Condition presentation device, condition presentation method, and program

Abstract

To provide a system that can select appropriate environmental control conditions taking into consideration the harvest time, yield, and quality of plants.SOLUTION: The condition presentation device may include a condition reception unit that receives conditions for harvest time and yield that should be satisfied for plants cultivated in a plant factory. The condition presentation device may include a presentation unit that presents at least one candidate environmental control condition that satisfies the conditions, together with the quality of the plant, based on environmental control conditions that indicate control conditions of an environmental control equipment that controls environmental states in the plant factory, and environmental control condition information that indicates the growth period, yield, and quality of the plant when the environmental control equipment controls the environmental states in the plant factory according to the environmental control conditions. The condition presentation device may include a selection reception unit that accepts a selection of an environmental control condition to be used in controlling the environmental states by the environmental control equipment of the plant factory from the at least one candidate environmental control condition.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a condition presentation device, a condition presentation method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a cultivation method including a preparation step of preparing correspondence information in which light characteristic information indicating the characteristics of light irradiated on leafy vegetables is associated with quantification quality information obtained by quantifying the quality of leafy vegetables, a setting step of setting the light characteristic information, and an irradiation step of irradiating the leafy vegetables with light. [Prior Art Document] [Patent Document] [Patent Document 1] JP-A-2022-13560

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] When cultivating plants in a plant factory, a system that can select appropriate environmental control conditions in consideration of the quality of the plants in addition to the harvest time and yield of the plants is desired.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] A condition presentation device according to an aspect of the present invention may include a condition reception unit that receives conditions for a harvest time and a yield to be satisfied for plants cultivated in a plant factory. The condition presentation device may include a presentation unit that presents at least one environmental control condition candidate that satisfies the conditions together with the quality of the plants, based on environmental control condition information indicating environmental control conditions for environmental control equipment that controls the environmental state in the plant factory and the growth period, yield, and quality of the plants when the environmental control equipment controls the environmental state in the plant factory according to the environmental control conditions. The condition presentation device may include a selection reception unit that receives a selection of an environmental control condition to be used for controlling the environmental state by the environmental control equipment in the plant factory from among the at least one environmental control condition candidate.

[0005] In the condition presentation device, the condition receiving unit may further receive an acceptable range of quality that the plant should satisfy. Based on the environmental control condition information, the presentation unit may present at least one candidate environmental control condition that satisfies the conditions for harvest time and yield, and the acceptable range of quality, along with the quality of the plant.

[0006] In any of the condition-presenting devices, the environmental control conditions may include control conditions for at least one of the following: the temperature inside the plant factory and the light intensity of the light source that irradiates the plants with light.

[0007] In any of the condition-presenting devices, the quality may indicate at least one indicator of the size, taste, and color of the plant.

[0008] In any of the condition presentation devices, the presentation unit may present candidates for the harvest time and yield of the plant based on forecast information indicating at least one of the predicted market price of the plant and the predicted demand for the plant, before the condition receiving unit receives the conditions.

[0009] In any of the above-mentioned condition presentation devices, the presentation unit may present candidate yields obtained by multiplying the predicted demand at the harvest time shown in the prediction information by a predetermined ratio.

[0010] Any of the condition-providing devices may further include an environmental control condition providing unit that provides the selected environmental control conditions to an environmental control device that controls environmental control equipment for adjusting the environment of the plant factory.

[0011] A condition presentation method according to one aspect of the present invention may include a step in which a condition receiving unit receives conditions for harvest time and yield that should be met for plants cultivated in a plant factory. The condition presentation method may include a step in which a presentation unit presents at least one candidate environmental control condition that satisfies the conditions, along with the quality of the plants, based on environmental control condition information that indicates the control conditions of an environmental control equipment that controls the environmental state in the plant factory, and the growth period, yield, and quality of the plants when the environmental control equipment controls the environmental state in the plant factory according to the environmental control condition. The condition presentation method may include a step in which a selection receiving unit receives a selection of an environmental control condition from the at least one candidate environmental control condition to be used for controlling the environmental state by the environmental control equipment in the plant factory.

[0012] A program according to one aspect of the present invention may cause a computer to perform a step of receiving conditions for harvest time and yield that should be met for plants cultivated in a plant factory. The program may cause the computer to perform a step of presenting at least one candidate environmental control condition that satisfies the conditions, along with the quality of the plants, based on environmental control condition information that indicates the control conditions of an environmental control equipment that controls the environmental state in the plant factory, and the growth period, yield, and quality of the plants when the environmental control equipment controls the environmental state in the plant factory according to the environmental control condition. The program may cause the computer to perform a step of receiving a selection of environmental control conditions from the at least one candidate environmental control condition to be used for controlling the environmental state by the environmental control equipment in the plant factory.

[0013] It should be noted that the above summary of the invention does not enumerate all of its features. Furthermore, subcombinations of these features may also constitute an invention. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] This figure shows an example of a functional block in the overall configuration of the plant management system according to this embodiment. [Figure 2]This figure shows an example of a functional block for a condition presentation device. [Figure 3] This figure shows an example of forecast information illustrating the relationship between predicted market prices and predicted demand for plants. [Figure 4] This figure shows an example of environmental control condition information. [Figure 5] This flowchart shows an example of the procedure by which a condition-providing device provides environmental control conditions to a plant management device. [Figure 6] This figure shows an example of a hardware configuration. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] The present invention will be described below through embodiments of the invention, but these embodiments are not intended to limit the invention as defined in the claims. Furthermore, not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the invention.

[0016] Figure 1 shows an example of a functional block representing the overall configuration of the plant management system according to this embodiment. The plant management system manages the growth status of plants 30 cultivated in the plant factory 10. The plant management system comprises a plurality of cultivation shelves 20, a light source system 40, a nutrient solution supply system 50, a carbon dioxide supply system 60, an air conditioning system 70, a ventilation system 80, a sensor 90, and a plant management device 100. The plant management system further comprises a condition suggestion device 200 that provides environmental control conditions to the plant management device 100. The plant management device 100 is an example of an environmental control device. The light source system 40, nutrient solution supply system 50, carbon dioxide supply system 60, air conditioning system 70, and ventilation system 80 are examples of environmental control equipment.

[0017] The cultivation shed 20 cultivates plants 30 such as vegetables, fruits, or cut flowers. By shifting the sowing date for each set of one or more cultivation sheds 20, it is adjusted so that the plants 30 can be harvested at different harvest times. Also, the plurality of cultivation sheds 20 are installed in separate spaces 12 for each of one or more cultivation sheds 20, and the environment in the space 12 is individually controlled according to the environmental control conditions by environmental control equipment, so that the plants 30 can be cultivated in different environmental states for each space 12. The space 12 may be a space with high heat insulation and airtightness. The environmental control conditions indicate the control conditions for controlling the operation of each environmental control equipment. In this embodiment, the plant management device 100 individually controls the environmental state for each set of cultivation sheds 20. However, the plant management device 100 may individually control the environmental state of each of the plurality of tiers provided in one cultivation shed 20.

[0018] The light source equipment 40 includes a plurality of light sources 42 that irradiate artificial light such as LEDs or incandescent lamps, and irradiates the plants 30 with artificial light from each of the plurality of light sources 42. The plurality of light sources 42 may be arranged facing the cultivation surface of the cultivation shed 20.

[0019] The nutrient solution supply equipment 50 has a pump 52 and a pipe 54, and supplies a nutrient solution containing each fertilizer component such as potassium or calcium to the cultivation shed 20 via the pump 52 and the pipe 54. The nutrient solution supply equipment 50 appropriately adjusts the fertilizer concentration and supplies the nutrient solution with the adjusted fertilizer concentration to the plants 30. The nutrient solution supply equipment 50 may supply the nutrient solution to the plants 30 by atomizing the nutrient solution with the adjusted fertilizer concentration and spraying it onto the root portions of the plants 30. The nutrient solution supply equipment 50 may function as irrigation equipment for supplying water to the medium in which the plants 30 are cultivated. The amount of irrigation water supplied to the cultivation shed 20 may be adjusted by adjusting the amount of nutrient solution supplied from the nutrient solution supply equipment 50 to the cultivation shed 20.

[0020] The carbon dioxide supply equipment 60 has a tank 62 and a nozzle 64. The tank 62 stores carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide supply equipment 60 supplies the carbon dioxide stored in the tank 62 to each space 12 in the plant factory 10 via the nozzle 64.

[0021] The air conditioner 70 adjusts the temperature and humidity of the air inside the plant factory 10 and circulates the temperature- and humidity-adjusted air into each space. The air supply equipment 80 includes a circulator or a blower that supplies air into the plant factory 10. The sensor 90 includes various sensors that measure the environmental conditions around the plant 30 and the growth state of the plant 30. The sensor 90 includes various sensors that measure the temperature, humidity, light quantity, and carbon dioxide concentration of the stem, leaves, and fruits of the plant 30, respectively.

[0022] The plant management device 100 controls the growth state of the plant 30 by controlling the light source equipment 40, the nutrient solution supply equipment 50, the carbon dioxide supply equipment 60, the air conditioner 70, and the air supply equipment 80 according to the environmental control conditions. The plant management device 100 communicates with the light source equipment 40, the nutrient solution supply equipment 50, the carbon dioxide supply equipment 60, the air conditioner 70, and the air supply equipment 80 via a wireless network or a wired network. The condition presentation device 200 communicates with the plant management device 100 via a wireless network or a wired network.

[0023] The plant management device 100 and the condition presentation device 200 may be computers having a central processing unit (CPU) and a memory. The light source equipment 40, the nutrient solution supply equipment 50, the carbon dioxide supply equipment 60, the air conditioner 70, and the air supply equipment 80 may be provided with a computer having a central processing unit (CPU) and a memory.

[0024] The computer may be a personal computer, tablet computer, smartphone, workstation, server computer, or general-purpose computer, or it may be a computer system in which multiple computers are connected. Such a computer system is also a computer in a broad sense. The computer may be a dedicated computer designed for environmental control of a plant factory, or it may be dedicated hardware realized by dedicated circuits. The computer may be implemented by a virtual computer environment. When a computer is used, the plant management device 100, condition presentation device 200, light source equipment 40, nutrient solution supply equipment 50, carbon dioxide supply equipment 60, air conditioning equipment 70, and ventilation equipment 80 are realized by executing a program on the computer.

[0025] In this plant management system, the condition presentation device 200 presents environmental control conditions that satisfy the plant's harvest time and yield, along with the plant's quality, allowing the user to select the optimal environmental control conditions.

[0026] Figure 2 shows an example of the functional blocks of the condition presentation device 200. The condition presentation device 200 comprises a condition receiving unit 202, a presentation unit 204, a selection receiving unit 206, an environmental control condition provision unit 230, and a storage unit 240.

[0027] The condition receiving unit 202 receives conditions for harvest time and yield that must be met for the plants 30 cultivated in the plant factory 10. The condition receiving unit 202 may receive conditions for harvest time and yield that must be met for the plants 30 from the person in charge of adjusting the harvest time and yield of the plants 30. As a condition for the harvest time of the plants 30, the condition receiving unit 202 may accept a specific period of a specific length, such as a specific day, a specific three days, or a specific five days. In addition, as a condition for the yield of the plants 30, the condition receiving unit 202 may accept a specified range of weight or number, such as from X to Y tons, from Y boxes to Y boxes, or from Y to Y units.

[0028] If plant 30 is a vegetable, fruit, or flower that is bought and sold in the market, its market price will fluctuate depending on the harvest time. It would be more convenient for those in charge if they could consider market price and demand forecasts when determining the harvest time and yield.

[0029] Therefore, the presentation unit 204 may present candidates for the harvest time and yield of the plant 30 based on forecast information showing the relationship between the predicted market price of the plant 30 and the predicted demand for the plant 30, before the condition receiving unit 202 receives the conditions for the harvest time and yield of the plant 30.

[0030] Forecast information may be, for example, information showing the relationship between the daily predicted market price (yen) and predicted demand (t), as shown in Figure 3. Forecast information may be information showing the relationship between the weekly predicted market price (yen) and predicted demand (t). Forecast information may be information showing the relationship between the daily predicted market price (yen) and predicted demand (t) for predetermined periods other than daily or weekly.

[0031] The presentation unit 204 may determine the point in time when the predicted market price is highest within the target period as a candidate for the harvest time of the plant 30. At least one set of cultivation shelves 20 with the same sowing date is assigned to the target period. The set of cultivation shelves 20 may include multiple cultivation shelves 20 with the same sowing date. The set of cultivation shelves 20 may include multiple cultivation shelves 20 with the same sowing date located in a space 12 where the environmental conditions can be individually controlled. For example, for target periods A to H, the presentation unit 204 may determine "September 10th," when the predicted market price is highest, as a candidate for the harvest time of the plant 30. For target periods I to J, the presentation unit 204 may determine "September 12th" as a candidate for the harvest time of the plant 30.

[0032] The presentation unit 204 may further determine candidate yields for the plants 30 at candidate harvest times based on the forecast information. The presentation unit 204 may determine the yield S of the plants 30 by multiplying the forecast demand at candidate harvest times for the plants 30 shown in the forecast information by a predetermined percentage. The predetermined percentage may be predetermined according to the market size of the plants 30 and the maximum yield of the plants 30 that can be cultivated in the plant factory 10. The presentation unit 204 may further determine the number of sets of cultivation shelves 20 to be used to cultivate the plants 30 at harvest time so as to satisfy the yield S. The yield S of the plants 30 per set of cultivation shelves 20 may be predetermined from measured values ​​and stored in the storage unit 120.

[0033] The presentation unit 204 may obtain prediction information from a prediction server that generates prediction information using a learning model that predicts future market prices and demand for plants 30 based on past market prices and demand. The prediction server may use a learning model for each type of plant 30 to predict the predicted market price and demand for each type of plant 30. The prediction server may generate a trained prediction model by performing machine learning according to a supervised learning algorithm, using, for example, daily weather information and event information as explanatory variables, and market price and demand as dependent variables. The algorithm may be any type of algorithm, such as a neural network, support vector machine, multiple regression analysis, or decision tree. The presentation unit 204 may obtain prediction information from a server provided by an organization that provides market price and demand prediction information.

[0034] The presentation unit 204 presents at least one candidate environmental control condition that satisfies the harvest time and yield conditions received by the condition reception unit 202, along with the quality of the plant 30, based on environmental control condition information that indicates the control conditions of the environmental control equipment that controls the environmental state inside the plant factory 10, and the growth period, yield, and quality of the plant 30 when the environmental control equipment controls the environmental state inside the plant factory 10 according to the environmental control condition. The environmental control condition indicates the control conditions of the environmental control equipment during the growth period of the plant 30. The environmental control condition may include control conditions for at least one of the following: the temperature inside the plant factory 10 and the light intensity of the light source 42 that irradiates the plant 30 with light. The environmental control condition may indicate hourly setting conditions for the temperature inside the plant factory 10 and hourly setting conditions for the light source 42 during the growth period of the plant 30.

[0035] The quality of plant 30 may be at least one indicator that shows the condition of plant 30. For example, the quality of plant 30 may indicate at least one of the size, taste, and color of plant 30.

[0036] The environmental control condition information may be, for example, the information shown in Figure 4. That is, for each environmental control condition, the environmental control condition information may indicate the light intensity conditions of the light source 42, the temperature conditions, the growth period of the plant 30, the yield, size, taste, and color. The light intensity conditions of the light source 42 may indicate the light intensity conditions for each stage in which the growth period is divided into multiple parts. The temperature conditions may indicate the temperature conditions for each stage of the growth period. The size may be indicated by, for example, a three-level index for the size of the plant 30. The taste may be indicated by, for example, a five-level scale for the degree of taste of the plant 30. The color may be indicated by a three-level scale for the degree of color of the plant 30. The indicators for each quality are not limited to those above and may be set appropriately according to the type of plant 30, etc.

[0037] Environmental control condition information may be generated by actually cultivating plants 30 in the plant factory 10 while changing the environmental control conditions for each stage of the growth period, and evaluating the cultivation results, and then stored in the memory unit 240.

[0038] The selection reception unit 206 accepts the selection of environmental control conditions to be used for environmental control of the plant factory 10 from among at least one candidate environmental control conditions. The person in charge is presented with at least one candidate environmental control condition that satisfies the harvest time and yield conditions accepted by the condition reception unit 202, along with the quality of the plants 30, so they just need to select an environmental control condition that satisfies the desired quality from among the at least one candidate environmental control condition.

[0039] The condition receiving unit 202 may further accept the acceptable range of quality that the plant 30 must meet. The condition receiving unit 202 may accept a range of acceptable quality indicators as the acceptable range of quality. For example, the condition receiving unit 202 may accept an acceptable range of size, such as "large" only, or "large" and "medium" only. The condition receiving unit 202 may accept an acceptable range of taste, such as a range between level L1 and level L5 (level L1 being the lowest taste level and level L5 being the highest taste level). The condition receiving unit 202 may accept an acceptable range of color, such as a range between level L1 and level L3 (level L1 being the lowest color level and level L3 being the highest color level). Based on the environmental control condition information, the presentation unit 204 may present at least one candidate environmental control condition that satisfies the harvest time and yield conditions, as well as the acceptable range of quality, along with the quality of the plant 30. The person in charge should select the environmental control condition that best meets the required quality from among at least one candidate environmental control condition that satisfies the acceptable quality range.

[0040] The environmental control condition provision unit 230 provides the selected environmental control conditions to the plant management device 100, which controls the environmental control equipment that adjusts the environment of the plant factory 10. The plant management device 100 controls at least one of the light source equipment 40, nutrient solution supply equipment 50, carbon dioxide supply equipment 60, air conditioning equipment 70, and ventilation equipment 80 according to the environmental control conditions from the condition presentation device 200 to cultivate the plants 30 so that a desired harvest time and desired yield can be obtained. The plant management device 100 may also control the light source equipment 40 to control the light intensity of the light source 42 and control the air conditioning equipment 70 to control the temperature inside the plant factory 10 according to the environmental control conditions from the condition presentation device 200.

[0041] If the plant 30 is, for example, a variety such as leaf lettuce, the plant management device 100 may control the air conditioning equipment 70 so that the temperature is higher than that during the standard growing period, according to the environmental control conditions, in order to shorten the growing period of the plant 30. If the plant 30 has a longer growing period than the standard growing period, the plant management device 100 may control the air conditioning equipment 70 so that the temperature is lower than that during the standard growing period, according to the environmental control conditions.

[0042] Alternatively, in order to shorten the growth period compared to the standard growth period, the plant management device 100 may control the light source equipment 40 so that the light intensity is greater than that during the standard growth period, according to the environmental control conditions. In order to lengthen the growth period compared to the standard growth period, the plant management device 100 may control the light source equipment 40 so that the light intensity is less than that during the standard growth period, according to the environmental control conditions.

[0043] The plant management device 100 may adjust the yield of the plants 30 by adjusting the number of cultivation shelves 20 to be controlled. The environmental control condition information may indicate the number of cultivation shelves 20 to be controlled according to the yield of the plants 30.

[0044] Figure 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure by which the condition presentation device 200 provides environmental control conditions to the plant management device 100.

[0045] The display unit 204 determines candidate harvest times and yields for the plants 30 during the target period based on forecast information showing the relationship between the predicted market price of the plants and the predicted demand for the plants, and presents the determined candidate harvest times and yields for the plants 30 on a display or the like (S100).

[0046] The condition receiving unit 202 receives the conditions for harvest time and yield that the plants 30 cultivated in the plant factory 10 must meet, as well as the acceptable range of quality that the plants 30 must meet (S102). The condition receiving unit 202 may receive the conditions for harvest time and yield from among the candidates for harvest time and yield of the plants 30 during the target period.

[0047] Based on the environmental control condition information, the display unit 204 presents at least one candidate environmental control condition that satisfies the conditions for harvest time and yield, as well as the acceptable range of quality, along with the quality of the plant 30, on a display or the like (S104).

[0048] The selection reception unit 206 accepts the selection of environmental control conditions to be used for environmental control of the plant factory 10 from at least one environmental control candidate (S106). The environmental control condition provision unit 230 provides the selected environmental control conditions to the plant management device 100, which controls the environmental control equipment that adjusts the environment of the plant factory 10 (S108).

[0049] As described above, the condition presentation device 200 according to this embodiment presents environmental control conditions that satisfy the harvest time and yield of the plants, along with the quality of the plants, allowing the user to select the optimal environmental control conditions, and controlling the environment of the plant factory 10 according to the selected environmental control conditions. As a result, the plant factory 10 can cultivate plants 30 to satisfy the desired harvest time and yield while also considering the quality of the plants.

[0050] Figure 6 shows an example of a computer 1200 that may embody an aspect of this embodiment in whole or in part. A program installed on the computer 1200 can cause the computer 1200 to function as an operation associated with an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, or as one or more "parts" of said apparatus. Alternatively, the program can cause the computer 1200 to execute said operation or said one or more "parts". The program can cause the computer 1200 to execute a process or a stage of said process according to an embodiment of the present invention. Such a program may be executed by the CPU 1212 to cause the computer 1200 to execute a particular operation associated with some or all of the blocks in the flowcharts and block diagrams described herein.

[0051] The computer 1200 according to this embodiment includes a CPU 1212 and RAM 1214, which are interconnected by a host controller 1210. The computer 1200 also includes a communication interface 1222 and input / output units, which are connected to the host controller 1210 via an input / output controller 1220. The computer 1200 also includes a ROM 1230. The CPU 1212 operates according to programs stored in the ROM 1230 and RAM 1214, thereby controlling each unit.

[0052] The communication interface 1222 communicates with other electronic devices via a network. A hard disk drive may store programs and data used by the CPU 1212 in the computer 1200. The ROM 1230 stores boot programs and / or programs that depend on the computer 1200's hardware, such as a boot program executed by the computer 1200 upon activation. Programs are provided via computer-readable storage media such as a CR-ROM, USB memory, or IC card, or via a network. Programs are installed in RAM 1214, which is also an example of computer-readable storage media, or in ROM 1230, and executed by the CPU 1212. The information processing described within these programs is read by the computer 1200, resulting in coordination between the programs and the various types of hardware resources described above. An apparatus or method may be configured to implement information operations or processing in accordance with the use of the computer 1200.

[0053] For example, when communication is performed between a computer 1200 and an external device, the CPU 1212 may execute a communication program loaded into RAM 1214 and, based on the processing described in the communication program, instruct the communication interface 1222 to perform communication processing. Under the control of the CPU 1212, the communication interface 1222 reads the transmission data stored in the transmission buffer area provided in RAM 1214 or a storage medium such as a USB memory, sends the read transmission data to the network, or writes the received data received from the network to a receive buffer area or the like provided on the storage medium.

[0054] Furthermore, the CPU 1212 may read all or necessary parts of a file or database stored on an external storage medium such as a USB memory stick into the RAM 1214, and perform various types of processing on the data in the RAM 1214. The CPU 1212 may then write the processed data back to the external storage medium.

[0055] Various types of information, such as various types of programs, data, tables, and databases, may be stored in the storage medium and subjected to information processing. The CPU 1212 may perform various types of processing on the data read from the RAM 1214, including various types of operations, information processing, conditional judgments, conditional branching, unconditional branching, information retrieval / replacement, etc., as described throughout this disclosure and specified by the program instruction sequence, and write the results back to the RAM 1214. The CPU 1212 may also retrieve information in files, databases, etc., within the storage medium. For example, if multiple entries are stored in the storage medium, each having an attribute value of a first attribute associated with an attribute value of a second attribute, the CPU 1212 may search among the multiple entries for an entry that matches the condition for which the attribute value of the first attribute is specified, read the attribute value of the second attribute stored in that entry, and thereby obtain the attribute value of the second attribute associated with the first attribute that satisfies a predetermined condition.

[0056] The programs or software modules described above may be stored on or near computer 1200 in a computer-readable storage medium. Alternatively, a storage medium such as a hard disk or RAM provided within a server system connected to a dedicated communication network or the Internet can be used as a computer-readable storage medium, thereby providing the programs to computer 1200 via the network.

[0057] Computer-readable media may include any tangible device capable of storing instructions that can be executed by a suitable device. As a result, computer-readable media having instructions stored therein will comprise a product containing instructions that can be executed to create means for performing operations specified in a flowchart or block diagram. Examples of computer-readable media may include electronic storage media, magnetic storage media, optical storage media, electromagnetic storage media, semiconductor storage media, etc. More specific examples of computer-readable media may include floppy disks (registered trademark), diskettes, hard disks, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM (registered trademark)), static random access memory (SRAM), compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), digital versatile disk (DVD), Blu-ray (RTM) disk, memory stick, integrated circuit card, etc.

[0058] Computer-readable instructions may include either source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages. Source code or object code may include conventional procedural programming languages. These conventional procedural programming languages ​​may include assembler instructions, instruction set architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine-dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state setting data, or object-oriented programming languages ​​such as Smalltalk®, Java®, C++, etc., and the "C" programming language or similar programming languages. Computer-readable instructions may be provided locally or via a wide area network (WAN), such as a local area network (LAN) or the internet, to the processor or programmable circuit of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, or other programmable data processing device. The processor or programmable circuit may execute computer-readable instructions to create means for performing operations specified in a flowchart or block diagram. Examples of processors include computer processors, processing units, microprocessors, digital signal processors, controllers, microcontrollers, etc.

[0059] Although the present invention has been described above using embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications or improvements can be made to the above embodiments. It will be clear from the claims that such modified or improved forms may also be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

[0060] It should be noted that the execution order of operations, procedures, steps, and stages in the devices, systems, programs, and methods shown in the claims, specifications, and drawings is not explicitly stated as "before," "prior to," etc., and that these can be implemented in any order unless the output of a previous process is used in a later process. Even if the operation flow in the claims, specifications, and drawings is described using phrases such as "first," "next," etc. for convenience, it does not mean that it is essential to perform the operations in that order. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0061] 10 Plant factory 20 cultivation rack 30 plants 40 Light source equipment 42 Light source 50 Nutrient solution supply equipment 52 pumps 54 pipes 60 Carbon dioxide supply facilities 62 tanks 64 nozzles 70 Air conditioning equipment 80. Ventilation equipment 90 sensors 100 Plant management equipment 200 Condition presentation device 202 Conditions Reception Department 204 Presentation section 206 Selection Reception Section 230 Environmental Control Condition Provisioning Unit 240 Storage section 1200 Computers 1210 Host Controller 1212 CPU 1214 RAM 1220 Input / Output Controller 1222 Communication Interface 1230 ROM

Claims

1. A condition reception unit that accepts the conditions regarding the harvest time and yield that must be met for plants cultivated in a plant factory, A presentation unit presents, based on environmental control conditions indicating the control conditions of an environmental control equipment that controls the environmental state within the plant factory, and environmental control condition information indicating the growth period, yield, and quality of the plants when the environmental control equipment controls the environmental state within the plant factory in accordance with the environmental control conditions, at least one candidate environmental control condition that satisfies the conditions for harvest time and yield, along with the quality of the plants. A selection receiving unit that receives the selection of an environmental control condition to be used for controlling the environmental state by the environmental control equipment of the plant factory from among the above at least one candidate environmental control condition. A condition-presenting device equipped with the following features.

2. The aforementioned condition receiving unit further receives the acceptable range of quality that the plant must meet, The condition presentation device according to claim 1, wherein the presentation unit presents, based on the environmental control condition information, at least one candidate environmental control condition that satisfies the conditions for harvest time and yield and the acceptable range for quality, along with the quality of the plant.

3. The condition-providing device according to claim 1, wherein the environmental control conditions include control conditions for at least one of the temperature inside the plant factory and the amount of light from a light source that irradiates the plants with light.

4. The condition-setting device according to claim 1, wherein the quality indicates at least one indicator of the size, taste, and color of the plant.

5. The presentation unit presents candidate harvest times and yields for the plant based on forecast information indicating at least one of the predicted market price of the plant and the predicted demand for the plant, before the condition receiving unit receives the conditions. The condition presentation device according to claim 1.

6. The condition presentation device according to claim 5, wherein the presentation unit presents candidate yields obtained by multiplying the predicted demand at the harvest time shown in the prediction information by a predetermined ratio.

7. The condition presentation device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising an environmental control condition providing unit that provides the selected environmental control conditions to an environmental control device that controls an environmental control equipment for adjusting the environment of the plant factory.

8. The Conditions Acceptance Department accepts the conditions regarding the harvest time and yield that must be met for the plants to be cultivated in the plant factory. The presentation unit presents, based on environmental control conditions indicating the control conditions of an environmental control equipment that controls the environmental state within the plant factory, and environmental control condition information indicating the growth period, yield, and quality of the plants when the environmental control equipment controls the environmental state within the plant factory in accordance with the environmental control conditions, at least one candidate environmental control condition that satisfies the conditions for harvest time and yield, along with the quality of the plants. The selection receiving unit receives the selection of an environmental control condition to be used for controlling the environmental state by the environmental control equipment of the plant factory from among the at least one candidate environmental control condition. A method for presenting conditions that includes the following features.

9. The stage of accepting the conditions regarding the harvest time and yield that must be met for plants cultivated in a plant factory, A step of presenting at least one candidate environmental control condition that satisfies the conditions for harvest time and yield, along with the quality of the plant, based on environmental control condition information indicating the control conditions for environmental control equipment that controls the environmental state within the plant factory, and the growth period, yield, and quality of the plant when the environmental control equipment controls the environmental state within the plant factory in accordance with the environmental control condition, A step of accepting the selection of an environmental control condition from among the at least one candidate environmental control condition to be used for controlling the environmental state by the environmental control equipment of the plant factory. A program that causes a computer to execute something.

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