Abstract: Systems and methods for providing grow lighting are described. One embodiment of a method includes receiving a lighting cycle for a predetermined plant type and receiving a command for implementing the lighting cycle with a grow lighting assembly on a plant, where the grow lighting assembly includes a grow lighting device with a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs). Some embodiments also include determining an illumination pattern for implementing the lighting cycle for the grow lighting assembly and sending the illumination pattern to the grow lighting assembly for implementation.

Abstract: Embodiments of wave-based lighting efficiencies are provided. As an example, a method includes determining a characteristic of a voltage from an alternating current (AC) waveform, where the AC waveform is configured to power a load, and wherein the AC waveform includes positive voltage portions, negative voltage portions, and zero axis points. Some embodiments include determining a first position in the AC waveform to create a first step with a first step voltage and applying the AC waveform at the first step to a first predetermined portion of the load, where the first predetermined portion of the load has a first voltage rating that corresponds to the first step voltage.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to systems and methods for emptying and/or cleaning a tray within in an assembly line grow pod. In one embodiment, a sanitizer component for cleaning a tray coupled to a cart in an assembly line grow pod is disclosed. The sanitizer component is coupled to a track such that the cart and the tray are received in the sanitizer component via the track. The sanitizer component comprises a first actuator arm positioned underneath the track and extendable through an opening in the track and an aperture at a bottom end of the cart to contact the tray such that the tray rotates in a first direction. The sanitizer component further includes an actuator motor coupled to the first actuator arm for extending the first actuator arm and a controller. The controller is communicatively connected to the actuator motor in the sanitizer component.

Abstract: Embodiments of wave-based lighting efficiencies are provided. As an example, a method includes determining a characteristic of a voltage from an alternating current (AC) waveform, where the AC waveform is configured to power a load, and wherein the AC waveform includes positive voltage portions, negative voltage portions, and zero axis points. Some embodiments include determining a first position in the AC waveform to create a first step with a first step voltage and applying the AC waveform at the first step to a first predetermined portion of the load, where the first predetermined portion of the load has a first voltage rating that corresponds to the first step voltage.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods providing a slip gear for an industrial cart. One embodiment includes a slip gear that includes a track gear for engaging with the track, a stabilizing bar, and a motor gear for engaging with a drive motor and the track gear. The slip gear may also include a stabilizing bar that is rotatably coupled to the track gear and the motor gear. In some embodiments, when the drive motor rotates the motor shaft, the motor gear rotates with the motor shaft to cause rotation of the track gear to propel the industrial cart. In response to an object pushing the industrial cart along the track, the stabilizing bar rotates to disengage the track gear from the track, thereby reducing friction between the industrial cart and the track.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are bed seed holders and assembly line grow pods incorporating bed seed holders for growing plants. According to some embodiments, a bed seed holder includes a body having an elevation envelope, at least one seed receptacle extending into the body, where the seed receptacle is adapted to maintain a fluid within the seed receptacle, and a spigot that is adapted to maintain a level of the fluid within the body below the elevation envelope.

Abstract: An image capture system for a grow pod includes a master controller that has a processor, a memory, and cameras that are communicatively coupled to the master controller and positioned to capture images of plants or seeds. The memory stores a grow recipe and a logic. The grow recipe defines instructions for growing the plants or seeds and expected attributes corresponding to the instructions. The logic, when executed by the processor, causes the master controller to perform at least the following: receive, from the cameras, the images of the plants or seeds, determine attributes of the plants or seeds from the images, compare the attributes of the plants or seeds from the images to the expected attributes defined by the grow recipe, and adjust the instructions of the grow recipe for growing the plants or seeds based on the comparison of the attributes to the expected attributes.

Abstract: An assembly line grow pod includes a seeding region, a harvesting region, a track that extends between the seeding region and the harvesting region, a cart including a tray for holding plant matter, and a wheel coupled to the tray, where the wheel is engaged with the track, and a weight sensor positioned on the cart or the track, where the weight sensor is positioned to detect a weight of the plant matter positioned within the cart.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for providing and operating a pump control module and one or more pumps in an assembly line grow pod are provided herein. Some embodiments include the assembly line grow pod having one or more pumps, a master controller with a plurality of hays and being communicatively coupled to the pumps, and a pump control module within one of the bays such that the pump control module is communicatively coupled to the master controller and the pumps. The pump control module is programmed to receive information regarding fluid within the assembly line grow pod, determine one or more control signals necessary to provide or pressurize the fluid, and provide the one or more control signals to the one or more pumps.

Abstract: An assembly line grow pod notification system includes a status indicator and a cart containing one or more plants therein. The cart includes one or more sensors and a cart-computing device communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors and the status indicator, the cart-computing device comprising a processor and a non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium comprising one or more programming instructions thereon. When executed, the one or more programming instructions cause the processor to receive, from the one or more sensors, one or more signals that correspond to a status of the cart and one or more characteristics of the one or more plants, determine information regarding the status from the one or more signals, and direct the status indicator to output a notification signal that corresponds to the determined information.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein include systems and methods for self-learning in a grow pod. One embodiment includes a cart that houses a plant for growth, a track that receives the cart, where the track causes the cart to traverse the assembly line grow pod along a predetermined path, and an environmental affecter for providing sustenance to the plant. Some embodiments include a sensor for monitoring an output of the plant and a computing device. The computing device may store logic that causes the assembly line grow pod to receive growth data from the sensor to determine the output of the plant and compare the output of the plant against an expected plant output. In some embodiments, the logic causes the assembly line grow pod to determine an alteration to a grow recipe to improve the output of the plant and alter the grow recipe for improving the output of the plant.

Abstract: A system for testing for contaminants in an assembly line grow pod includes a tray moving along a track arranged in an assembly line grow pod, a plurality of cells arranged on the tray and a contaminant sensor. Each cell supports seeds, plants, or both, and a selected cell includes side walls and a base that define a cavity. The contaminant sensor is arranged in the cavity of the selected cell. The contaminant sensor includes a sensing device and a control device. The sensing device directly senses a characteristic of a content present in association with the selected cell. The control device is coupled to the sensing device and operable to receive a signal from the sensing device. The control device may determine a likelihood of contamination based on the received signal.

Abstract: An assembly line grow pod includes a track extending between a growing region and a sanitizing region, a cart movably engaged with the track, a sanitizer system that applies a sanitizer solution to the cart at the sanitizing region, the sanitizer system including a gray solution tank for storing sanitizer solution runoff collected from the sanitizing region, a watering system that provides water to plant matter on the cart at the growing region, the watering system including an untreated water tank for storing water runoff collected from the growing region, and a flowmeter fluidly coupled to at least one of the sanitizer system and the watering system.

Abstract: An assembly line grow system for measuring growth of a plant, includes a rail system, carts moving along the rail system and carrying plants, seeds, or both, weight sensors, a proximity sensor, a camera and a master controller. The master controller is communicatively coupled to the carts, the weight sensors, the proximity sensor, and the camera. The master controller is operable to receive information from the weight sensors, the proximity sensor, and the camera, determine a growth state of a selected plant based on the information indicative of weight, color, height, or a combination thereof, and control a dosage supply component to provide a modified dosage based on the growth state.

Abstract: An assembly line grow pod includes a track extending between a growing region and a sanitizing region, a cart movably engaged with the track, a sanitizer system that applies a sanitizer solution to the cart at the sanitizing region, the sanitizer system including a gray solution tank for storing sanitizer solution runoff collected from the sanitizing region, a cycled solution tank fluidly coupled to the gray solution tank, and a sanitizer reservoir fluidly coupled to the cycled solution tank, and a watering system that provides water to plant matter on the cart at the growing region, the watering system including an untreated water tank for storing water collected from the growing region.

Abstract: A system includes a track having conductive rails, a signal generating circuit coupled to the conductive rails, and an electrical power source coupled to the conductive rails via the signal generating circuit. The signal generating circuit includes a power supply for generating trigger signals. The electrical power source provides an electrical signal to the conductive rails via the signal generating circuit. The signal generating circuit generates a first trigger signal within the electrical signal at a first time interval and generates a second trigger signal within the electrical signal at a second time interval. The first trigger signal corresponds to a beginning of a communication signal and the second trigger signal corresponds to an end of the communication signal. The communication signal is transmitted over a predetermined number of cycles of the electrical signal provided by the electrical power source. The predetermined number of cycles correspond to a coded communication.

Abstract: A pressure control system includes a sealed area containing one or more carts for growing plant material, the one or more carts movably supported on a track within the sealed area, an air pressure controller operably coupled to the sealed area such that the air pressure controller controls an air pressure within the sealed area, and a controller. The controller includes a processor, a data storage device storing one or more pressure recipes, and a non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium comprising one or more programming instructions stored thereon. The one or more programming instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: identify the plant material in the one or more carts, retrieve a pressure recipe for the identified plant material from the data storage device, and direct the air pressure controller to adjust the air pressure within the sealed area based on the pressure recipe for the identified plant material.