Remotely managed smart farm system

Abstract

A remotely managed smart farm system of the present invention comprises: a plurality of clone beds configured so that the internal environment can be identically set even when installed in different areas; and a master bed that cultivates the same crops as the crops to be cultivated in the clone beds, wherein the master bed includes: a master bed state monitoring unit that can monitor the inside of the master bed and the cultivation and growth state of crops; a master bed crop cultivation unit that performs operations for the growth of cultivated crops; and a master control unit that controls the operations of the master bed state monitoring unit and the master bed crop cultivation unit, and transmits, to the clone beds, state monitoring information and crop cultivation information.

Description

Remote management smart farm system

[0001] The present invention is designed so that clone beds installed in various locations (different regions or countries) and under different climate conditions maintain the same internal environment as the master bed. Crop cultivation in these clone beds is based on training and management of cultivation methods through the master bed, enabling effective control and operation of the clone beds. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a system that supports easy crop cultivation by returning farmers with little cultivation experience or those without specific crop knowledge. This system helps even beginners to efficiently cultivate crops on their own without expert guidance.

[0002] Recently, a system called smart farm has been introduced in relation to crop cultivation.

[0003] A smart farm is a farm that can remotely or automatically maintain and manage the appropriate growing environment for crops and livestock by incorporating ICT (i.e., information and communication technology) into greenhouses or livestock sheds.

[0004] Smart farms are a science-based agricultural method that utilizes information and communication technology (ICT) to remotely and automatically observe crop growth environments and manage them to optimal conditions. Many attempts are being made to dramatically improve the agricultural environment by increasing agricultural production and reducing labor hours.

[0005] Things done by smart farms include the ability to control growing conditions such as temperature, humidity, and CO2 levels in greenhouses and livestock sheds through the growing environment maintenance function, and the ability to automatically collect temperature, humidity, solar radiation, CO2, and growing environment through the environmental information monitoring function, and the ability to operate cooling and heating systems, open and close windows, and supply CO2, nutrients, and feed through the automatic, remote environmental management function.

[0006] However, in the past, either the cloud method or the local server method was used for smart farm operation. In the cloud method, crop cultivation control was carried out in each individual farm through a remote cloud server, and in the local server method, a separate server was built for each development farm, and crop cultivation control was carried out according to the control of the individual server.

[0007] Figure 1 is a drawing showing the configuration of a conventional smart farm system.

[0008] (Patent Document 1) KR10-2022-0088991 A

[0009] In the case of patent document 1, each crop cultivation field is equipped with a local server (20) and various module devices that communicate with the local server (20), and for example, the crop cultivation field includes a status monitoring device (31) and a cultivation facility device (32).

[0010] Here, the condition detection device detects the environmental condition within the crop cultivation area and the growth condition of the cultivated crop (400), and includes, for example, various sensors (temperature sensor, humidity sensor, oxygen concentration sensor, light sensor, PH sensor, etc.) as well as an image device. The cultivation facility device (32) operates for the growth of the cultivated crop (40) and includes a shading device, a water supply device, a ventilation device, a temperature control device, a humidity control device, an oxygen concentration control device, a nutrient solution supply device, etc.

[0011] In the above patent document 1, the local server (20) of each crop cultivation area receives information transmitted from the integrated management server (10) and controls the cultivation facility device (32) according to the received information to perform crop cultivation.

[0012] In the case of these existing smart farm systems, local control or remote control is possible only during a certain period of crop growth, but there is a problem in that it is impossible to control the entire series of processes from sowing to harvesting of general plants.

[0013] And, in the case of existing smart farms, the person who runs each cultivation site is assumed to be an expert close to a farmer (farmer) to check the development status of the crops and to control it centrally or locally. However, there is a problem that in the case of returning farmers who do not know farming or people who do not know how to cultivate specific crops, it is not possible to smoothly learn or manage the entire process from sowing to harvesting the crops.

[0014] The present invention proposes a system that enables even a person who does not know farming (a returning farmer) or does not know how to cultivate a specific crop to control the stable cultivation of crops from sowing to harvesting remotely, and to learn cultivation methods.

[0015] In addition, the present invention proposes a system in which a clone bed is provided in which the same cultivation environment is created even in regions with different temperatures and humidity, thereby enabling a main server corresponding to the manager to perform batch control and enabling the same harvest results of the same crop to be achieved through clone beds installed in different regions.

[0016] In summary, we propose a system where anyone can use the clone module smart farm in a smart farm that allows skilled farmers to farm without being restricted by climate or environment, producing more crops and being free from seasonal / climatic constraints. This system allows professional farmers to overcome the constraints of climate and environment by introducing smart farms through e-learning and joint control, and achieve maximum harvest with less labor.

[0017] The remote management smart farm system of the present invention comprises a plurality of clone beds configured so that internal environments can be set identically even when installed in different regions, and a master bed for cultivating the same crops as the crops to be cultivated in the clone beds, wherein the master bed comprises a master bed status monitoring unit capable of monitoring the inside of the master bed and the cultivation and growth status of the crops, a master bed crop cultivation unit for performing operations for the growth of the cultivated crops, and a master control unit for controlling operations of the master bed status monitoring unit and the master bed crop cultivation unit while transmitting status monitoring information and crop cultivation information to the clone bed, wherein the master control unit transmits status monitoring information detected by the master bed monitoring unit and crop cultivation information representing information regarding the operation of the master bed crop cultivation unit to the clone bed, and the clone bed controls crop cultivation within the clone bed based on the transmitted status monitoring information and crop cultivation information.

[0018] The master bed and clone bed of the embodiment are made of structures that are not affected by the external environment at all or are affected very little by it, and have the advantage of being able to be remotely managed and agricultural technology can be transferred (E-LEARNING) so that crop cultivation can proceed smoothly even if there is no farmer or a person who has no experience in growing crops.

[0019] The reason why it is difficult to export agricultural technology is that experts cannot simply go to the region / location and transfer the technology for a few days, but must stay for a long period of time to transfer the technology. After that, continuous maintenance is required according to the climate variables of the region, and specialized personnel must be trained before the technology transfer can be completed to some extent.

[0020] Conventional smart farms have focused on extending the growing season by overcoming environmental and other characteristics, or on cultivating crops in environments that are inverse to their natural environment. This approach has resulted in significant investment in these efforts. However, most users operating smart farms are not experts in crop cultivation, making it difficult to achieve the anticipated results. The system of the present invention effectively overcomes these challenges.

[0021] Figure 1 is a drawing showing the configuration of a conventional smart farm system.

[0022] Figure 2 is a drawing showing the overall configuration of the remote management smart farm system of this embodiment.

[0023] Figure 3 is a drawing showing a block diagram of a remote management smart farm system of the present embodiment.

[0024] The present invention relates to a system in which clone beds to be remotely managed are configured to have the same internal conditions even when installed in different locations and climates, and crops to be grown in said clone beds are cultivated through a master bed and training and management of the control and cultivation methods of the clone beds are performed, thereby enabling even returning farmers who do not know farming or people who do not know the cultivation methods for specific crops to easily cultivate crops.

[0025] Fig. 2 is a drawing showing the overall configuration of the remote management smart farm system of this embodiment, and Fig. 3 is a drawing showing a block diagram of the remote management smart farm system of this embodiment.

[0026] The system of the embodiment includes a plurality of clone beds (301, 302) configured so that they can be installed in different regions but have identical internal environments, and a master bed (200) for growing the same crops as those to be grown in the clone beds.

[0027] The master control unit (210) of the above master bed (200) transmits status monitoring information and crop cultivation information from the master bed (200) to the clone control unit (311) of the clone bed so that the cultivation conditions for crop cultivation are applied equally to the clone bed.

[0028] The above-mentioned status monitoring information refers to information regarding the growth status of crops, and is information detected from at least one sensor or video device, and the crop cultivation information includes operation control contents of at least one device provided for the growth of cultivated crops.

[0029] That is, the master control unit (210) of the master bed (200) transmits information related to crop cultivation within the master bed (200) to the clone bed so that crop cultivation is carried out under the same cultivation conditions in the clone bed. The master control unit (210) transmits information to the clone bed when the status monitoring information in the master bed (200) changes and when the crop cultivation information changes.

[0030] The conditions for carrying out this embodiment are that the master bed (200) and clone beds (301, 302) must be prepared to cultivate the same crops, and the master bed (200) and clone beds (301, 302) must be formed as chamber-type structures that are not affected by the external environment, so that the cultivation conditions can be controlled in the same manner.

[0031] For example, regardless of the location where the clone bed is installed, the internal temperature, humidity, and other cultivation conditions of the clone bed can be controlled to be identical to those inside the master bed (200), so that the master bed and clone bed are constructed of materials and structures that do not cause the internal environment to change due to external heat or light. The bed (master / clone) must be constructed to effectively insulate the bed so that high or low external temperatures are not transmitted to the inside of the bed, and devices that can minimize the inflow of external air even when the door is opened when entering or exiting the bed can be constructed.

[0032] Furthermore, these master beds and clone beds are designed to maintain a controlled indoor cultivation environment unaffected by external factors. This means that the temperature, humidity, illumination, carbon dioxide concentration, wavelength of light irradiated on the crops, irradiation time, type and amount of nutrient solution, soil composition, and air circulation system operation time of the master bed and clone beds are all maintained at the same level.

[0033] The above master bed (200) includes a status monitoring unit (220) that can monitor the inside of the master bed and the cultivation and growth status of crops, a crop cultivation unit (230) that performs operations for the growth of cultivated crops, and a master control unit (210) that controls the operations of the status monitoring unit (220) and the crop cultivation unit (230) while transmitting status monitoring information and crop cultivation information to the clone beds (301, 302).

[0034] In addition, the clone bed (301, 302) includes a status monitoring unit (312) that can monitor the inside of the clone bed and the cultivation and growth status of the crops, a crop cultivation unit (313) that performs operations for the growth of the cultivated crops, and a clone control unit (311) that controls the operations of the status monitoring unit (312) and the crop cultivation unit (313) while communicating with the master bed (200) so that the crop cultivation is performed under the same conditions as the crop cultivation within the master bed (200).

[0035] The condition monitoring unit (220, 312) of each of the above beds detects the environmental condition within each bed and the growth condition of the crops, and includes, for example, various sensors (temperature sensor, humidity sensor, oxygen concentration sensor, light sensor, PH sensor, etc.) as well as a video recording device.

[0036] Therefore, in this embodiment, the above-mentioned condition monitoring information refers to information regarding the growth status of crops, and refers to information detected from various sensors or imaging devices. For example, it includes environmental information such as temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide concentration inside the chamber, and condition information (color, size, etc.) of crops detected from imaging devices.

[0037] Meanwhile, the crop cultivation section (230, 313) of each of the above beds operates for the growth of crops and includes a shading device, a water supply device, a ventilation device, a temperature control device, a humidity control device, an oxygen concentration control device, a nutrient solution supply device, etc.

[0038] Therefore, in this embodiment, the crop cultivation information can be defined as including the operation status, operation status, and operation control details of each device provided for the growth of cultivated crops. For example, it can be information on whether a shading device is operating, the wavelength of the LED being irradiated, and the irradiation time, or information on whether a temperature control device is operating, the set target temperature, or information on whether a nutrient solution supply device is operating, the operation time, and the type of solution supplied.

[0039] In this way, in this embodiment, the status monitoring information and crop cultivation information are used as a reference for the master bed, and control is performed for crop cultivation in the clone bed so that crop cultivation is performed using the same status monitoring information and crop cultivation information.

[0040] For example, when a grower cultivating crops in the master bed (200) raises the indoor temperature, changes the LED wavelength, or changes or injects a supply solution such as a chemical solution, the master control unit (210) of the master bed (200) detects / confirms this and transmits information about the changed or added information (status monitoring information and crop cultivation information) to the network-connected clone beds (301, 302).

[0041] At this time, the clone control unit (301) of the clone bed updates the status information for crop cultivation, such as the indoor temperature, LED wavelength, and supply solution injection of the clone bed, based on the transmitted status monitoring information and crop cultivation information, and updates the crop cultivation information so that the crops of the clone bed are cultivated under the same conditions as the master bed.

[0042] If the conditions that require a person to perform a task directly in the master bed (200) change, for example, if a crop is pruned, the master control unit (210) of the master bed (200) can determine that the crop cultivation information has changed by comparing the image after pruning with the image before pruning, and transmit information about this to the clone bed. In addition, the clone control unit (311) of the clone bed (301) is configured to transmit a message or image to the user (clone bed manager) notifying that pruning is a task that the worker must perform.

[0043] In addition, the manager of the master bed (200) can use various communication methods such as applications or video calls to convey the matters that the clone bed manager must be aware of, such as precautions for each clone bed, so that the same crops can be grown with the same results in a large number of clone beds. Ultimately, the present invention allows even beginners who are new to crop cultivation to receive the know-how of experts who manage the master bed using clone beds built in the same environment.

[0044] In addition, the master bed (200) stores and accumulates environmental and cultivation data for clone beds in various locations and environments, and performs a process of analyzing the same, thereby further increasing the degree of consistency in cultivation environments and results between the master bed and clone beds.

[0045] The present invention has the following features.

[0046] Structure and operating principles of the integrated cultivation management system

[0047] The present invention provides a novel cultivation management system based on advancements in smart farm technology. This system comprises a central "master bed (200)" and multiple "clone beds (301, 302)." The master bed according to the present invention establishes a baseline environment for cultivated crops, and the clone beds are designed to maintain the same cultivation conditions as the master bed, enabling consistent crop cultivation in diverse regions and environments.

[0048] Interaction and control mechanisms between the master bed and clone beds

[0049] The 'master control unit (210)' of the master bed according to the present invention transmits environmental conditions for crop cultivation to the 'clone control unit (311)' of the clone bed. Accordingly, the clone bed can maintain the same temperature, humidity, illumination, carbon dioxide concentration, etc. as the master bed, and when the environment of the master bed changes, this information is transmitted to the clone bed in real time to maintain the same cultivation conditions.

[0050] Real-time data sharing and crop cultivation optimization

[0051] The master bed of the present invention monitors the internal environment and crop growth status in real time through a "condition monitoring unit (220)". The data collected in this way is transmitted to the clone bed, allowing the crop cultivation unit (313) within the clone bed to cultivate crops under the same conditions as the master bed. This process ensures efficient crop management and optimal cultivation conditions.

[0052] Advantages and applicability of the present invention

[0053] The advantage of this invention is that clone beds located in multiple locations can cultivate crops under identical conditions, based on the settings of the master bed. This ensures consistent quality and productivity, enabling even beginners to cultivate crops at an expert level. Furthermore, the accumulation and analysis of cultivation data allows for the development of more sophisticated cultivation strategies.

[0054] As described above, the idea of ​​the present invention is to create a system that can produce the same results as crop cultivation in the master bed even for users who are not familiar with crop cultivation by using multiple clone beds that can create the same cultivation conditions based on the master bed, thereby enabling beginners to directly learn the know-how of experts, and building a smart farm with wide expandability since a clone bed can become the master bed of another clone bed.

[0055] The present invention can be applied to crop cultivation technology, and thus has industrial applicability.

Claims

1. Multiple clone beds configured so that the internal environment can be set identically even when installed in different regions, A master bed is included that grows the same crops as those to be grown in the clone bed, The master bed includes a master bed status monitoring unit capable of monitoring the inside of the master bed and the cultivation and growth status of crops, a master bed crop cultivation unit performing operations for the growth of cultivated crops, and a master control unit controlling the operations of the master bed status monitoring unit and the master bed crop cultivation unit while transmitting status monitoring information and crop cultivation information to the clone bed. The master control unit transmits status monitoring information detected by the master bed monitoring unit and crop cultivation information indicating information on the operation of the master bed crop cultivation unit to the clone bed, and the clone bed controls crop cultivation within the clone bed based on the transmitted status monitoring information and crop cultivation information. The above condition monitoring information refers to information about the growth status of crops, and refers to information detected from at least one sensor or video device. A remote management smart farm system characterized in that the crop cultivation information includes operation control contents of at least one device provided for the growth of cultivated crops.

2. In paragraph 1, A remote management smart farm system characterized in that the clone bed includes a clone bed status monitoring unit capable of monitoring the inside of the clone bed and the cultivation and growth status of the crops in the clone bed, a clone bed crop cultivation unit that performs operations for the growth of the crops in the clone bed, and a clone control unit that controls the operations of the clone bed status monitoring unit and the clone bed crop cultivation unit while communicating with the master bed to ensure that crop cultivation is performed under the same conditions as crop cultivation in the master bed.

3. In paragraph 2, A remote management smart farm system characterized in that the master control unit transmits the changed or modified information to the clone control unit when at least one of the status monitoring information and crop cultivation information detected through the master bed status monitoring unit and the master bed crop cultivation unit is changed or modified.

4. In paragraph 3, A remote management smart farm system characterized in that the master bed status monitoring unit and the clone bed status monitoring unit detect the environmental status and growth status of crops within each bed, and include at least one sensor among a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, an oxygen concentration sensor, a light sensor, and a PH sensor, and an image capturing device.

5. In paragraph 4, A remote management smart farm system characterized in that the master bed crop cultivation unit and the clone bed crop cultivation unit include at least one or more of a shading device, a water supply device, a ventilation device, a temperature control device, a humidity control device, an oxygen concentration control device, and a nutrient solution supply device used for the growth of cultivated crops.

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