Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for weight measurement of grow towers and/or grow lines with grow towers disposed thereon. In various embodiments, compression type, tension type, and/or beam type load cells may be positioned at various locations within the apparatus to facilitate weight measurement. In one embodiment, a hook, which couples a grow tower to a grow line, includes a tension type load cell disposed between two portions of the hook. The load cell measures force applied thereto which can provide or be translated into a weight measurement.

Abstract: A tower opening apparatus is provided that is configured to simplify the opening of a multi-piece, hinged, hydroponic tower. The hydroponic tower opening apparatus utilizes a collection of static and continuously moving components (e.g., motor driven drive rollers, alignment rollers, stationary wedges, longitudinal ramps, etc.) to open a hydroponic tower as it passes through the apparatus. In particular, as the tower is driven through the opening apparatus, the fastener(s) holding the face plate(s) to the tower body is released by a wedge(s). After the fastener(s) is released, the face plate(s) is partially rotated about the tower body, thereby partially opening the tower cavity(s). Next a longitudinal ramp(s) continues to rotate the face plate(s) relative to the tower body, moving the face plate(s) to a fully open position.

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: 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 controlled environment agriculture system including multiple environmental grow zones through which plants and/or lighting or other equipment that influence environmental equipment are cycled during the growth phase of farm production. In one implementation, the system includes multiple grow zones through which plants are cycled during the growth phase of farm production. The system may include a first environmentally-controlled growing chamber, a second environmentally-controlled growing chamber, and one or more interfaces to allow a conveyance mechanism to transfer grow containers between the chambers. Each growth chamber may include environmental control systems, and associated sensors, for regulating at least one environmental condition, such as air temperature, airflow speed, relative air humidity, and ambient carbon dioxide gas content.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are provided for controlling a ratio of carbon dioxide to oxygen in a grow space by removing O2 from the grow space, and, in some cases, adding supplemental CO2 to the grow space to achieve a desired ratio of CO2 to O2. Various approaches include filtering out oxygen or reacting O2 with a reactant to produce O2-reduced air; and removing air from the grow space, removing nitrogen from the removed air, and (a) separating out CO2 and returning the nitrogen and the CO2 to the grow space, or (b) adding supplemental CO2 and the nitrogen to the grow space. Another approach removes air from the grow space, separates out gasses including N2 and CO2, and returns the N2 or the CO2 to the grow space.

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: The present disclosure relates to apparatuses for plant harvesting. More specifically, apparatuses for harvesting vertically grown fruit (620), plants, or vegetables are described herein. In one embodiment a harvesting system includes a grow line (100, 102) and one or more grow towers (150) coupled to and moveable along the grow line (100, 102). A plurality of platforms (306) are disposed adjacent to the grow towers (150) and include one or more robots (302) disposed on the platforms (306).

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-hearing modules for re-use.

Abstract: An irrigation system for 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 grow tower conveyance system that moves vertically-oriented grow towers to select positions along a grow line. An irrigation line having apertures at the select positions provides aqueous nutrient solution to the grow towers, while a gutter structure captures excess solution. In a closed loop system, the excess solution returns to a recirculation tank. The present disclosure provides a dual pump system for effectively and efficiently removing excess nutrient solution from the gutter structure.

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: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to apparatus for measuring various characteristics of an indoor agriculture system. In one embodiment, a plug holder weight measurement system includes a plant plug holder disposed in a grow tower and one or more load cells positioned and configured to detect a weight of a plug holder. The load cells may be compression-type, tension-type, torsion-type, or beam-type load cells and each may be integrated into the grow tower.

Abstract: A multi-piece hydroponic tower comprised of a tower body defining a tower cavity, where the tower cavity provides a passageway for a water/nutrient mix, and a tower face plate hingeably coupled to the tower body. The tower face plate is positionable relative to the tower body in a tower cavity closed position and a tower cavity open position. The tower face plate includes a plurality of plant container cut-outs configured to accept plant containers. A fastener temporarily latches tower face plate to the tower body when the tower face plate is in the tower cavity closed position.

Abstract: A hydroponic tower cleaning and debris removal system is provided that is configured to automatically clean and remove plant and material debris from within a hinged, hydroponic tower as well as the plant containers contained within such a hydroponic tower. The hydroponic tower cleaning system utilizes a drive system to force the tower through the apparatus; an alignment system to ensure that the tower remains in proper alignment throughout the cleaning process; a brush system that initiates separation of plant debris from the tower/plant containers and ensures that the plant roots are torn apart; a plunger system to eject plant debris from within the plant containers; an air delivery system to blow away the debris; and rollers to maintain tower face alignment during the cleaning process.

Abstract: A crop production system (100) for a controlled plant growing environment is provided. A subassembly comprises a guide portion that includes passive guides (104, 504, 904, 1004) radiating outward from a central portion (102, 502, 520, 911). Each passive guide may be separated from two adjacent passive guides by respective angles. Each passive guide has a first end proximal to the central portion and a second end distal to the central portion. Each passive guide is configured to guide plant growth modules (210). The plant growth modules are movable between the first end and the second end of each passive guide. An active guide (406, 907, 1007) causes the plant growth modules to travel in a first direction along the passive guides as the active guide is moved.

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-hearing modules for re-use.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer-readable media are provided for determining optimum placement, within a grow space, of plants of different varieties. Sets of reference environmental setpoints each correspond to a desired predicted performance of a respective plant variety. Environmental condition metrics at different positions within the grow space are determined. An allocation of the plants is determined among different volumetric regions within the grow space based on predicted performance of the plant varieties as a function of position within the grow space.

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 determining optimum placement, within a grow space, of plants of different varieties. Sets of reference environmental setpoints each correspond to a desired predicted performance of a respective plant variety. Environmental condition metrics at different positions within the grow space are determined. An allocation of the plants is determined among different volumetric regions within the grow space based on predicted performance of the plant varieties as a function of position within the grow space.

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.