Enclosed home growing environment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Home gardeners face challenges in growing fresh produce and herbs indoors due to limited space and suboptimal growing conditions in existing systems, as well as a lack of education and time to maintain optimal growth conditions for various plant species.
Innovation Solution
An enclosed growing environment system with rotating planting columns, adjustable lighting, and a monitoring and control system that provides individualized care for plants, including water and nutrient management, and alerts for optimal harvesting, utilizing sensors and machine learning to optimize growth conditions and yield.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If indoor growing systems are used to grow fresh produce in limited space, then space utilization is improved, but growing conditions become suboptimal for all plant species
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the growing environment into multiple independent zones, each with customized environmental parameters (lighting, temperature, humidity, airflow) tailored to specific plant species or growth stages, allowing optimal conditions for diverse plants within a compact footprint
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a hierarchical structure where multiple planting columns are nested within an enclosed growing chamber, with each column containing multiple planting receptacles at different heights, maximizing vertical space utilization while maintaining individualized control over growing conditions
2Device complexity
If unitary growing conditions are provided for all produce in indoor systems, then system simplicity is improved, but growth optimization for individual plant species deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs adjustable and reconfigurable components including variable lighting intensity and spectrum, controllable airflow patterns, and adjustable watering systems that can be dynamically modified to meet the specific needs of different plant species and growth stages
Solution Approach 2:
Each planting receptacle or column can receive customized environmental treatments (lighting, water, nutrients, airflow) independently, allowing local optimization of growing conditions for each plant species without requiring complex overall system redesign
3Productivity
If homeowners manually maintain optimal growth conditions for each plant species, then plant growth optimization is improved, but time requirement and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates automated monitoring and control mechanisms including sensors that detect plant needs and trigger appropriate responses (watering, lighting adjustments, airflow modification) without requiring continuous human intervention or expertise
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses sensors and monitoring devices to continuously track environmental parameters and plant health status, automatically adjusting conditions based on real-time feedback to maintain optimal growth conditions without manual intervention
Data Source
AI summary
An appliance for the cultivation of indoor plants and vegetation. The appliance may include a planting column with multiple receptacles for receiving seed cartridges. The appliance may provide nutrients, fluids, and light based on specific characteristics of each individual plant being cultivated. In various implementations, the appliance may be under-the-counter, counter-top, and/or ceiling height configurations.