Hydroponic Array Individualized Nutrient Delivery Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for delivering nutrients and fluids to plants lack the ability to control the delivery of different substances to individual plant sites in a patterned arrangement, such as depicting graphics or images, and fail to address issues like uneven growth or infestations effectively.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising multiple plant sites, containers for fluids, conduits for fluid delivery, and a controller to manage the delivery of various nutrients, dyes, and substances, allowing for selective and controlled distribution of fluids to each site, enabling the creation of patterns and addressing specific plant needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional nutrient delivery system is used, then all plants receive the same nutrients, but individual plant needs and patterned delivery cannot be addressed
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the plant array into individually addressable plant sites, with each site receiving fluid through its own conduit. This segmentation enables different nutrients to be delivered to different plants while maintaining a manageable system architecture where complexity is distributed across modular units rather than centralized.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid delivery system is designed to handle multiple fluid types (nutrients, dyes, treatments) through a unified conduit network. The same infrastructure can deliver different substances to different plant sites, eliminating the need for separate delivery systems for each function and reducing overall system complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If nutrients are delivered uniformly to all plants, then system operation is simple, but pattern creation and targeted treatment are not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamically controllable fluid delivery where the type, amount, and timing of nutrients can be adjusted for each plant site. This dynamic control enables pattern creation and targeted treatments while the automated nature of the system maintains operational simplicity through centralized control rather than manual intervention at each plant.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes fluid delivery parameters (which fluid is delivered, how much, and when) on a per-plant basis to create patterns and address specific plant needs. By varying these parameters through the existing conduit infrastructure, the system achieves versatility without requiring complex physical reconfiguration.
3Measurement precision
If individual plant sites receive different fluids through separate conduits, then precise control is achieved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements segmentation at the plant site level, where each plant or small group of plants has its own fluid delivery point. This segmentation provides precise control for individual plants while keeping the overall conduit network manageable by dividing it into discrete, addressable segments rather than requiring a complex distributed network.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses an intermediary control mechanism that manages fluid delivery to multiple plant sites through a coordinated conduit network. This intermediary layer (control system) simplifies the complexity by providing a unified interface for managing precise fluid delivery to individual plants, abstracting away the underlying conduit network complexity.
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
Enables precise control over nutrient delivery to individual plant sites, facilitating pattern creation and addressing growth issues or infestations by delivering specific substances, enhancing plant health and appearance.
Implementation Method 1
a pump may be configured to selectively pressurize one or more conduits. By virtue of being pressurized, one or more conduits may deliver one or more fluids to one or more plant sites
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods configured to deliver fluids to an array of plant deliver different fluids to different plants or groups of plants. The fluids include one or more of nutrients, dyes, insecticides, and/or herbicides. Delivery may be controlled such that a graphic and/or image is depicted by an array of plants or groups of plants.