Vertical growth tower and module for an environmentally controlled vertical farming system

Abstract

A multi-stage, plant growing system is configured for high density growth and crop yields and includes among other things, towers or vertical growth columns, an enclosed controlled environmental growth chamber, interchangeable growth modules, and control systems capable of machine learning wherein the crops are optimally spaced and continually staged in their planting cycles utilizing special growth modules to provide an accelerated and continuous annual production yield. A vertical growth tower for vertical farming comprising a plurality of growth modules, each growth module comprising an enclosure configured to securely hold at least one plant; a drain aperture in the enclosure; and at least one lateral growth opening in the enclosure configured to permit and to encourage lateral growth of the at least one plant away from the enclosure; wherein one or more of the growth modules is configured to stackably support one or more of the other growth modules above and/or below itself within the vertical growth tower.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE[0001]The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 362,380, filed Jul. 14, 2016, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 366,510, filed Jul. 25, 2016 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 369,520, filed Aug. 1, 2016, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates generally to a vertical hydroponic and aeroponic plant production apparatus and system and, more particularly, the invention relates to a growth module apparatus configured for use in a vertical hydroponic and aeroponic plant production system comprising a controlled environment allowing for vertical hydroponic and aeroponic crop production in a fraction of the space necessary for traditional plant production techniques.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION[0003]During the twentieth century, agriculture slowly began to evolve from a conservative industry to a fast-moving high-tech industry in order to...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]Among those technology advancements is the application of new control systems capable of machine learning, or artificial intelligence, through the assimilation of thousands or even millions of data points acquired by strategically placed sensors during the course of a growing cycle or multiple growing cycles, and further capable of automatically adjusting year-round crop growth conditions within the controlled environment such as lighting, fertilizers (nutrients), moisture, gas levels, temperature, air flow, and ultimately, packaging to produce higher yields at a lower cost per square foot due to plants' vertical growth and increased space efficiency, with reduced overall losses per planted crop, better nutritional value, visual appeal and faster growth cycles.

[0007]Additionally, a multi-stage, plant growing system has been configured for high density growth and crop yields and includes among other things, towers and/or vertical columns comprising a plura...

Problems solved by technology

However, t...

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