Actuator With Applicator For Vertical Farming Plant Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vertical farming faces challenges due to high energy consumption, limited automation, and reduced crop yield, necessitating innovative solutions for efficient plant handling and cultivation.
Innovation Solution
An actuator system with a robot head and applicator is introduced to handle plants and plant receptacles in vertical farming facilities. The applicator is designed to open apertures in planting walls with variable cross sections, allowing for efficient insertion and stabilization of plants, while the robot head uses a gripper to insert plants at different angles for optimal radiation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If vertical farming is implemented with traditional field cultivation methods, then plant cultivation can be carried out, but energy consumption increases tremendously due to lighting, climate control and nutrients provided entirely by technical means
Solution Approach 1:
The applicator performs preliminary action by opening apertures in the planting wall before plant insertion. This pre-preparation of the planting structure enables more efficient plant placement and reduces the need for subsequent adjustments, thereby improving overall system productivity while minimizing energy consumption during the cultivation process
2Productivity
If vertical farming is implemented with traditional field cultivation methods, then plant cultivation can be carried out, but the degree of automation remains limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into distinct functional modules: the applicator for opening apertures, the robot head for plant handling, and the gripper for plant insertion. This segmentation enables each component to be independently optimized and controlled, significantly increasing the degree of automation while maintaining high crop yield through coordinated operation of these specialized units
Solution Approach 2:
The robot head with gripper autonomously performs plant insertion operations without human intervention. The system serves itself by automatically positioning and inserting plants into the pre-opened apertures, demonstrating self-service automation that enhances both productivity and the degree of automation simultaneously
3Device complexity
If a single means is used for both widening aperture and inserting plants, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the plant insertion process into two separate functional tasks: the applicator widens apertures while the robot head with gripper performs plant insertion. This segmentation reduces manufacturing precision requirements for each individual component, as each is optimized for its specific function rather than requiring a single means to perform both functions with high precision
Solution Approach 2:
The applicator acts as an intermediary tool that prepares the aperture by widening it before the plant insertion process. This intermediary step separates the aperture preparation function from the plant insertion function, allowing each component to be designed and manufactured with appropriate precision levels for its specific purpose
Data Source
AI summary
An actuator for handling plants and/or plant receptacles in a vertical farming facility, the actuator includes a robot head for inserting the plants and/or the plant receptacles into apertures of a planting wall of the vertical farming facility, the actuator further includes an application that is configured to open the apertures prior to inserting the plants and/or plant receptacles by the robot head.