Airborne Pathogen Monitoring for Rapid Indoor Crop Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Indoor crops are susceptible to pathogenic molds and bacteria, and existing methods for detecting airborne pathogens are slow, leading to costly and ineffective responses after significant damage has occurred, necessitating a rapid and efficient detection and control system for preventative measures in controlled environment agriculture (CEA).
Innovation Solution
A computer system that integrates sensors, such as camera-sensor based detectors, with environmental controls like lighting, temperature, and humidity to rapidly detect airborne pathogens and adjust conditions to prevent infection, utilizing feedback loops and management software to optimize crop health and reduce pesticide reliance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If traditional detection methods are used for airborne pathogens, then detection can be performed, but the response time is slow and damage occurs before effective action can be taken
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of airborne pathogens using sensors before they can infect crops. By detecting pathogen presence in advance and triggering environmental controls proactively, the system prevents infection rather than responding after damage occurs, thus resolving the contradiction between fast response and effective action.
2Productivity
If rapid detection and response systems are implemented, then crop damage is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multi-functional environmental controls that serve both crop growth optimization and pathogen suppression purposes. Lighting, temperature, and humidity controls are configured to simultaneously promote plant health and create unfavorable conditions for pathogens, reducing the need for separate dedicated pathogen control equipment and mitigating system complexity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If environmental controls are adjusted rapidly to suppress pathogens, then pathogen growth is reduced, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic monitoring and responsive control adjustments rather than continuous maximum-intensity controls. Environmental parameters are adjusted dynamically based on real-time pathogen detection data, applying suppression measures only when and where needed, thus reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining effective pathogen control.
Data Source
AI summary
In an embodiment, a rapid response system includes a manager coupled to one or more sensors and one or more controls. The one or more sensors includes a camera-sensor based detector of airborne pathogenic biological particles. Settings of the one or more controls influence a rate of a growth or lifecycle of biological pathogens. The manager rapidly responds to sensor detection of airborne pathogenic biological particles by influencing the rate of growth or lifecycles of biological pathogens via modification of control settings.