Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are provided for controlling irrigation of plant media in a grow space in response to measurement of condensed water from air in the grow space. Irrigation supply volume may be set in response to a volume based on the measurement of the condensed water. The condensed water may result from evaporation and transpiration in the grow space.

Abstract: A tower catch mechanism that facilitates loading of vertical grow towers in a vertical farming structure having associated conveyance mechanisms for moving the vertical grow towers through a controlled environment, while being exposed to controlled conditions, such as lighting, airflow, humidity and nutritional support. The present disclosure describes a load conveyance mechanism that transfers grow towers to a loading position where grow towers are loaded onto a select grow line. Each grow line may include a grow tower conveyance system that moves vertically-oriented grow towers to select positions along a grow line. The system may include a tower catch mechanism that registers grow towers in position at the loading position for insertion into a select grow line. In some implementations, the tower catch mechanism can be integrated into other structures of the vertical farming system, such as a gutter basin corresponding to a select grow line.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer-readable media are provided for entering a fail safe mode for a controlled agricultural environment (CAE). The CAE includes movable receptacle supports for holding plants. In response to determining a fault condition in the CAE or in environmental conditioning equipment for the CAE, operation of the CAE or the environmental conditioning equipment is controlled to effect a change from a standard operating mode to a fail safe mode. The standard operating mode corresponds to desired environmental conditions in the CAE and the fail safe mode corresponds to non-ideal environmental conditions.

Abstract: Facility layouts and configurations for an automated crop production system for controlled environment agriculture. In particular implementations, the core of the facility comprises a controlled growth environment and a central processing system. The controlled growth environment includes systems for exposing crops housed in modules, such as grow towers, to controlled environmental conditions. The central processing system may include various stations and functionality both for preparing crop-bearing modules to be inserted in the controlled growth environment, for harvesting crops from the crop-bearing modules after they have been extracted from the controlled growth environment, and for cleaning or washing crop-bearing modules for re-use. The controlled growth environment may include vertical farming structure having vertical grow towers and associated conveyance mechanisms for moving the vertical grow towers along one or more grow lines.

Abstract: A drive unit in a controlled agricultural environment increases a distance between an alignment element and a drive element in order to receive a plant support structure that is oriented non-vertically so that the plant support structure rests on the drive element or the alignment element. The drive unit decreases the distance between the alignment element and the drive element so that the alignment element or the drive element rests on the plant support structure. The drive element conveys the plant support structure along a direction of conveyance.

Abstract: A vertical farming structure having vertical grow towers and associated conveyance mechanisms for moving the vertical grow towers through a controlled environment, while being exposed to controlled conditions, such as lighting, airflow, humidity and nutritional support. The present disclosure describes a reciprocating cam mechanism that provides a cost-efficient mechanism for conveying vertical grow towers in the controlled environment. The reciprocating cam mechanism can be arranged to increase the spacing of the grow towers as they are conveyed through the controlled environment to index the crops growing on the towers. The present disclosure also describes a tower shuttle mechanism that provides operational flexibility by decoupling the loading and unloading operations of the grow towers from the vertical farming structure and, therefore, allowing multiple grow towers to be extracted for harvesting in a batch process before loading new grow towers into the vertical farming structure in a separate process.

Abstract: A plant support tower cleaning system for cleaning a plant support tower is provided. A drive actuator propels the tower through the tower cleaning system. One or more linear or rotating first structures each have at least one projection. One or more first actuators coupled to the one or more first structures push the at least one projection of the one or more first structures against a stem side of plant material in containers in the tower as the tower is propelled through the system. A rotating second structure has at least one circumferential projection to pull plant material from a root side of the plant containers as the tower is propelled through the system. A second actuator rotates the second structure.

Abstract: Mechanisms that facilitate location and alignment of grow towers for one or more processing operations. In one implementation, the alignment mechanism comprises a track including an alignment feature and one or more engagement actuators. The alignment feature is configured to engage features of a track-contacting face of a grow tower. The engagement actuators press the grow tower against the track, causing the alignment feature to engage the grow tower and align it along the track to facilitate processing operations.

Abstract: Automated pickup and laydown systems for an automated crop production system for controlled environment agriculture that includes vertical grow towers. Some implementations of the invention can be used to create a horizontal-to-vertical interface between a vertical grow structure that includes vertical grow towers and associated conveyance mechanisms for moving the vertical grow towers through a controlled environment, and a central processing system that processes (for example, harvests, cleans, transplants, etc.) the grow towers.

Abstract: Harvesting systems for an automated crop production system for controlled environment agriculture that includes vertical grow towers or other grow structures. Some implementations of the invention include a two-stage grouping mechanism that increases the amount of plants or crops harvested from a grow tower. Some implementations of the invention allow for harvesting of grow towers having grow sites on opposing faces.

Abstract: An arrangement and method are provided for weighing plant support structures that are travel along a conveyance line. A load bar includes connections to couple the load bar to a carrier, which is moveable along the conveyance line. The load bar receives ends of plant support structure hooks, and exerts a lateral force on the hooks as the load bar travels. A load cell includes a leading portion that is lower in height than a weighing portion of the load cell. Each hook raises as it travels onto the load cell. The relationship of the height of the weighing portion and the length of the hook end are arranged such that, as the hook end is raised, it remains engaged with the load bar so that the load bar continues to exert a lateral force on the hook as the load bar moves in the direction of travel.

Abstract: Automated transplanter assemblies and systems. For example, the disclosure sets forth a plug holder and assembly adapted to transplant plugs into tight-fitting plug holders. The disclosure also conveys a transplanter assembly useful in transplant operations where a plug holder is oriented at a non-perpendicular angle to the surface of a grow tower or other structure that contains the plug holder. The disclosure also provides a transplanter system useful in transplanting plugs into grow towers.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer-readable media are provided for fluid flow measurement in a controlled agricultural environment. A digital flow sensor comprises a flow sensor element including a first digital thermometer for providing a first output and a heating element thermally coupled to the first digital thermometer. The flow sensor may also include a second digital thermometer for providing a second output, and logic for providing a flow measurement based at least in part upon the first and second outputs. A flow sensor network may include multiple digital flow sensors, where data lines of the flow sensors are all coupled to the same network bus for communicating data.

Abstract: A crop production system for a controlled plant growing environment is provided. A first assembly comprises a first sub-assembly that itself comprises a first plurality of arms radiating outward from a central portion, wherein each arm is separated from two adjacent arms of the first plurality of arms by respective angles, each arm has a first end proximal to the central portion and a second end distal to the central portion, and each arm is configured to support a plurality of plant growth modules. The plurality of plant growth modules may be moved in a first direction miming from the first end to the second end of each arm of the first plurality of arms.

Abstract: Facility layouts and configurations for an automated crop production system for controlled environment agriculture. In particular implementations, the core of the facility comprises a controlled growth environment and a central processing system. The controlled growth environment includes systems for exposing crops housed in modules, such as grow towers, to controlled environmental conditions. The central processing system may include various stations and functionality both for preparing crop-bearing modules to he inserted in the controlled growth environment for harvesting crops from the crop-bearing modules after they have been extracted from the controlled growth environment, and for cleaning or washing crop-hearing modules for re-use.

Abstract: An automated crop production system for controlled environment agriculture that includes a horizontal-to-vertical grow tower interface between a vertical grow structure that includes vertical grow towers and associated conveyance mechanisms for moving the vertical grow towers through a controlled environment, and a processing system that performs one or more processing operations—such as harvesting, cleaning and/or transplanting—on the grow towers in a substantially horizontal orientation. The present disclosure also describes an automated crop production system for controlled environment agriculture that selectively routes grow towers through various processing stages of an automated crop production system.

Abstract: A vertical farming structure having vertical grow towers and associated conveyance mechanisms for moving the vertical grow towers through a controlled environment, while being exposed to controlled lighting, airflow, humidity and nutritional support. The present disclosure describes a reciprocating cam mechanism that provides a cost-efficient mechanism for conveying vertical grow towers in the controlled environment. The reciprocating cam mechanism can be arranged to increase the spacing of the grow towers as they are conveyed through the controlled environment to index the crops growing on the towers. The present disclosure also describes an irrigation system that provides aqueous nutrient solution to the grow towers.

Abstract: A vertical farming structure having vertical grow towers and associated conveyance mechanisms for moving the vertical grow towers through a controlled environment, while being exposed to controlled lighting, airflow, humidity and nutritional support. The present disclosure describes a reciprocating cam mechanism that provides a cost-efficient mechanism for conveying vertical grow towers in the controlled environment. The reciprocating cam mechanism can be arranged to increase the spacing of the grow towers as they are conveyed through the controlled environment to index the crops growing on the towers. The present disclosure also describes an irrigation system that provides aqueous nutrient solution to the grow towers.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer-readable media are provided for controlling environmental conditions to control latent and sensible loads in a plant grow chamber. The density of plant receptacles in the grow chamber is such that, when plants are held in the plurality of plant receptacles, evapotranspiration contributes to the latent load so that the latent load exceeds a sensible load, resulting in evapotranspirative cooling. This shift in the energy balance allows for greater energy savings, as compared with conventional indoor farms that focus on removing heat from the growth environment. Environmental conditions may be controlled to achieved desired conditions, such as the optimum ratio of harvest weight yield to energy consumption under given constraints.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer-readable media are provided for controlling environmental conditions to control latent and sensible loads in a plant grow chamber. The density of plant-0 receptacles in the grow chamber is such that, when plants are held in the plurality of plant receptacles, evapotranspiration contributes to the latent load so that the latent load exceeds a sensible load, resulting in evapotranspirative cooling. This shift in the energy balance allows for greater energy savings, as compared with conventional indoor farms that focus on removing heat from the growth environment. Environmental conditions may be controlled to achieved desired conditions, such as the optimum ratio of harvest weight yield to energy consumption under given constraints. Light modules for enabling plant growth suitable for controlled environment agriculture are also described.