cause the average environmental status to return to the setpoint environmental status at each time stamp at which the environmental sensors receive the environmental data. For example, the environmental status manager may generate time-series calculated compensation levels, the time of the timeseries calculated compensation levels corresponding to the times at which the environmentaldata is received by the environmental sensors. In some embodiments, the debouncer is configured to determine when an accumulated error between a current applied compensation level (also referred to as a "current compensation level") and a calculated compensation level based on a current average environmental status has exceeded a threshold accumulated error. In other words, the debouncer may be configured to determine when a cumulative difference between the currently applied compensation level and the calculated compensation level has exceeded a threshold accumulated error. Responsive to determining that the threshold accumulated error has been exceeded, the environmental status manager may provide a control signal to the environmental control manager to adjust the compensation level by adjusting the one or more environmental controls.

[0051] In some embodiments, when the current applied compensation level is less than the calculated compensation level (e.g., when the environmental status manager is undercompensating for the environmental conditions), the difference between the current compensation level and the calculated compensation level may be multiplied by a factor. The magnitude of the factor may be based, at least in part, on whether the current compensation level is above or below the calculated compensation level. In other words, the magnitude of the factor may be based, at least in part, on whether an error, defined as the difference between the current applied compensation level and the calculated compensation level (e.g., error - current compensation level - calculated compensation level), is positive or negative. In some such embodiments, if the error is less than 0 (e.g., if the error is a negative value, such as when the current compensation level minus the calculated compensation level is less than 0; i.e., the calculated compensation level is greater than the current compensation level), the factor may be greater than 1 (e.g., the factor may be 2). If the error is greater than 0 (corresponding to overcompensation), the factor may be 1 (e.g., the error may not be multiplied (or may be multiplied by a factor of 1)). In some embodiments, the factor increases with an increasing magnitude of negative error. In other words, in some such embodiments, the greater the magnitude of the error when the error is negative, the greater the factor. By way of non-limiting example, the factor for a first negative error with a magnitude twice the magnitude of a second negative error may be twice as much as the factor for the second negative error.

[0052] Responsive to receiving a compensation control signal from the environmental status manager, the environmental control manager may cause one or more environmental controls to cause one or more environmental conditions within the livestock housing to change. For example, the environmental control may include a control for a ventilation system (e.g., to turn on or off a fan, turn a fan on or off, adjust a speed of a variable speed fan, open or close ventilation louvers), adjust a temperature, adjust a humidity, or otherwise implement an environmental control, and combinations thereof. Different environmental controls may change different environmental statuses within the livestock housing, and changing the environmental controls may result in the actual environmental status changing to be within the environmental threshold. In this manner, implementing environmental controls based on the debouncer may improve the management of the actual environmental status within the livestock housing. This may result in higher yields from the livestock housing and / or healthier livestock residing therein.

[0053] The use of the debouncer may facilitate smoother control of the environmental conditions within the livestock housing compared to the use of only an averaging filter or a running average of the environmental status of the livestock housing. For example, if the livestock housing was controlled by a current environmental status or current average environmental status, the environmental controls would be subject to instantaneous swings and over management (micromanagement). As one example, if an environmental sensor measured an instantaneously high concentration of carbon dioxide responsive to a local phenomenon, without the debouncer, the environmental control manager would be subject to instantaneous swings in environmental conditions. In addition, use of the debouncer may reduce a negative impact of outlier data points generated from the environmental sensors. For example, the effect of the outlier data points may be dampened and / or ignored by using the debouncer (for example, the outlier data points may be measured at times between intervals at which the debouncer determines the average environmental status and / or may exhibit a smaller impact due to the use of the threshold accumulated error).

[0054] The environmental status manager may facilitate maintaining the environmental conditions within the livestock housing within suitable ranges, without overcompensation or undercompensating for the environmental conditions. For example, since,when determining control signal for adjusting the compensation level, the environmental status ignores the average environmental status until a predetermined duration has passed and / or until a threshold accumulated error between a current applied compensation level and a calculated compensation level has been exceeded, the environmental control manager may not provide control signals to the environmental control manager at unnecessarily short intervals. Accordingly, the environmental control manager may not cause the environmental controls to switch between operating conditions (e.g., on and off, open and closed) at unnecessarily high frequencies, which would otherwise require significant electricity and fuel and may age the environmental controls (e.g., the fans, the louvers, the heaters, the coolers). The debouncer may facilitate maintaining the environmental controls at suitable operating conditions to maintain the environmental status within suitable ranges more efficiently and using fewer resources than conventional livestock housings.

[0055] FIG. 1 is a simplified representation of an environmental control system 100 in which an environmental status manager 114 may operate, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. The environmental control system 100 may also be referred to as an "environment" or a "system" herein. As shown in FIG. 1, the environmental control system 100 may include a livestock housing 102 (e.g., a piggery, an aviary, a barn, a broiler) including livestock pens 104 or housing. The livestock pens 104 may house any type of livestock, such as swine, cattle, poultry (e.g., broilers (e.g., broiler chickens), hens, turkeys, ducks, geese, partridges, quails, pheasants, and pigeons), sheep, or other animals. While the livestock housing 102 shown includes livestock pens 104, it should be understood that the livestock in the livestock housing 102 may be housed in any manner, including a single pen per animal, multiple animals per pen, free-range (e.g., no pens), multiple vertical stories of pens, any other arrangement, and combinations thereof.

[0056] An interior 106 of the livestock housing 102 may impact the growth, health, and / or yield of the livestock. The interior 106 may have an environmental status. The environmental status may be a combination of one or more measurable environmental conditions, including carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration, carbon monoxide (CO) concentration, ammonia (NH3) concentration, oxygen (O2) concentration, methane (CH4) concentration,suspended particulate matter (e.g., dust) concentration, interior temperature, exterior temperature, absolute humidity, relative humidity, effective environmental temperature (EET) (e.g., a value based on temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed), atmospheric pressure, differential pressure, animal weight, animal waste weight, animal feed weight, any other environmental status, and combinations thereof.

[0057] Environmental conditions within the livestock housing 102 may be measured using one or more environmental sensors 108. The environmental status of the livestock housing 102 may be determined based on the environmental data (e.g., environmental conditions) measured with the environmental sensors 108. The environmental sensors 108 may include any type of sensor used to detect and / or infer the properties of the environmental conditions. For example, the environmental sensors 108 may include one or more of chemical sensors, gas sensors, optical sensors (e.g., infrared, ultraviolet, visible light), cameras, load cells, strain gauges, scales, thermocouples, anemometers, air pressure sensors, any other sensor, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the environmental sensors 108 include sensor assemblies individually including multiple types of sensors (such as a CO2 sensor, a CO sensor, a NH3 sensor, a CH4 sensor, an O2 sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor). Each of the environmental sensors 108 (e.g., sensor assemblies) may be substantially the same. In other embodiments, one or more of the environmental sensors 108 is different than at least another one of the environmental sensors 108 (e.g., includes at least one different type of sensor than the at least another one of the environmental sensors 108). By way of non-limiting example, some of the environmental sensors 108 may include only a CO2 sensor and an NH3 sensor, and other environmental sensors 108 may include only a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor.

[0058] The environmental sensors 108 may be located at any location within the livestock housing 102. For example, the environmental sensors 108 may be located near a ceiling, near a floor, on a wall, suspended in the interior 106, proximate to the livestock pens 104, at any other location, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the environmental sensors 108 may be located in a position configured to detect a particular environmental condition. For example, a CO2 sensor may be located near the floor of the livestock housing 102 based on the relative density of CO2 compared to atmospheric air. In some embodiments, certainenvironmental sensors 108 may be located proximate the livestock pens 104 to monitor the environmental status proximate the livestock pens.

[0059] The livestock housing 102 may include one or more openings 105 configured to facilitate circulation (e.g., flow) of air through the livestock housing 102. The openings 105 may include ventilation louvers 110-2, windows, and / or vents for facilitating an exchange of air between an inside of the livestock housing 102 and an environment external to the livestock housing 102.

[0060] The environmental status of the interior 106 of the livestock housing 102 may be adjusted using one or more environmental controls (collectively 110). By way of non-limiting example, the environmental controls may include ventilation fans 110-1 (or blowers), ventilation louvers 110-2, one or more heaters 110-3 (e.g., a furnace, a boiler), one or more coolers 110-4 (e.g., air conditioners), a humidifier, or any other environmental control. The livestock housing 102 may include ductwork for distributing air (such as from the heaters 110-3 and / or the coolers 110-4) throughout the livestock housing 102.

[0061] Changing an operational status of one or more of the environmental controls 110 may cause a change in the environmental status of the interior 106 of the livestock housing 102, and a corresponding change in measured environmental conditions of the livestock housing 102 measured by the environmental sensors 108. As one non-limiting example, turning on a ventilation fan 110-1 and / or opening a ventilation louver 110-2 may increase the ventilation airflowthrough the interior 106, thereby changing the concentration of one or more constituents of the composition of the atmosphere in the interior 106 of the livestock housing 102. For example, increasing the ventilation airflow may decrease the concentration of CO2, CO, NH3, CH4, and / or particulate matter in the interior 106 of the livestock housing 102, and may increase the concentration of O2 in the interior 106. In addition, increasing the ventilation airflow may increase or decrease the temperature of the livestock housing 102, depending on the external ambient temperature (and whether the external ambient temperature is higher or lower than the temperature of the livestock housing 102). In some embodiments, turning on or off the heater 110-3 and / or turning on or off the cooler 110-4 may change the temperature within the interior 106 of the environmental sensors 108.

[0062] A housing monitoring system 112 may monitor the environmental conditions within the livestock housing 102. For example, the housing monitoring system 112 may be in operable communication with one or more of (e.g., each of) the environmental sensors 108 and configured to receive measurements of environmental conditions from the environmental sensors 108. In addition, in some embodiments, the housing monitoring system 112 is in operable communication (e.g., such as by wired or wireless communication) with the environmental controls 110 and configured to determine an operating status of one or more of the environmental controls 110, such as the power status of the ventilation fan 110-1, the open or closed (or degree of open or closed) status of the ventilation louver 110-2, the operational status of the heater 110-3, and / or the operation status of the cooler 110-4. The housing monitoring system 112 may monitor the measurements from the environmental sensors 108 and / or the status of the environmental controls 110 by storing time-series data from the environmental sensors 108 and / or the environmental controls 110. For example, the housing monitoring system 112 may associate each measurement or status update with a time-stamp.

[0063] The housing monitoring system 112 may be operably coupled to at least one server 113 including an environmental status manager 114. The environmental status manager 114 may receive the environmental data from the environmental sensors 108 or from the housing monitoring system 112. Using the environmental data, the environmental status manager 114 may process the environmental data to determine the environmental status of the interior 106 of the livestock housing 102. The environmental status manager 114 may process the environmental data in any way. For example, the environmental status manager 114 may process time-series environmental data to determine the environmental status, such as the average environmental status as each time stamp (e.g., to generate time-series average environmental statuses).

[0064] In some embodiments, the environmental status manager 114 analyzes the environmental data received from the housing monitoring system 112 and / or the environmental sensors 108 to determine an average environmental status within the livestock housing 102 (or within particular regions of the livestock housing 102) at any particular time, based on the environmental data. In other words, the environmental status manager 114 may be configuredto determine an instantaneous average environmental status within the livestock housing 102. For example, the environmental status manager 114 may determine a time-series average environmental status based on the time-series environmental data. In some embodiments, the environmental status manager 114 determines a running average of the average environmental status (also referred to as a "running average environmental status") over a duration, such as within the previous ten seconds, the previous thirty seconds, the previous minute, the previous five minutes, the previous ten minutes, or another time period. In other embodiments, the environmental status manager 114 determines the running average environmental status based on a previous number of measurements (e.g., the previous 5 measurements, the previous 10 measurements, the previous 25 measurements, the previous 50 measurements, or a different number of previous measurements).

[0065] The average environmental status may include an average of the environmental data measured by each particular type of environmental sensor 108. For example, the average environmental status may include an average environmental status for one or more conditions (e.g., an average CO2 concentration, an average CO concentration, an average NH3 concentration, an average CH4 concentration, an average particulate matter concentration, an average O2 concentration, an average temperature, an average humidity (relative and / or absolute)). In some embodiments, the average environmental status may include an average environmental status for particular regions of the livestock housing 102, such as proximate the livestock pens 104, within the interior 106, proximate the floor, or proximate the ceiling. In some embodiments, the environmental status manager 114 is configured to determine a first average environmental status for a first region of the livestock housing 102 using a first group of environmental sensors 108; and a second average environmental status for a second region of the livestock housing 102 using a second group of environmental sensors 108.

[0066] As described herein, the environmental status manager 114 may be configured to provide one or more control signals to an environmental control manager 116 to control an operation of one or more environmental controls 110 and control the environmental status within the livestock housing 102. The control signals may include instructions for compensating the environmental controls 110 by a particular amount. Responsive to receiving the controlsignals, the environmental control manager 116 may control the operating status of one or more of the environmental controls 110.

[0067] In some instances, the environmental control manager 116 may adjust the environmental controls 110 every time a new environmental status is determined (e.g., every time environmental conditions are measured by one or more of the environmental sensors 108 and a corresponding average environmental status is determined) to compensate for one or more environmental conditions within the livestock housing 102. However, compensating for the environmental conditions at such high frequencies may lead to micromanagement of the livestock housing 102, causing overuse of the environmental controls 110 and overconsumption of electricity and / or fuel by the environmental controls 110. In addition, constant adjustment of the environmental controls 110 may increase the rate of wear and tear of the environmental controls 110.

[0068] According to embodiments described herein, the environmental status manager 114 includes a debouncer configured to cause the environmental status manager 114 to provide the one or more control signals (compensation level signals) to the environmental control manager 116 at predetermined intervals to facilitate a reduction in the frequency of adjustment of the environmental controls 110. In some embodiments, the environmental status manager 114 is configured to determine the average environmental status substantially continuously to generate a time-series average environmental status and / or a time-series rolling average environmental status. The predetermined intervals may be fixed time intervals such as, for example, every minute, every five minutes, every fifteen minutes, every thirty minutes, every hour, or other intervals.

[0069] In some embodiments, the environmental status manager 114 is configured to compare the average environmental status to a threshold environmental status (e.g., depending on the environmental condition, a threshold environmental status range and / or a threshold limit for the environmental status) every predetermined interval. The threshold environmental status may correspond to an environmental status falling outside of suitable ranges for the health of the livestock inside of the livestock housing 102. For example, a threshold environmental status may be a maximum concentration of CO2, CO, NH3, CH4, and / or particulate matter over whichthe health and / or growth of the livestock may be negatively affected (individually referred to herein as a "maximum threshold"); a minimum concentration of O2 below which the health and / or growth of the livestock may be negatively affected (referred to herein as a "minimum threshold"); a temperature falling outside of a temperature range suitable for the livestock (e.g., a temperature greater than an upper, maximum temperature (e.g., too hot) and / or a temperature less than a lower, minimum temperature (e.g., too cold)); and / or a humidity falling outside of a humidity range suitable for the livestock. In other words, the threshold environmental status may include one or more of threshold operating conditions for the livestock housing 102, such as a threshold temperature range, a maximum threshold CO2 concentration, a maximum threshold CO concentration, a maximum threshold NH3 concentration, a maximum threshold CH4 concentration, a maximum threshold particulate matter concentration, a minimum threshold O2 concentration, and a threshold humidity level. As used herein, an environmental status falling outside of and / or exceeding a threshold environmental status means and includes an environmental status that is not within suitable ranges, is below a minimum threshold, or is above a maximum threshold for the health of the livestock inside of the livestock housing 102.

[0070] Responsive to determining the average environmental status measured at the predetermined interval is outside of the threshold environmental status (e.g., above a maximum threshold, below a minimum threshold, or outside of a threshold range), the environmental status manager 114 may determine a calculated compensation level (also referred to as a calculated compensation or a calculated amount of compensation) that would return the average environmental status to a target (e.g., setpoint) environmental status for the particular environmental condition. In addition, the environmental status manager 114 may provide a control signal indicative of the calculated compensation level to the environmental control manager 116 to adjust one or more environmental controls 110 (e.g., based, at least in part, on the calculated compensation level). The calculated compensation level may be based on a relationship between the environmental controls 110 and the environmental status within the housing 102. The value of the calculated compensation level may depend, at least in part, on a difference between the average environmental status and one or both of the thresholdenvironmental status and the target value for the particular environmental condition. In some embodiments, the calculated compensation level is based on the ratio of the difference between the average environmental status and the target environmental status to the difference between the threshold environmental status and the target environmental status, according to Equation (1) below:„ , , (average environmental status-tar qet environmental status')Comp Level = - - - - - x 100; 1 ,(threshold environmental status-target environmental status) wherein Comp Level is the calculated compensation level and average environmental status is the currently determined average environmental status (e.g., the instantaneous average environmental status at the time interval (e.g., at the end or start of the time interval)). The target environmental status may correspond to a setpoint environmental status (e.g., a setpoint lower and / or upper temperature limit, a setpoint CO2 concentration, etc.). The threshold environmental status may correspond to an environmental status at which maximum compensation (e.g., 100%) is applied. In other words, when the average environmental status is equal to the threshold environmental status for a particular environmental condition, the current calculated comp level (calculated compensation level) may be 100%. In some embodiments, the compensation level corresponds to a percentage of a maximum operating range of the environmental controls 110 at which the environmental controls 110 are operated. In some embodiments, the calculated compensation level is based on a relationship between the environmental controls 110 and the average environmental status. In some embodiments, the relationship is stored in memory (e.g., such as in a look-up table) and includes, for example, a compensation level for each of a plurality of different temperatures, humidities, pressures, flowrates, concentrations of each of CO2, CO, NH3, particulate matter, and O2.

[0071] In some embodiments, an error between a currently applied compensation level and a calculated compensation level may be determined to determine whether the environmental status manager 114 is overcompensating or undercompensating for the environmental conditions. The error may be equal to the difference between the currently applied compensation level and the calculated compensation level (e.g., error - current compensation level - calculated compensation level). In some embodiments, when the appliedcompensation level is less than the calculated compensation level (e.g., when the error is negative and when the environmental controls 110 are undercompensating for environmental conditions within the livestock housing 102), the compensation level may be multiplied by a factor to increase the rate at which the compensation level is adjusted compared to when the environmental status manager 114 is overcompensating for the environmental conditions. The magnitude of the factor may be based, at least in part, on the magnitude of the difference between the applied compensation level and the calculated compensation level. For example, the factor may be based on the value of the current compensation level relative to the calculated compensation level. In some embodiments, if the error is less than 0 (e.g., if the error is a negative value, such as when the current compensation level minus the calculated compensation level is less than 0; i.e., the calculated compensation level is greater than the current compensation level), the factor may be greater than 1 (e.g., the factor may be 2). If the error is greater than 0 (corresponding to overcompensation), the factor may be 1 (e.g., the calculated compensation level may not be multiplied (or may be multiplied by a factor of 1)). In some such embodiments, the environmental status manager 114 may be configured to compensate for differences between the applied compensation level and a calculated compensation level (e.g., a target compensation level) faster when the applied compensation level is less than it should be, while reducing the rate at which the compensation level is adjusted when the applied compensation level is more than the calculated compensation level, thereby reducing wear and tear on the environmental controls 110. In other embodiments, the environmental status manager 114 is configured to apply a compensation level in one direction (e.g., when the environmental status manager 114 is undercompensating) and slowly reduce an applied compensation when the environmental status manager 114 is overcompensating).

[0072] In some embodiments, the error is exponentiated (e.g., squared). In some embodiments, and as described above, the calculated compensation level may be multiplied by a factor, such as where the error is negative. In some such embodiments, the environmental status manager 114 is configured to provide the control signal more frequently when the error is negative (e.g., the environmental status manager 114 is undercompensating for theenvironmental effects) than when the error is positive (e.g., the environmental status manager 114 is overcompensating for the environmental effects).

[0073] As one non-limiting example, a target for CO2 concentration may be less than about 3,500 ppm (corresponding to the target environmental status), with a maximum threshold environmental status of 8,000 ppm. The compensation level at the target environmental status and lower CO2 concentrations may be 0% and the compensation level at the maximum environmental status and higher concentrations may be 100%. The maximum compensation level may correspond to operating the ventilation fans 110-1 at full speed with the ventilation louvers 110-2 fully open; and the minimum compensation level may correspond to the ventilation fans 110-1 off and the ventilation louvers 110-2 closed. Responsive to determining that that average concentration of CO2 is 4,500 ppm, the compensation level may be about 22.2% (e.g., (4, 500-3, 500) / (8, 000-3, 500) - 22.2%). The compensation level may correspond to the ventilation louvers 110-2 open about 22.2% and the ventilation fans 110-1 either on 22.2% of the time or operating at 22.2% of a maximum operating speed.

[0074] Of course, in other embodiments, the calculated compensation level may be determined by other methods. For example, the calculated compensation level may be determined using a feed forward control system. In some such embodiments, the calculated compensation may be based on predefined rules provided to the environmental status manager 114. For example, the predefined rules may include a compensation level to be applied based on the current average environmental status. As only one example for temperature, the predefined rules may include setting the heater 110-3 at 10% if the temperature is less than 18°C (about 64.4°F); setting the heater 110-3 to 20% if the temperature is less than 17°C (about 62.6°F); and setting the heater 110-3 to other compensation valves based on the temperature (e.g., the difference between the average temperature and the threshold temperature). As another example for CO2 concentration, the predetermined rules may include adjusting the ventilation by a particular flowrate based on the average concentration of CO2. For example, the predetermined rules may include increasing the ventilation flowrate by about 100 cubic feet per minute (cfm) if the average concentration of CO2 is over 1,500 ppm; increasing the ventilation flowrate by 2,000 cfm if the CO2 concentration is over 2,000 ppm; and increasing the ventilationflowrate by a different amount based on the average concentration of CO2. As a further example, for humidity, the predefined rules may include increasing the ventilation flowrate by 50 cfm if the average relative humidity is over 60; increasing the ventilation flowrate by 100 cfm if the average relative humidity is over 70; and increasing or decreasing the ventilation flowrate by a different amount based on the average relative humidity. In some such embodiments, the compensation level may be based on predefined parameters and may be based on the difference between the average environmental status and the threshold environmental status. In some embodiments, the predefined rules are stored in a look-up table and may include a calculated compensation level for corresponding average environmental statuses. For example, predefined rules may be stored in memory (e.g., such as in a look-up table) and include, for example, a compensation level for each of a plurality of different temperatures, humidities, pressures, flowrates, concentrations of each of CO2, CO, NH3, particulate matter, and O2.

[0075] In other embodiments, the calculated compensation level is based on a PID controller for single input, single output systems, such as for static pressure control. In some such embodiments, the calculated compensation level may be based on a model reference adaptive control (MRAC) system. For environmental conditions in which more than one control (e.g., more than one of temperature, humidity, CO2 concentration) can be adjusted by more than one environmental control 110 (e.g., more than one of the ventilation fans 110-1, ventilation louvers 110-2, heaters 110-3, coolers 110-4), and / or for systems exhibiting delays between an adjusted compensation level and detection of the impact of the adjusted compensation level, the calculated compensation level may be based on a model predictive control (MPC) system. In some such embodiments, the MRAC system or the MPC system may incorporate a debouncer into their respective models (e.g., the cost function of the MPC may include the debouncer to disincentivize micromanagement of the environmental controls 110). In some embodiments, the environmental status manager 114 implements a Monte-Carlo simulator and an associated cost function, a MPC may anticipate that an applied compensation level has a certain cost. Depending on the likelihood of the being reverted (e.g., the environmental condition reverting) by a disturbance, and the cost associated with reverting back, the environmental status manager 114 may determine whether the total estimated cost outweigh the potential benefits of applying thecompensation level. In some such embodiments, the environmental status manager 114 may determine to apply a compensation level only when the likelihood of reversal of the environmental condition are low enough and spaced in time more than a predetermined duration. In some embodiments, the environmental status manager 114 is configured to control a positive pressure in the livestock housing 102 using such a system. In other words, the environmental status manager 114 may be configured to weigh the cost of over-management compared to the probability of reversal and the cost of under-management if the pressure in the livestock housing 102 is decreasing.

[0076] In other embodiments, the debouncer is configured to cause the environmental status manager 114 to provide the one or more control signals (compensation level signals) to the environmental control manager 116 at intervals based on when a magnitude of the cumulative difference (references herein to the cumulative difference refer to the magnitude of the cumulative difference) between the currently applied compensation level and a calculated compensation level exceeds a threshold accumulated error (also referred to herein as a "debouncer threshold"). The cumulative difference may also be referred to herein as an "accumulated difference," an "integrated difference," an "accumulated error," an "integrated error," or a "cumulative error." As described above, the calculated compensation level may correspond to a level of compensation that would cause the average environmental status to return to the target environmental status and may be calculated and / or look-up based on data in a look-up table.

[0077] In some embodiments, a calculated compensation level for each average environmental status may be determined while measuring the environmental conditions within the livestock housing 102 to generate a time-series calculated compensation level. In some such embodiments, the calculated compensation level may be determined for each data point in the time-series calculated compensation level. The calculated compensation level may be the same as that described above (e.g., with reference to Equation (1)), may be based on data stored in memory, may be based on a PID controller, and / or may be otherwise based on a relationship between the average environmental status and the environmental controls 110. The debouncer may be configured to maintain a current compensation level for a duration until the cumulativedifference between the currently applied compensation level and the calculated compensation level exceeds a predetermined threshold accumulated error. In some embodiments, the cumulative difference includes an integral of the currently applied compensation level and the calculated compensation level over the duration. The duration may depend on one or more of a rate of change of the average environmental status, the corresponding rate of change of the calculated compensation level, whether the average environmental status is changing between increasing and decreasing, whether the calculated compensation level is changing between increasing or decreasing, and whether the environmental status manager 114 is overcompensating or undercompensating for the environmental status. The duration may span between the timestamp that the applied compensation level was last adjusted until the cumulative difference exceeds the threshold accumulated error.

[0078] In some embodiments, the magnitude of the threshold accumulated error may determine how often the applied compensation levels are adjusted to control the environmental status within the livestock housing 102. A higher threshold accumulated error corresponds to a greater accumulated error between a currently applied compensation level and a compensation level to bring the average environmental status to the target environmental status. In some embodiments, the threshold accumulated error is set by an operator of the environmental control system 100. Accordingly, an operator may adjust an aggressiveness of the environmental status manager 114 by adjusting the threshold accumulated error before which the debouncer causes the environmental status manager 114 to provide a control signal to the environmental control manager 116.

[0079] Responsive to determining that the threshold accumulated error has been exceeded, the environmental status manager 114 may determine a calculated compensation level that would return the average environmental status to the target environmental status based on the average environmental status at the time when the threshold accumulated error has been exceeded and / or based on the average environmental status over the duration over which the threshold accumulated error was reached. In some embodiments, the average environmental status at times when the threshold accumulated error was not exceeded may not be considered when determining the value of the calculated compensation level provided to theenvironmental control manager 116. In other words, the environmental status manager 114 may provide the control signal to the environmental control manager 116 based on the calculated compensation level at the time when the threshold accumulated error has been exceeded. In other embodiments, the calculated compensation level is determined based on the average calculated compensation level over the duration over which the threshold accumulated error was reached (e.g., since the applied compensation level was last adjusted).

[0080] In some embodiments, the calculated compensation level at the time when the threshold accumulated error is exceeded (or the average calculated compensation level over the duration over which the threshold accumulated error was reached) may be multiplied by a factor. In some such embodiments, the environmental status manager 114 may be configured to multiply the calculated compensation level by a factor responsive to determining that the threshold accumulated error has exceeded the predetermined threshold accumulated error and the accumulated calculated compensation level is more than the accumulated applied compensation level (e.g., when the environmental status manager 114 has been undercompensating the environmental status). The magnitude of the factor may depend, at least in part, on the magnitude of the difference between the accumulated applied compensation level and the accumulated calculated compensation level. For example, the factor may be based on the accumulated error. In some embodiments, when the accumulated error is negative, the factor may be greater than 1. In some such embodiments, the environmental status manager 114 may be configured to compensate for differences between the accumulated applied compensation level and the accumulated calculated compensation level (e.g., a target compensation level) faster when the accumulated applied compensation level is less than a target compensation level, while reducing the rate at which the compensation level is adjusted when the accumulated applied compensation level is more than the accumulated calculated compensation level, thereby reducing wear and tear on the environmental controls 110.

[0081] In some embodiments, the accumulated error is determined according to Equation (2) below:Accumulated Error = ^(applied compensation — calculated compensation) ; (2),wherein the accumulated error is calculated at each of a plurality of times, such as each time measurements are received by the environmental sensors 108. In some embodiments, when the accumulated error is negative at a particular time, the accumulated error at that particular time may be multiplied by a factor. In some such embodiments, the environmental status manager 114 is configured to provide the control signal to adjust the compensation level relatively faster when the environmental status manager 114 is undercompensating for the environmental status. In other embodiments, the accumulated error at each time may be exponentiated (e.g., squared) at times where the environmental status manager 114 is undercompensating for the environmental status. As can be seen from Equation (2), when the error (e.g., the applied compensation minus the calculated compensation) bounces between positive and negative, the accumulated error may not grow compared as fast as when the applied compensation is always greater than or less than the calculated compensation.

[0082] The control signal (e.g., the compensation level signal) provided to the environmental control manager 116 may include one or more mitigating activities to facilitate controlling the environmental status of the livestock housing 102 within suitable ranges (e.g., within or less than the threshold environmental status). The mitigating activities may include an adjustment of the operating state of one or more of the environmental controls 110. Adjusting the operating state of the one or more environmental controls 110 may adjust the actual environmental status in the interior 106 of the livestock housing 102 to within the environmental threshold, improving the health and / or yield of the livestock within the livestock housing 102.

[0083] The environmental control manager 116 may be in communication with each of the environmental controls 110. For example, the environmental control manager 116 may send control signals to change the activation status of the environmental controls 110. In some embodiments, the environmental control manager 116 may cause the environmental controls 110 to be adjusted to facilitate control of the environmental status of the interior 106 of the livestock housing 102 to suitable levels for the livestock housed in the livestock housing 102. For example, if the environmental status manager 114 indicates that the CO2 concentration has exceeded the maximum threshold environmental status and / or that the threshold accumulated error has been exceeded, the environmental control manager 116 may actuate the ventilationT1fan 110-1 to increase the air flow rate through the interior 106 of the livestock housing 102 and / or may increase an opening of the ventilation louvers 110-2. This may help to reduce the CO2 concentration, thereby returning the CO2 concentration to below the maximum environmental threshold. In some embodiments, if the environmental status manager 114 determines that the average environmental status is outside of the threshold environmental status and / or the threshold accumulated error has been exceeded, the environmental status manager 114 may cause the environmental control manager 116 to cause one or more environmental controls 110 to change a condition with the livestock housing 102.

[0084] The environmental control manager 116 may be in communication with the environmental status manager 114 and the server 113 over a network 118. The network 118 may be any type of network. For example, the network 118 may be a local network, such as a wireless or wired local network. In some examples, the network 118 may include the Internet. In some embodiments, the environmental control manager 116 may be in direct communication with the server 113 including the environmental status manager 114. For example, the environmental control manager 116 may be located on the same computing device and / or server as the environmental status manager 114. In some embodiments, the environmental status manager 114 and the environmental control manager 116 may be in direct wired or wireless communication.

[0085] In some embodiments, the environmental control manager 116 receives one or more control signals from the environmental status manager 114 to cause the actual environmental status to return to suitable levels (e.g., below the environmental threshold for CO2, CO, NH3, CH4, and particulate matter concentration; above the environmental threshold for O2 concentration; within suitable temperature and humidity ranges for temperature and humidity). By way of non-limiting example, if the concentration of an atmospheric contaminant (e.g., CO2, CO, NH3, CH4, particulate dust) is higher than a maximum environmental threshold, the environmental control manager 116 may cause the airflow to increase through the interior 106 of the livestock housing 102, such as by powering on the ventilation fans 110-1, adjusting a fan speed of the ventilation fans 110-1, adjusting a blade angle of the ventilation fans 110-1, opening the ventilation louvers 110-2, or otherwise increasing the airflow within the livestockhousing 102. In some examples, if the temperature of the interior 106 of the livestock housing 102 is outside of a threshold environmental status for temperature, the environmental control manager 116 may cause the heater 110-3 and / or the cooler 110-4 to be activated, adjust a power level of the heater 110-3 and / or the cooler 110-4, adjust the airflow rate through the interior 106 of the livestock housing 102 (as discussed above), adjust the humidity, otherwise adjust the temperature, and combinations thereof.

[0086] In some embodiments, the average environmental status (e.g., the instantaneous average environmental status, the rolling average environmental status) determined by the environmental status manager 114 may be used to identify outliers in the environmental data received by the environmental sensors 108. For example, an outlier in the environmental data (referred to as an outlier environmental data point or an outlier data point) may be a value that differs from the average environmental status by more than an outlier threshold. The outlier environmental data point may correspond to environmental data measured (obtained) with an environmental sensor 108 with a corresponding time-stamp. The outlier threshold may be based on any threshold. For example, the outlier threshold may be based on a percentage of the current average environmental status, such as at least about 20%, at least about 30%, at least about 40%, or at least about 50% of the current average environmental status. For example, data from an environmental sensor that differs from the average environmental status by more than the outlier threshold may be an outlier environmental data point. In some such embodiments, the environmental status manager 114 may ignore data from the environmental sensor 108 providing the outlier environmental data point until the data from the environmental sensor 108 is within a range of the average environmental data. In some embodiments, responsive to determining an environmental sensor 108 providing an outlier environmental data point, the environmental status manager 114 may provide an indication that the environmental sensor 108 needs calibration and / or replacement, such as to a client device of the environmental control system 100.

[0087] Outliers in the environmental data may be caused in any manner. For example, outliers in the environmental data may be caused by faulty sensors, livestock breathing, f latu lating, urinating, or defecating at or near a sensor, livestock damaging power and / or sensorinfrastructure through chewing, stepping on, or otherwise interacting with sensor infrastructure, sensor calibration and / or bias drift, random sensor error, any other cause, and combinations thereof. Utilizing the debouncer in the environmental status manager 114 may reduce the impact of the outlier data by delaying the response of the environmental control manager to such data. For example, the environmental status manager 114 may not consider outlier data points when determining the average environmental status and when determining a compensation level to apply.

[0088] As discussed herein, the environmental status manager 114 may identify faulty environmental sensors 108, or environmental sensors 108 that have a confidence level that insufficient to generate readings useful to determine the actual environmental status. Faulty environmental sensors 108 may be based on the amount of outlier environmental data provided by an environmental sensor 108 tracked over time. For example, an environmental sensor 108 that continuously provides outlier environmental data while environmental sensors 108 proximate the environmental sensor 108 provide environmental data that is not outlier environmental data may be an indication that the environmental sensor 108 is faulty and / or needs recalibration.

[0089] In some embodiments, when the environmental status manager 114 identifies an outlier environmental data point, the environmental status manager 114 may determine whether the outlier environmental data point is caused by one or more of the livestock animals in the livestock housing 102. For example, the environmental status manager 114 may compare the outlier environmental data point to other environmental data points measured by the particular environmental sensor 108 from which the outlier environmental data point was obtained and / or other environmental data points from environmental sensors 108 physically proximate to the particular environmental sensor 108 that generated the outlier environmental data point. If other environmental data points from the same environmental sensor 108 are not similarly outliers and / or if other environmental data points from environmental sensors 108 in the same area are similarly outliers, then the environmental status manager 114 may determine that the outlier environmental data point is a result of livestock activity, such as animal breath, flatulence, excrement, or other animal cause. If other environmental data points from the sameenvironmental sensor 108 are similarly outliers and / or if other environmental data points from environmental sensors 108 in the same area are not similarly outliers, then the environmental status manager 114 may determine that the outlier environmental data point is a result of a faulty environmental sensor 108.

[0090] In some embodiments, the environmental status manager 114 is configured to determine a bias for at least one of the environmental sensors 108. For example, the environmental status manager 114 may be configured to determine a difference between data from the environmental sensor 108 and the average environmental status (determined with the environmental data from a plurality of environmental sensors 108) over a duration. In some embodiments, the environmental status manager 114 determines an average difference between the data measured by the environmental sensor 108 and the average environmental status to determine the bias of the particular environmental sensor 108. The environmental sensor 108 may be compensated using the determined bias. Compensating the environmental sensor 108 may improve the accuracy of the environmental status manager 114.

[0091] In some embodiments, the environmental status manager 114 and / or the environmental control manager 116 may utilize the average environmental status to calibrate one or more of the environmental sensors 108. For example, the environmental status manager 114 and / or an operator may determine that a particular environmental sensor 108 is out of calibration. The operator may utilize the average environmental status to calibrate the particular environmental sensor 108. This may help to improve the accuracy and / or precision of the compensation level generated by the environmental status manager 114. In some embodiments, the environmental status manager 114 periodically calibrates one or more of the environmental sensors 108, such as every hour, every 2 hours, every 6 hours, every day, every week, every month, every 3 months, every 6 months, or any other timeframe. In some embodiments, the environmental status manager 114 calibrates one or more of the environmental sensors 108 using the average environmental status episodically based on one or more conditions, such as the identification of one or more outlier datapoints, the installation of a new environmental sensor 108, the removal of an environmental sensor 108, the introduction of new livestock, the removal of livestock, any other condition, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, theenvironmental sensors 108 may be calibrated using a T-test. If the measurements from the environmental sensors 108 match an expected distribution (as determined in the T-test), then the environmental sensor 108 may be determined to be calibrated. If the measurements do not match an expected distribution, then the environmental sensor is likely not calibrated. If another distribution is found which better explains the data, then the new distribution may be used as the baseline.

[0092] Each of the housing monitoring system 112, the environmental status manager 114, and the environmental control manager 116 may be implemented at a computing device (e.g., the same computing device, different computing devices) that is local to the environmental control system 100 (e.g., the livestock housing 102) (e.g., edge computing). In some embodiments, one or more of the housing monitoring system 112, the environmental status manager 114, and the environmental control manager 116 may be implemented at different devices of the environmental control system 100 operating according to a primary-secondary configuration or a peer-to-peer configuration. In some embodiments, each of the housing monitoring system 112, the environmental status manager 114, and the environmental control manager 116 may be implemented by a server; or may be implemented in other and / or additional devices. In some embodiments, one or more of the housing monitoring system 112, the environmental status manager 114, or the environmental control manager 116 are implemented on a client device, which may include a mobile device (e.g., a cell phone, a smartphone, a PDA, a tablet, a laptop, a watch, a wearable device, etc.); a non-mobile device (e.g., a desktop or server). In some embodiments, the client device may include a client application installed thereon. In one or more embodiments, the client application is associated with the environmental status manager 114. For example, the client application may allow the client device to directly or indirectly interface with the environmental status manager 114 of the server 113. The client application also enables a user (e.g., an operator) to initiate measurements via the environmental status manager 114 and observe any results of the measurements, such as one or more condition data based on the received environmental data from the environmental sensors 108. In some embodiments, one or more of the housing monitoring system 112, theenvironmental status manager 114, or the environmental control manager 116 are implemented on a cloud computing platform and / or a web server.

[0093] The server 113 may include a cloud computing platform and may be configured to perform processing required to implement the environmental status manager 114. In one or more embodiments, the server 113 may include a web server that provides a web site that can be used by operators of the livestock housing 102 and the environmental control system 100 via a remote device (e.g., a computer, a cell phone, a tablet).

[0094] The network 118 may include one or more networks, such as the Internet, and can use one or more communications platforms or technologies suitable for transmitting data and / or communication signals. As a non-limiting example, the network 124 may utilize one or more of near field communication (NFC), BLUETOOTH ©, wireless / cellular networks, wide area networks (WAN), wired communications, or any other conventional network for transmitting data and / or communication signals between each of the housing monitoring system 112, the environmental status manager 114, and the environmental control manager 116. In some embodiments, one or more of (e.g., each of) the housing monitoring system 112, the environmental status manager 114, or the environmental control manager 116 communicate with one another over the network 118.

[0095] Although FIG. 1 illustrates a particular arrangement of the housing monitoring system 112, the environmental status manager 114, and the environmental control manager 116, and the network 118, various additional arrangements are possible.

[0096] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of an environmental control system 200, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. The environmental control system 200 may correspond to the environmental control system 100 of FIG. 1. Each of the components of the environmental control system 200 can include software, hardware, or both. For example, the components can include one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums storing instructions stored on a computer-readable storage medium and executable by processors of one or more computing devices, such as a client device or server device. When executed by the one or more processors, the computer-executable instructions of the environmental control system 200 can cause the computing device(s) to perform the methodsdescribed herein. Alternatively, the components can include hardware, such as a special-purpose processing device to perform a certain function or group of functions. Alternatively, the components of the environmental control system 200 can include a combination of computerexecutable instructions and hardware.

[0097] Furthermore, the components of the environmental control system 200 may, for example, be implemented as one or more operating systems, as one or more stand-alone applications, as one or more modules of an application, as one or more plug-ins, as one or more library functions or functions that may be called by other applications, and / or as a cloudcomputing model. Thus, the components may be implemented as a stand-alone application, such as a desktop or mobile application. Furthermore, the components may be implemented as one or more web-based applications hosted on a remote server. The components may also be implemented in a suite of mobile device applications or "apps."

[0098] The environmental control system 200 includes an environmental status manager 214 (e.g., the environmental status manager 114). The environmental status manager 214 may receive environmental data from environmental sensors 208 (e.g., environmental sensors 108). The environmental sensors 208 may include any type of environmental sensor, including, but not limited to, a CO2 sensor 220, a temperature sensor 222, and a humidity sensor 224. Of course, the environmental sensors 208 may include additional sensors, such as a CO sensor, an NH3 sensor, a CH4 sensor, an O2 sensor, and / or a particulate matter sensor. Using the environmental data from the environmental sensors 208, the environmental status manager 214 may generate an environmental status for the interior 106 of the livestock housing 102.

[0099] The environmental status manager 214 may be configured to determine an average environmental status 226. The average environmental status 226 may be based on the data from the environmental sensors 208 and may include, for example, an instantaneous average environmental status for each of a plurality of environmental conditions (e.g., CO2 concentration, temperature, etc.) using data from one or more environmental sensors 208. In some embodiments, the average environmental status 226 includes a rolling average environmental status. In some embodiments, the environmental status manager 214 analyzesthe time-series average environmental data to determine the time-series average environmental status 226.

[0100] The environmental status manager 214 further includes a calculated compensation level 228, which may correspond to a compensation level to return the average environmental status 226 to a target (e.g., setpoint) environmental status. The environmental status manager 214 further includes a debouncer 230 configured to determine whether the calculated compensation level 228 exceeds a threshold environmental status at predetermined fixed intervals and / or whether the cumulative difference between the applied compensation level and the calculated compensative level exceeds the threshold accumulated error. As discussed herein, the debouncer 230 is configured to reduce micromanagement of the environmental status by an environmental control manager 216.

[0101] The environmental control system 200 may include the environmental control manager 216, which may correspond to the environmental control manager 116. The environmental control manager 216 may be in communication with one or more environmental controls (e.g., environmental controls 110). Based on the debouncer 230, the calculated compensation level 228, and / or the average environmental status 226, the environmental control manager 216 provides instructions to one or more of the environmental controls 110 to adjust an operating status of the one or more environmental controls 110 to change the actual environmental status within the livestock housing 102 to be a suitable range (e.g., within the threshold environmental status). As discussed herein, the environmental control manager 216 may adjust any type of environmental control 110, such as one or more fans, louvers, heaters, coolers, humidifiers, any other environmental control, and combinations thereof.

[0102] FIG. 3A is a graph 300 representing an implementation of an environmental status manager including a debouncer, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. FIG. 3B is a graph illustrating a zoomed in portion of the graph 300 of FIG. 3A. The graphs 300 of FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B are for an implementation of carbon dioxide concentration in the livestock housing 102. However, it should be understood that the implementation may be for any environmental condition.

[0103] The graph 300 includes a target environmental status 302 (e.g., a target setpoint) for CO2 concentration in the livestock housing 102. At the target environmental status 302, the environmental status manager 114 may not apply a compensation (e.g., may apply a 0% compensation). The graph 300 may further include threshold environmental status 304 (e.g., a maximum threshold CO2 concentration; an upper limit for the CO2 concentration) for the environmental condition. At the threshold environmental status 304, the environmental status manager 114 may cause the environmental control manager 116 to maximize the compensation of the environmental controls 110 (e.g., apply a maximum compensation). In some embodiments, below a lower concentration 306, the environmental status manager 114 may not apply a compensation (e.g., may not activate the environmental controls 110). Each of the target environmental status 302, the threshold environmental status 304, and the lower concentration 306 may be set by a user and / or may be based on the type of livestock in the livestock housing 102. In some embodiments, each of the target environmental status 302, the threshold environmental status 304, and the lower concentration 306 is stored in a memory of the environmental control system 100.

[0104] The graph 300 may further include a time-series average environmental status 308 (also referred to as an "averaging filter") based on the time-series environmental data measured by the environmental sensors 108. In some embodiments, the time-series average environmental status 308 includes an instantaneous average environmental status. In some embodiments, the time-series average environmental status 308 includes a running average environmental status, such as a running average environmental status based on a previous time period (e.g., thirty seconds, one minute, five minutes, ten minutes, etc.).

[0105] An applied compensation 310, which includes a percentage of a total potential compensation, is illustrated in the graph 300. The total potential compensation may range from, for example, 0% to 100%, wherein 0% corresponds to no compensation (e.g., wherein the ventilation fans 110-1 are off, the ventilation louvers 110-2 are closed, the heater 110-3 is off, and the cooler 110-4 is off), and 100% correspond to full compensation (e.g., wherein the ventilation fans 110-1 are on, the ventilation louvers 110-2 are fully open, and one of the heater 110-3 and the cooler 110-4 is off (depending on whether the temperature and / or humidity areto be increased or decreased)). At a compensation level of 50%, a ventilation fan 110-1 may be on one-half of the time and off one-half of the time, or a variable speed ventilation fan 110-1 may be operated at 50% speed.

[0106] A time-series calculated compensation level (curve 312) may correspond to the time-series compensation level that would cause the time-series average environmental status 308 to return to the target environmental status 302.

[0107] As can be seen in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, every predetermined interval T, the applied compensation 310 may be adjusted. During the interval T, the applied compensation 310 may remain substantially constant (e.g., the operation of the ventilation fans 110-1, the ventilation louvers 110-2, the heaters 110-3, and the coolers 110-4 may not be adjusted), even though the average time-series environmental status 308 is changing (and, accordingly, the environmental data is changing). In other words, during the interval T, the applied compensation 310 may plateau (e.g., not change). After the interval T, the most recent time-series average environmental status 308 may be determined, and the applied compensation 310 may be adjusted based on the most recent time-series average environmental status 308. In some embodiments, the average environmental status during the duration of the interval T may be ignored when adjusting the applied compensation 310.

[0108] As described above, in some embodiments, the interval T includes a fixed time interval. The interval T may be adjusted by a user to adjust an aggressiveness of the applied compensation 310. For example, shortening the interval T may result in a more constant change in the operating conditions of the environmental controls 110 and a longer interval T may result in reduced power consumption and reduced wear on the environmental controls 110.

[0109] In addition, as described above, in some embodiments, the interval T is based on a duration for the cumulative difference between the applied compensation 310 and the calculated compensation level (curve 312) to exceed the threshold accumulated error. For example, as described above, responsive to the threshold accumulated error being exceeded, the environmental status manager 114 may provide a control signal to adjust the compensation level of the environmental controls 110. The level of the compensation may be based on one or more of the value of the time-series average environmental status 308 when the thresholdaccumulated error is exceeded, the rate of change of the average environmental status 308, the length of the interval T between the previous adjustment of the applied compensation 310 and when the threshold accumulated error is exceeded (causing the applied compensation 310 to be adjusted), the average environmental status 308 over the interval T, and / or the average calculated compensation level over the interval T.

[0110] Curve 312 represents a level of compensation (the amount of heating, cooling, and / or ventilation) that would be applied to continuously compensate for deviations between the actual average environmental status and the target environmental status 302. The compensation level of curve 312 may include the level of compensation to bring the environmental status to the target environmental status (e.g., decrease the CO2, CO, NH3, and particulate matter concentrations, increase the O2 concentration, increase or decrease the temperature depending on the current temperature, increase or decrease the humidity depending on the current humidity). The curve 312 represents the application of a continuous compensation for the deviation between the actual instantaneous average environmental status and the compensation required to the target environmental status 302 and may be referred to herein as a "micromanaged compensation level."

[0111] The micromanaged compensation level of curve 312 may substantially follow the time-series average environmental status 308, but with a time delay. However, the micromanaged compensation level may consume more power and / or fuel (e.g., for the heater 110-3) and disturb the equilibrium of the environmental controls 110. In addition, micromanaged compensation may cause more wear and tear of the environmental controls 110 than a less micromanaged approach wherein the operating conditions of the environmental controls 110 is changed less frequently than responsive to every change (or a majority of changes) of the timeseries average environmental status 308. Accordingly, reducing the amount of micromanagement, while maintaining the time-series average environmental status 308 within acceptable levels, facilitates optimization of the environmental controls 110 (e.g., by reducing electricity and fuel use, and reducing wear and tear).

[0112] FIG. 4A is a graph illustrating an implementation of an environmental status manager including a debouncer, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure.Curve 402 represents the applied compensation and curve 404 represents the calculated compensation. With reference to FIG. 4A, between time 0 and time 2000, the applied compensation is adjusted 5 times, whereas between time 2000 and time 4000, the applied compensation is adjusted only 2 times. The use of the integrated error debouncer facilitates improved control of the environmental status of the livestock housing 102.

[0113] FIG. 4B is a graph illustrating an implementation of an environmental status manager including a debouncer, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. The debouncer of FIG. 4A is substantially the same as the debouncer of FIG. 4A, except that the threshold accumulated error of FIG. 4B is about one-half of the threshold accumulated error of FIG. 4A. Curve 406 represents the applied compensation and curve 408 represents the calculated compensation. With reference to FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, the applied compensation is adjusted more frequently when the threshold accumulated error is set at a lower magnitude. Accordingly, a user may adjust the operation of the debouncer by adjusting the threshold accumulated error.

[0114] FIG. 5A is a graph illustrating an implementation of an environmental status manager including a debouncer, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. The debouncer of FIG. 5A multiplied the error by a factor of 2 when the error was positive (e.g., when the current compensation was greater than the calculated compensation). Curve 502 represents the applied compensation and curve 504 represents the calculated compensation.

[0115] FIG. 5B is a graph an implementation of an environmental status manager including another debouncer, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. The debouncer of FIG. 5B multiplied the error by a factor of 2 when the error was negative (e.g., when the current compensation was less than the calculated compensation). Curve 506 represents the applied compensation and curve 508 represents the calculated compensation.

[0116] With combined reference to FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B, the factor may increase the rate at which the applied compensation is adjusted in one direction and not another direction (e.g., depending on whether the applied compensation is greater than or less than the calculated compensation).

[0117] FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating an implementation of an environmental status manager including a debouncer, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure.In FIG. 6, the debouncer is configured to square the error at each time. Curve 602 represents the applied compensation and curve 604 represents the calculated compensation. In some embodiments, squaring the error exponentially increases the rate at which the applied compensation is applied at larger errors compared to smaller errors.

[0118] FIG. 7 is a simplified flowchart illustrating a method 700 of operating an environmental control system, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. The method 700 includes receiving environmental data for an interior of a livestock housing from a plurality of environmental sensors, as shown at act 702. The environmental data may be received by the environmental sensors, and received by an environmental status manager (e.g., environmental status manager 114) from the environmental sensors.

[0119] The environmental status manager may determine the average environmental status for the interior of the livestock housing, as shown at act 704. In some embodiments, the environmental status manager continuously determines the average environmental status based on the time-series environmental data received from the environmental sensors. The average environmental status may include a running average environmental status.

[0120] The method 700 may further include determining whether the average environmental status is greater than a threshold environmental status at predetermined time intervals, as shown in act 706. The predetermined time intervals may include fixed time intervals, each having the same length. In some embodiments, determining whether the average environmental status is greater than a threshold environmental status at predetermined time intervals includes using a debouncer to select the times when act 706 is performed.

[0121] In some embodiments, the time intervals are selected to include a plurality of time-series data measurements within each predetermined time interval. In some such embodiments, determining whether the average environmental status is greater than a threshold environmental status at predetermined time intervals includes determining whether the average environmental status is greater than a threshold environmental status less frequently than time-series data is measured with the environmental sensors.

[0122] With continued reference to FIG. 7, in some embodiments, the method 700 further includes, responsive to determining that the average environmental status exceeds thethreshold environmental status, applying a compensation to change an environmental status of the interior of the livestock housing, as shown in act 708. The compensation may be applied based on the average environmental status, the target environmental status, and the threshold environmental status, as described above (e.g., such as with reference to Equation (1)). In some embodiments, the applied compensation level may be applied based on data stored in memory (e.g., in a look-up table), based on a PID controller, and / or may be otherwise based on a relationship between the average environmental status and the environmental controls 110. In some embodiments, the applied compensation may be multiplied by a factor depending on whether the currently applied compensation level is less than a calculated compensation level to return the environmental status to a target environmental status (e.g., responsive to determining that the environmental status manager 114 is undercompensating for the environmental status). The magnitude of the factor may depend, at least in part, on the difference between the currently applied compensation level and the calculated compensation level and / or the ratio of the currently applied compensation level to the calculated compensation level.

[0123] Applying the compensation may include causing the environmental control manager 116 to cause one or more environmental controls 110 to change an operating position. For example, applying the compensation may include adjusting a power to a ventilation fan 110-1, adjusting an opening position of a ventilation louver 110-2, turning one or more heaters 110-3 on or off, and / or turning one or more coolers 110-4 on or off.

[0124] The method 700 may further include maintaining the compensation for the predetermined time interval, as shown in act 710. As shown in act 712, responsive to maintaining the compensation for the predetermined time interval, the method 700 further includes adjusting the compensation after the predetermined time interval. Adjusting the compensation after the predetermined time interval may include adjusting the compensation based on the average environmental status at the end of the predetermined time interval, as described herein.

[0125] FIG. 8 is a simplified is a simplified flowchart illustrating a method 800 of operating an environmental control system, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure. The method 800 includes receiving environmental data for an interior of a livestockhousing from a plurality of environmental sensors, as shown at act 802. Act 802 may be substantially similar to act 702 described above with reference to FIG. 7.

[0126] The method 800 further includes determine the average environmental status for the interior of the livestock housing, as shown at act 804. Act 804 may be substantially similar to act 804 described above with reference to FIG. 8.

[0127] The method 800 may further include determining an accumulated error between a currently applied compensation and a calculated compensation, as shown in act 806. The calculated compensation may include a compensation calculated based on an instantaneous average environmental status and the compensation that would be applied to bring the average environment status to the setpoint environmental status, as described above (e.g., such as with reference to Equation (1)). In other embodiments, the calculated compensation level is determined based on at least one of data stored in memory (e.g., in a look-up table), based on a PID controller, or a relationship between the average environmental status and the environmental controls 110.

[0128] Act 806 may include, at each point in which time-series environmental data is measured and the average environmental status is determined, determining the error between the currently applied compensation and a calculated compensation; and summing the error across multiple time-series points to determine the accumulated error. In some embodiments, act 806 includes multiplying the error by a factor, depending on whether the error is positive or negative (e.g., where the error is negative, such as where the currently applied compensation is less than the calculated compensation), the error may be multiplied by a factor, as described above. The magnitude of the factor may be based on one or both of the difference between the currently applied compensation and the calculated compensation at that time or the ratio of the currently applied compensation to the calculated compensation.

[0129] The method 800 further includes, responsive to determining that the magnitude of the accumulated error exceeds a threshold accumulated error, adjusting the applied compensation, as shown in act 808. The threshold accumulated error may be selected based on a desired aggressiveness of the compensation (e.g., how often the compensation should be adjusted). In some embodiments, the error between the currently applied compensation and acalculated compensation may be positive during some times and the error may be negative at other times. In some such embodiments, at least some of the positive error may cancel at least some of the negative error within the time interval. Accordingly, the compensation may be adjusted only when the accumulated error (corresponding to a corresponding cumulative change in the average environmental status and the cumulative environmental status within the interior of the livestock housing 102) exceeds the threshold environmental status. The amount by which the compensation may be adjusted may be determined based on one or more of the calculated compensation level that would return the average environmental status to the target environmental status (e.g., at the time the threshold accumulated error was exceeded, the accumulated average calculated compensation level over the duration), as described above. In some embodiments, the calculated compensation level for adjustment of the applied compensation is determined based on the average calculated compensation level over the duration over which the threshold accumulated error was reached. In other words, in some such embodiments, the calculated compensation level may be determined based on the average calculated compensation level since the previous time the threshold accumulated error was reached and the applied compensation level was changed. The calculated compensation level may be multiplied by a factor, depending on whether the environmental status manager 114 was undercompensating during the duration, as described above. In some such embodiments, the environmental status manager 114 is configured to adjust environmental controls 110 more quickly when the environmental status manager 114 is undercompensated compared to when the environmental status manager 114 is overcompensating. For example, if the environmental status manager 114 is undercompensating for the environmental conditions (e.g., if the accumulated error is negative (e.g., the accumulated applied compensation is less than the accumulated calculated compensation)), the applied compensation may be multiplied by a factor (e.g., by two).

[0130] Responsive to adjusting the compensation, the method 800 further includes setting the accumulated error to zero and repeating acts 802-808 to continuously adjust the compensation, as shown in act 810. The compensation adjusted at act 808 may be maintained until the threshold environmental status is again exceeded.

[0131] Accordingly, the environmental status manager 114 may facilitate maintaining the interior 106 of the livestock housing 102 within a suitable operating range and outside of the threshold environmental status without micromanaging the environmental controls 110. The debouncer implemented in the environmental status manager 114 may cause the environmental control manager 116 to adjust an operating condition of the environmental controls 110 at predetermined intervals (e.g., at fixed time intervals, responsive to a predetermined change in the average environmental status, and / or responsive to a threshold difference between a cumulative applied compensation and a cumulative calculated applied compensation). By way of contrast, conventional livestock housings may be overcompensated, such as by having ventilation fans that are constantly on and louvers that are fully open for concentration control while a heater and / or cooler are constantly operated for temperature control. However, overcompensating may be costly. In addition, overcompensating one environmental condition (e.g., CO2, CO, NH3, CH4, and / or particulate matter concentration) may negatively affect another environmental condition (e.g., temperature, humidity). For example, if an external temperature is lower than the environmental threshold for temperature, overcompensating for CO2, CO, NH3, and / or particulate matter concentration may reduce the temperature below or closer to the threshold environmental temperature.

[0132] FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a computer device 902, in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure. In some embodiments, one or more of the housing monitoring system 112, the environmental status manager 114, or the environmental control manager 116 includes a computer device such as the computer device 902 of FIG. 9. The computer device 902 may include a communication interface 904, at least one processor 906, a memory 908, a storage device 910, an input / output device 912, and a bus 914. The computer device 902 may be used to implement various functions, operations, acts, processes, and / or methods disclosed herein, such as the method 400 or the method 500.

[0133] The communication interface 904 may include hardware, software, or both. The communication interface 904 may provide one or more interfaces for communication (such as, for example, packet-based communication) between the computer device 902 and one or more other computing devices or networks (e.g., a server). As an example, and not by way of limitation,the communication interface 904 may include a network interface controller (NIC) or network adapter for communicating with an Ethernet or other wire-based network or a wireless NIC (WNIC) or wireless adapter for communicating with a wireless network, such as a Wi-Fi.

[0134] The at least one processor 906 may include hardware for executing instructions, such as those making up a computer program. By way of non-limiting example, to execute instructions, the at least one processor 906 may retrieve (or fetch) the instructions from an internal register, an internal cache, the memory 908, or the storage device 910 and decode and execute them to execute instructions. In some embodiments, the at least one processor 906 includes one or more internal caches for data, instructions, or addresses. The at least one processor 906 may include one or more instruction caches, one or more data caches, and one or more translation look aside buffers (TLBs). Instructions in the instruction caches may be copies of instructions in the memory 908 or the storage device 910.

[0135] The memory 908 may be coupled to the at least one processor 906. The memory 908 may be used for storing data, metadata, and programs for execution by the processor(s). The memory 908 may include one or more of volatile and non-volatile memories, such as Random- Access Memory ("RAM"), Read-Only Memory ("ROM"), a solid state disk ("SSD"), Flash, Phase Change Memory ("PCM"), or other types of data storage. The memory 908 may be internal or distributed memory.

[0136] The storage device 910 may include storage for storing data or instructions. As an example, and not by way of limitation, storage device 910 may include a non-transitory storage medium described above. The storage device 910 may include a hard disk drive (HDD), Flash memory, an optical disc, a magneto-optical disc, magnetic tape, or a Universal Serial Bus (USB) drive or a combination of two or more of these. The storage device 910 may include removable or non-removable (or fixed) media, where appropriate. The storage device 910 may be internal or external to the storage device 910. In one or more embodiments, the storage device 910 is non-volatile, solid-state memory. In other embodiments, the storage device 910 includes read-only memory (ROM). Where appropriate, this ROM may be mask programmed ROM, programmable ROM (PROM), erasable PROM (EPROM), electrically erasable PROM(EEPROM), electrically alterable ROM (EAROM), or Flash memory or a combination of two or more of these.

[0137] The storage device 910 may include machine-executable code stored thereon. The storage device 910 may include, for example, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. The machine-executable code includes information describing functional elements that may be implemented by (e.g., performed by) the at least one processor 906. The at least one processor 906 is adapted to implement (e.g., perform) the functional elements described by the machine-executable code. In some embodiments the at least one processor 906 may be configured to perform the functional elements described by the machine-executable code sequentially, concurrently (e.g., on one or more different hardware platforms), or in one or more parallel process streams.

[0138] When implemented by the at least one processor 906, the machine-executable code is configured to adapt the at least one processor 906 to perform operations of embodiments disclosed herein. For example, the machine-executable code may be configured to adapt the at least one processor 906 to perform at least a portion or a totality of the method 700 of FIG. 7 and / or the method 800 of FIG. 8. As a specific, non-limiting example, the machine-executable code may be configured to adapt the at least one processor 906 to cause the computer device 902 to determine whether the current average environmental status is outside of a threshold environmental status range at predetermined fixed time intervals and / or determine whether a cumulative difference between the calculated compensation level and the currently applied compensation has exceeded a threshold accumulated error, as described above with reference to the method 700 of FIG. 7 and the method 800 of FIG. 8.

[0139] The input / output device 912 may allow an operator of the environmental control system 100 to provide input to, receive output from, the computer device 902. The input / output device 912 may include a mouse, a keypad or a keyboard, a joystick, a touch screen, a camera, an optical scanner, network interface, modem, other known I / O devices, or a combination of such I / O interfaces. The input / output device 912 may include one or more devices for the operator to toggle between various displays of, for example, the environmental status manager 114.

[0140] In some embodiments, the bus 914 (e.g., a Controller Area Network (CAN) bus, an ISOBUS (ISO 11783 Compliant Implement Control)) may include hardware, software, or both that couples components of computer device 902 to each other and to external components.

[0141] All references cited herein are incorporated herein in their entireties. If there is a conflict between definitions herein and in an incorporated reference, the definition herein shall control.

[0142] While the present disclosure has been described herein with respect to certain illustrated embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize and appreciate that it is not so limited. Rather, many additions, deletions, and modifications to the illustrated embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure as hereinafter claimed, including legal equivalents thereof. In addition, features from one embodiment may be combined with features of another embodiment while still being encompassed within the scope as contemplated by the inventors. Further, embodiments of the disclosure have utility with different and various machine types and configurations.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A method of operating a livestock housing, the method comprising: receiving, from a plurality of environmental sensors disposed within the livestock housing, environmental data indicative of an environmental status of the livestock housing; at each of a plurality of times, determining an average environmental status based on the environmental data from the plurality of environmental sensors; at each of the plurality of times, determining a compensation level to cause the environmental status to return to a setpoint environmental status; determining an accumulated error between a currently applied compensation level and the determined compensation level; and responsive to the accumulated error exceeding a predetermined threshold accumulated error, adjusting the currently applied compensation level.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the currently applied compensation level comprises adjusting at least one environmental controller to change the environmental status within the livestock housing.

3. The method of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein determining a compensation level to cause the environmental status to return to a setpoint environmental status comprises determining a setpoint for one or more environmental controls of the livestock housing based on a relationship between the one or more environmental controls and the average environmental status.

4. The method of any one of claims 1 through 3, wherein determining a compensation level to cause the environmental status to return to a setpoint environmental status comprises determining an operating status for one or more environmental controls based on predefined rules based on the average environmental status.

5. The method of any one of claims 1 through 4, wherein determining an accumulated error between a currently applied compensation level and the determined compensation level comprises: determining an error between the currently applied compensation level and the determined compensation level at each of the plurality of times; and summing the error at each of the plurality of times.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising, for each of the plurality of times, multiplying the error responsive to the currently applied compensation level being less than the determined compensation level.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising, for each of the plurality of times, exponentiating the error responsive to the currently applied compensation level being less than the determined compensation level.

8. The method of any one of claims 1 through 7, further comprising, concurrently with adjusting the currently applied compensation level, setting the accumulated error to zero and determining the accumulated error between the adjusted currently applied compensation level and the determined compensation level based on the environmental data received from the plurality of environmental sensors received after adjusting the currently applied compensation level.

9. The method of any one of claims 1 through 8, wherein adjusting the currently applied compensation level comprises adjusting at least one environmental controller of the livestock housing.

10. The method of any one of claims 1 through 9, wherein adjusting at least one environmental controller comprises adjusting at least one of a louver, a fan, a cooler, or a heater.

11. The method of any one of claims 1 through 10, wherein determining a compensation level to cause the environmental status to return to a setpoint environmental status comprises determining the compensation level based on a difference between the average environmental status and a threshold environmental status.

12. A system, comprising: environmental sensors disposed within a livestock housing and configured to receive environmental data indicative of one or more environmental conditions within the livestock housing; environmental controls configured to change the one or more environmental conditions within the livestock housing; and an environmental control system in operable communication with the environmental sensors and the environmental controls, the environmental control system comprising: at least one processor; and at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the environmental control system to: at a plurality of times, receive the environmental data from the environmental sensors; at each of the plurality of times, determine an average environmental status within the livestock housing based on the environmental data; at each of the plurality of times, determine an accumulated error between a currently applied compensation level and a calculated compensation level to cause the average environmental status to return to a setpoint environmental status; and responsive to the accumulated error exceeding a predetermined threshold accumulated error, adjust the currently applied compensation level to adjust one or more of the environmental controls.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the environmental control system to determine a rolling average environmental status within the livestock housing and determine the calculated compensation level at each of the plurality of times based on the rolling average environmental status.

14. The system of claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the environmental control system to determine the accumulated error based on a summation of a difference between the currently applied compensation level and the calculated compensation level at each of the plurality of times.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the environmental control system to multiply the difference between the currently applied compensation level and the calculated compensation level at each time when the calculated compensation level is greater than the currently applied compensation level.

16. The system of any one of claims 12 through 15, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the environmental control system to determine the calculated compensation level based on: a difference between the average environmental status and the setpoint environmental status; and a difference between a threshold environmental status and the setpoint environmental status.

17. The system of any one of claims 12 through 16, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the environmental control system to set the accumulated error to zero responsive to adjusting the currently applied compensation level.

18. The system of any one of claims 12 through 17, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the environmental control system to determine the calculated compensation level based on at least one of data stored in memory, a PID controller, or a relationship between the average environmental status and the one or more environmental controls.

19. An environmental control system, comprising: at least one processor; and at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the environmental control system to: at a plurality of times, receive time-series environmental data indicative of at least one environmental condition within a livestock housing; determine an average environmental status within the livestock housing at each time of the plurality of times based on the time-series environmental data; determine, at each time of the plurality of times, a calculated compensation level to cause the average environmental status to return to a setpoint environmental status; and using a debouncer, adjust at least one environmental controller based on an accumulated difference between a currently applied compensation level and the calculated compensation level at each time of the plurality of times.

20. The environmental control system of claim 19, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the environmental control system to adjust the at least one environmental controller responsive to the accumulated difference exceeding a threshold accumulated difference.

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