Movable Greenhouse Router Rails for Crop-Blocked Wireless Links
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless communication in greenhouse environments is unreliable due to frequent packet loss caused by crops and obstacles, making it difficult to implement high-capacity communication systems.
Innovation Solution
A movable wireless router system is installed at the upper end of a greenhouse, controlled by a motor and rail system, allowing the router to move along predetermined paths to maintain reliable communication without interference from crops and obstacles, and a greenhouse integrated control unit sets movement intervals to ensure coverage and prevent overlapping areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If wireless communication is used in greenhouse environment, then installation cost is reduced and flexibility is improved, but communication reliability deteriorates due to packet loss from crops and obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless router is made movable instead of fixed, allowing it to be repositioned along rails to optimal locations that avoid signal blockage from crops and obstacles. The motor-driven mechanism enables dynamic adjustment of router position to maintain reliable wireless communication throughout the greenhouse environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The wireless router is positioned in the vertical dimension (hanging from ceiling) and can move along horizontal rails, utilizing three-dimensional space to avoid obstacles. This spatial repositioning in multiple dimensions allows the router to maintain line-of-sight communication paths above crop canopies and around obstacles.
2Reliability
If wireless router is made movable to avoid signal blockage, then communication reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to motor and rail system
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into separate functional modules: the wireless router unit, the motor-driven moving mechanism, the rail system, and the control unit. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies maintenance, as the router can be removed and replaced without dealing with the mechanical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit automatically monitors communication quality and autonomously controls the motor to reposition the router when signal blockage is detected. This self-service capability eliminates the need for manual intervention, reducing operational complexity while maintaining reliability.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple wireless routers are deployed to ensure coverage, then communication coverage is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single wireless router is designed to perform multiple functions by moving to different positions. The same router unit serves multiple coverage areas sequentially, replacing the need for multiple static routers. The motorized positioning system enables one router to provide comprehensive coverage that would otherwise require several fixed units.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures reliable high-capacity wireless communication within the greenhouse, reducing installation costs and allowing for flexible control and easy addition or replacement of sensors, while maintaining data integrity and enabling precise environmental control.
Implementation Method 1
a motor for moving at least one wireless router in an upper end portion of a greenhouse
Data Source
AI summary
Proposed is an apparatus for performing high-capacity wireless communication in a greenhouse environment, the apparatus including: a moving enabling control unit including a motor for moving at least one wireless router in an upper end portion of a greenhouse, a moving enabling module including a motor control module and a motor communication module, and a moving enabling rails installed in a predetermined number, length and direction at the upper end portion of the greenhouse, and a greenhouse integrated control unit configured to set an interval of movement of the wireless router by communicating with the motor communication module and to generate and transmit a control command for controlling the motor control module in such a manner that the wireless router moves at the set interval of movement.