SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING A WEIGHT OF A PLANT IN A GROW POD
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.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/985,119 entitled “Systems and Methods for Managing a Weight of a Plant in a Grow Pod,” filed May 21, 2018 which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/519,704 filed on Jun. 14, 2017, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELDEmbodiments described herein generally relate to systems and methods for managing a weight of plant matter in an assembly line grow pod and, more specifically, to managing a weight of plant matter in an assembly line grow pod by changing a recipe for the plant matter based at least in part on a measured weight of the plant.
BACKGROUNDWhile crop growth technologies have advanced over the years, there are still many problems in the farming and crop industry. As an example, while technological advances have increased efficiency and production of various crops, many factors may affect a harvest, such as weather, disease, infestation, and the like. Additionally, while the United States currently has suitable farmland to adequately provide food for the U.S. population, other countries and future populations may not have enough farmland to provide the appropriate amount of food.
Controlled environment growing systems may mitigate the factors affecting traditional harvests. In such controlled environment growing systems, it is desirable to monitor plant growth and to monitor the performance of different mechanisms and systems within the controlled environment growing system. Increases and/or fluctuations in the weights of plants may be indicative of plant growth and/or the performance of different mechanisms and systems within the controlled environment growing system.
SUMMARYIn one embodiment, 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.
In another embodiment, an assembly line grow pod system includes a track, a cart including a tray for holding plant matter, and a wheel coupled to the tray, where the wheel is engaged with the track, a weight sensor positioned on at least one of the cart or the track, where the weight sensor is positioned to detect a weight of the plant matter positioned within the cart, a watering system for dispensing a mixture to the plant matter positioned within the cart, and a controller communicatively coupled to the weight sensor, the controller including a processor and a computer readable and executable instruction set, which when executed, causes the processor to, receive an identification of a type of the plant matter positioned within the cart, determine a weight of the plant matter positioned within the cart with the weight sensor, retrieve a preferred weight for the plant matter positioned within the cart based at least in part on the received identification of the type of plant matter, compare the detected weight of the plant matter with the retrieved preferred weight, change a recipe for the plant matter positioned within the cart based at least in part on the comparison of the determined weight with the preferred weight, and direct the watering system to dispense a mixture according to the changed recipe to the plant matter positioned within the cart.
In yet another embodiment, a method for managing growth of plant matter in an assembly line grow pod includes moving a cart along a track, the cart including a tray and a wheel coupled to the tray, where the wheel is engaged with the track, detecting a weight of plant matter positioned within the tray with a weight sensor, where the weight sensor is positioned on one of the cart or the track, comparing the detected weight of the of the plant matter with a preferred weight of the plant matter, changing a recipe for the plant matter positioned in the cart, and dispensing a mixture based on the changed recipe to the plant matter with a watering system.
The embodiments set forth in the drawings are illustrative and exemplary in nature and not intended to limit the disclosure. The following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments can be understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where like structure is indicated with like reference numerals and in which:
Embodiments disclosed herein include assembly line grow pod systems and methods for managing a weight of plant matter in a grow pod. In embodiments, an assembly line grow pod includes a track, a cart supported on the track, a weight sensor configured to measure a weight of a payload on the cart, and a master controller. The master controller identifies plants in the cart, determines the total simulated days of growth for the cart, retrieves a preferred weight for the plants based on the total simulated days, compares the weight of the plants on the cart with the preferred weight, and changes a recipe for the plants based on the comparison.
As used herein, the term “plant matter” may encompass any type of plant and/or seed material at any stage of growth, for example and without limitation, seeds, germinating seeds, vegetative plants, and plants at a reproductive stage.
Referring initially to
Referring particularly to
The lighting system 206 includes one or more electromagnetic sources to provide light waves in one or more predetermined wavelengths that may facilitate plant growth. Electromagnetic sources of the lighting system 206 may generally be positioned on the underside of the track 102 such that the electromagnetic sources can illuminate plant matter in the carts 104 on the track 102. The assembly line grow pod 100 may also include one or more sensors positioned on the underside of the track 102 to detect growth and/or fruit output of plant matter positioned within carts 104 on the track 102, and the one or more sensors may assist in determining when plant matter positioned within the carts 104 is ready for harvest.
The harvester system 208 generally includes mechanisms suitable for removing and harvesting plant matter from carts 104 positioned on the track 102. For example, the harvester system 208 may include one or more blades, separators, or the like configured to harvest plant matter. In some embodiments, when a cart 104 enters the harvesting region 209, the harvester system 208 may cut plant matter within the cart 104 at a predetermined height. In some embodiments, a tray 105 (
After the plant matter within the cart 104 is harvested by the harvester system 208, the cart 104 moves to the sanitizer system 210. In embodiments in which remaining plant matter in the cart 104 after harvesting is not to be reused, the sanitizer system 210 is configured to remove the plant matter and/or other particulate matter remaining on the cart 104. The sanitizer system 210 may include any one or combination of different washing mechanisms, and may apply high pressure water, high temperature water, and/or other solutions for cleaning the cart 104 as the cart 104 passes through the sanitizer system 210. Once the remaining particulate and/or plant matter is removed in the cart 104, the cart 104 moves into the seeding region 109, where the seeder system 108 deposits seeds within the cart 104 for a subsequent growing process, as described in greater detail herein.
Referring again to
In embodiments, the assembly line grow pod 100 includes a master controller 106 that is communicatively coupled to one or more of the seeder system 108, the harvester system 208 (
Referring collectively to
Referring particularly to
The carts 104 include weight sensors 310 that are configured to detect a weight of plant matter held within the trays 105 of the carts 104. In the embodiment depicted in
Each of the carts 104 further include a cart computing device 312. The cart computing devices 312 may be communicatively coupled to the weight sensors 310 and are configured to receive signals indicative of a detected weight from the weight sensors 310. The cart computing devices 312 may also be communicatively coupled to the master controller 106 through a network 850.
In some embodiments, one or more weight sensors 311 may be placed on or beneath or on the track 102. The weight sensors 311 are configured to measure the weights of the carts 104 on the track 102 and transmit signals indicative of a detected weight to the master controller 106. In embodiments, the master controller 106 may determine the weight of plant matter on a cart 104 based on a detected weight from the weight sensors 311 and a known weight of the cart 104 (i.e., the weight of the cart 104 without plant matter).
Still referring to
The master controller 106 may include a computing device 130. The computing device 130 may include a memory component 840, which stores systems logic 844a and plant logic 844b. As described in more detail below, the systems logic 844a may monitor and control operations of one or more of the components of the assembly line grow pod 100. For example, the systems logic 844a may monitor and control operations of the lighting system 206 (
The master controller 106 is coupled to a network 850. The network 850 may include the internet or other wide area network, a local network, such as a local area network, a near field network, such as Bluetooth or a near field communication (NFC) network. The network 850 is also coupled to a user computing device 852 and/or a remote computing device 854. The user computing device 852 may include a personal computer, laptop, mobile device, tablet, phablet, mobile device, or the like and may be utilized as an interface with a user. As an example, a detected weight of seeds within each of the carts 104 may be transmitted to the user computing device 852, and a display of the user computing device 852 may display the weight for each of the carts. The user computing device 852 may also receive input from a user, for example, the user computing device 852 may receive an input indicative of a type of seeds to be placed in the carts 104 by the seeder system 108.
Similarly, the remote computing device 854 may include a server, personal computer, tablet, phablet, mobile device, server, or the like, and may be utilized for machine to machine communications. As an example, if the master controller 106 determines a type of seeds being used (and/or other information, such as ambient conditions), the master controller 106 may communicate with the remote computing device 854 to retrieve a previously stored recipe (i.e., predetermined preferred growing conditions, such as water/nutrient requirements, lighting requirements, temperature requirements, humidity requirements, or the like). As such, some embodiments may utilize an application program interface (API) to facilitate this or other computer-to-computer communications.
The memory component 840 may store operating logic 942, the systems logic 844a, and the plant logic 844b. The systems logic 844a and the plant logic 844b may each include a plurality of different pieces of logic, each of which may be embodied as a computer program, firmware, and/or hardware, as an example. The computing device 130 further includes a local interface 946 that may be implemented as a bus or other communication interface to facilitate communication among the components of the computing device 130.
The processor 930 may include any processing component operable to receive and execute instructions (such as from a data storage component 936 and/or the memory component 840). The input/output hardware 932 may include and/or be configured to interface with microphones, speakers, a display, and/or other hardware.
The network interface hardware 934 may include and/or be configured for communicating with any wired or wireless networking hardware, including an antenna, a modem, LAN port, wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) card, WiMax card, ZigBee card, Bluetooth chip, USB card, mobile communications hardware, and/or other hardware for communicating with other networks and/or devices. From this connection, communication may be facilitated between the computing device 130 and other computing devices, such as the user computing device 852 and/or remote computing device 854.
The operating logic 942 may include an operating system and/or other software for managing components of the computing device 130. As also discussed above, systems logic 844a and the plant logic 844b may reside in the memory component 840 and may be configured to perform the functionality, as described herein.
It should be understood that while the components in
Additionally, while the computing device 130 is illustrated with the systems logic 844a and the plant logic 844b as separate logical components, this is also an example. In some embodiments, a single piece of logic (and/or or several linked modules) may cause the computing device 130 to provide the described functionality.
As described below, detected weights from the weight sensors 310 and the weight sensors 311 may be utilized by the master controller 160 to verify the operation of various components of the assembly line grow pod 100 and may change growing conditions for plant matter in the carts 104.
At block 520, the master controller 106 (
At block 530, the master controller 106 (
At block 540, the master controller 106 (
Referring now to
For example and referring to collectively to
At block 720, the master controller 106 receives a signal indicative of a detected weight of plant matter on the cart 104 from the weight sensors 310 and/or the weight sensors 311. In some embodiments, the master controller 106 may communicate with the environmental sensor 313 and calculate the weight of water and/or other additives positioned within the cart. The master controller 106 may calculate the actual weight of the plant matter by subtracting the detected weight of water and/or other additives from the detected weight from the weight sensors 310/311.
At block 730, the master controller 106 determines the elapsed grow time of the cart. In some embodiments, the master controller 106 may determine the simulated days of growth for plants on a cart based on the detected current position of the cart on the track 102, such as from the position sensors 315. For example, in a growing configuration in which the carts 104 are intended to traverse the length of the track 102 (i.e. the distance between the seeding region 109 and the harvesting region 209) in 6 days, if the detected position of the cart 104 indicates the cart 104 has travelled a distance more than ⅚ of the total distance of the track 102, the master controller 106 determines that the plant in the cart 104 is in day 5 of growth. As another example, if the detected position of the cart 104 indicates that the cart 104 has travelled a distance more than 3/6 of the total distance but less than 4/6 of the total distance of the track 102, the master controller 106 determines that the plant in the cart 104 is in day 3 of growth.
At block 740, the master controller 106 retrieves a preferred weight for plant matter positioned within the cart based on the elapsed grow time. For example, the plant logic 844b may store a preferred weight for the plant matter in day 5 of growth and the master controller 106 retrieves the preferred weight for the plant matter from the plant logic 844b. In some embodiments, such as when the cart 104 includes different types of plant matter positioned at different positions of the cart 104, the master controller 106 may retrieve preferred weights for each of the different types of plant matter positioned within the cart 104. For example, the master controller 106 may retrieve a first preferred weight for the first plant matter positioned within the first portion of the cart 104, and a separate second preferred weight for the second plant matter positioned within the second portion of the cart 104.
At block 750, the master controller 106 compares the detected weight of the plant matter on the cart with the retrieved preferred weight. At block 660, the master controller 106 changes a recipe for the plants based on the comparison. In embodiments, if the detected weight of the plant matter in the cart 104 is lower than the preferred weight, then the master controller 106 may adjust elements of the recipe for the plants (e.g., lighting, nutrients, temperature, pressure, etc.) to induce further growth. For example, the master controller 106 may increase the red light level of the lighting recipe for the plant matter for further growth of the plant matter that passes along the track 102 of the assembly line grow pod 100. As another example, the master controller 106 may increase a nutrient mixture provided to the cart 104, such as through the watering system 107 (
As illustrated above, various embodiments for managing a weight of a plant in a grow pod are disclosed. These embodiments create a quick growing, small footprint, chemical free, low labor solution to growing microgreens and other plants for harvesting. These embodiments may create recipes and/or receive recipes that dictate the timing and wavelength of light, pressure, temperature, watering, nutrients, molecular atmosphere, and/or other variables the optimize plant growth and output. The recipe may be implemented strictly and/or modified based on results of a particular plant, tray, or crop.
Accordingly, embodiments according to the present disclosure include an assembly line grow pod that includes a cart positioned on a track, and a weight sensor configured to measure a weight of plant matter positioned within the cart. The weight detected by the weight sensor may be utilized to detect the operation of seeding systems of the assembly line grow pod, and may be used to change growing conditions for the plant matter within the cart in real-time, changing lighting, nutrients, and water provided to the plant matter.
While particular embodiments and aspects of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described herein, various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Moreover, although various aspects have been described herein, such aspects need not be utilized in combination. Accordingly, it is therefore intended that the appended claims cover all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of the embodiments shown and described herein.
It should now be understood that embodiments disclosed herein includes systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable mediums for managing a weight of a plant. It should also be understood that these embodiments are merely exemplary and are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure.
Claims
1. An assembly line grow pod comprising:
- a cart that includes a tray having a plurality of sections for holding plant matter and a wheel coupled to the tray;
- a track including an ascending portion that causes the cart to move upward in a vertical direction and a descending portion that causes the cart to move downward in the vertical direction;
- an environmental affecter that provides sustenance to the plant matter, as the cart traverses the track;
- a plurality of weight sensors coupled to respective sections of the plurality of sections of the tray, where the plurality of weight sensors are positioned to detect a weight of the plant matter positioned within the respective sections of the tray; and
- a controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of weight sensors, the controller comprising a processor and a computer readable and executable instruction set, which when executed, causes the processor to perform at least the following: retrieve a recipe for the plant matter in the respective sections of the tray, the recipe including instructions for providing water, nutrient, lighting, and temperature adjustment to grow the plant matter to a to a preferred weight in the respective sections of the tray; actuate the environmental affecter to provide the sustenance to the plant matter; receive data from the plurality of weight sensors; determine, from the data, the weight of the plant matter positioned within the respective sections of the tray; compare the weight of the plant matter in the respective sections of the tray with the preferred weight of the plant matter; determine whether the weight of the plant matter in the respective sections is within a predetermined tolerance of the preferred weight; and in response to determining that the weight of the plant matter in the respective sections of the tray is not within the predetermined tolerance of the preferred weight, alter the recipe for the plant matter positioned within the respective sections of the tray, wherein altering the recipe includes altering planned operation of the environmental affecter prior to harvesting the plant matter.
2. The assembly line grow pod of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of sections of the tray includes a different type of plant matter.
3. The assembly line grow pod of claim 1, wherein the executable instruction set, when executed, further causes the processor to, in response to determining that the weight of the plant matter is within the predetermined tolerance of the preferred weight, change the recipe for the plant matter positioned within the respective sections of the tray to maintain the weight of the plant matter for harvesting.
4. The assembly line grow pod of claim 1, further comprising an environmental sensor coupled to the tray of the cart, wherein the environmental sensor detects a level of water in the tray of the cart and the processor determines the weight of the plant matter based at least in part on a weight of the water in the cart.
5. The assembly line grow pod of claim 1, further comprising a harvester that is positioned along the track, such that when the weight of the plant matter in the respective sections of the tray is within the predetermined tolerance of the preferred weight, the cart is directed to the harvester for harvesting the plant matter.
6. An assembly line grow pod, comprising:
- a cart that includes a tray having a plurality of sections for holding plant matter and a wheel coupled to the tray;
- a harvester configured to harvest plant matter from the cart;
- a track including an ascending portion that causes the cart to move upward in a vertical direction and a descending portion that causes the cart to move downward in the vertical direction;
- a plurality of weight sensors coupled to respective sections of the plurality of sections of the tray, where the plurality of weight sensors are positioned to detect a weight of the plant matter positioned within each of the respective sections of the tray;
- a watering component for dispensing a water solution to the plant matter positioned within each of the plurality of sections of the tray of the cart; and
- a controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of weight sensors, the controller comprising a processor and a computer readable and executable instruction set, which when executed, causes the processor to: retrieve a recipe for the plant matter in the respective sections of the tray, the recipe including instructions for providing water to grow the plant matter to a to a preferred weight in the respective sections of the tray; receive data from the plurality of weight sensors; determine, from the data, the weight of the plant matter positioned within the respective sections of the tray; determine whether the weight of the plant matter in the respective sections is within a predetermined tolerance of the preferred weight; and in response to determining that the weight of the plant matter is not within the predetermined tolerance of the preferred weight, the recipe for the plant matter positioned within the respective sections of the tray, wherein altering the recipe includes altering a planned operation of the watering component prior to harvesting, wherein the cart is sent to the harvester via the track when the weight of the plant matter is within the predetermined tolerance of the preferred weight;
7. The assembly line grow pod of claim 6, wherein the respective sections of the tray include a different type of plant matter.
8. The assembly line grow pod of claim 6, wherein determining the weight of the plant matter includes determining a cart weight of the cart with the plant matter and a known weight of the cart without the plant matter.
9. The assembly line grow pod of claim 6, wherein the executable instruction set, when executed, further causes the processor to:
- detect a water level in the cart with an environmental sensor; and
- determine the weight of the plant matter within the respective sections of the tray of the based at least in part on the water level in the cart.
10. The assembly line grow pod of claim 6, wherein the executable instruction set, when executed, further causes the processor to perform at least the following:
- determine when the cart is at a first position on the track;
- determine a first weight of the plant matter within the respective sections of the tray when the cart is at the first position on the track;
- determine when the cart is at a second position on the track that is different than the first position;
- determine a second weight of the plant matter within the respective sections of the tray at the second position; and
- determine whether the second weight of the plant matter in the respective sections of the tray is sufficiently higher than the first weight of the plant matter in the respective sections to justify harvesting.
11. The assembly line grow pod of claim 6, wherein the executable instruction set, when executed, further causes the processor to perform at least the following:
- store determined weights of the plant matter positioned within the respective sections of the tray;
- determine a trend of determined weights of the plant matter; and
- change the recipe for the plant matter positioned within the respective sections of the tray based at least in part on the trend of determined weights.
12. The assembly line grow pod of claim 6, further comprising a seeder, wherein the seeder provides seed to the respective sections of the tray, and wherein in response to determining that the weight of the respective sections of the tray is not within the predetermined tolerance, the cart is returned to the seeder to add seed to the respective sections of the tray.
13. The assembly line grow pod of claim 6, further comprising at least one of the following: a lighting component and a temperature component.
14. A method for managing growth of plant matter in an assembly line grow pod, the method comprising:
- retrieving a recipe for the plant matter in the respective sections of a tray in a cart, the recipe including instructions for moving the cart along a track of the assembly line grow pod, instructions for providing water, nutrients, lighting, and temperature adjustment to grow the plant matter to a to a preferred weight in the respective sections of the tray;
- causing the cart to move along the track between a seeder and a harvester, the cart comprising the tray having a plurality of sections for holding plant matter and a wheel coupled to the tray, wherein the wheel is engaged with the track;
- receiving data from a plurality of weight sensors that are coupled to the cart,
- determining, from the data, a weight of plant matter positioned within the respective sections of the plurality of sections of the tray;
- comparing a weight of the of the plant matter in the respective sections of the tray with the preferred weight of the plant matter for the respective sections of the tray;
- changing the recipe for the plant matter positioned in the respective sections of the tray based at least in part on comparing the weight with the preferred weight;
- causing an environmental affecter to actuate, based on changes to the recipe; and
- harvesting the plant matter with the harvester when the weight of the plant matter in the respective sections of the tray is within a predetermined tolerance of the preferred weight.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein detecting the weight of the plant matter in the respective sections of the tray comprises detecting a cart weight with the plant matter and determining an empty cart weight.
16. The method of claim 14, further comprising
- detecting a water level in the cart with an environmental sensor; and
- determining the weight of the plant matter within the respective sections of the tray based at least in part on the water level in the cart.
17. The method of claim 14, wherein the preferred weight of the plant matter is based at least in part on an elapsed grow time of the plant matter within the cart.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising detecting a distance traveled by the cart along the track and determining the elapsed grow time based at least in part on the distance traveled by the cart.
19. The method of claim 14, further comprising:
- depositing a plurality of seeds into each of the plurality of sections of the tray;
- detecting a seed weight of the plurality of seeds within the respective sections of the tray; and
- determining an amount of seeds positioned in the respective sections of the cart based at least in part on the seed weight of the plurality of seeds and a known average weight of a seed of the plurality of seeds.
20. The method of claim 14, further comprising
- determining when the cart is at a first position on the track;
- determining the weight of the plant matter within the respective sections of the tray of the cart when the cart is at the first position on the track;
- determining when the cart is at a second position on the track that is different than the first position; and
- determining the weight of the plant matter within the respective sections of the tray at the second position.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 30, 2021
Publication Date: Jan 20, 2022
Inventors: Gary Bret Millar (Highland, UT), Michael Stephen Hurst (Farmington, UT), Taylor John Woodbury (Provo, UT)
Application Number: 17/490,724