Soilless Plant Growing With Real-Time pH and Nutrient Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hydroponic systems lack real-time monitoring and adjustment of pH and nutrient levels in soilless growing media, leading to potential plant damage, resource waste, and inefficiencies due to reliance on generic charts and manual calibration.

Innovation Solution

A system with sensors and machine learning algorithms continuously monitors and adjusts pH and nutrient levels, using a database of global water data to predict and optimize feeding solution composition, allowing partial replacement and reducing waste.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the entire feeding solution is replaced in the reservoir, then plant growth conditions are maintained, but water and nutrients are wasted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplant growth conditionsVSAvoidwater and nutrients

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of replacing the entire feeding solution, the system performs partial replacement by calculating and adding only the precise volume of water and nutrients needed to restore depleted parameters. This partial action approach maintains plant growth conditions while significantly reducing water and nutrient waste compared to complete solution replacement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and temperature parameters of the feeding solution using sensors. This feedback information is processed by a controller that calculates the exact volume of water and nutrients required for partial replacement, enabling dynamic adjustment based on actual solution degradation rather than fixed schedules.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Device complexity

If manual calibration and generic charts are used, then system complexity is reduced, but measurement precision and control accuracy deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidparameter monitoring accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-calibration by automatically measuring pH, EC, and temperature parameters, then calculating the required water and nutrient volumes based on actual measured values rather than generic charts. The controller autonomously manages the partial replacement process, eliminating the need for manual intervention while maintaining high measurement precision through automated sensor-based monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If real-time monitoring and adjustment is implemented, then plant growth efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplant growth efficiencyVSAvoidmonitoring system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The controller serves multiple functions: it processes sensor data from pH, EC, and temperature sensors; calculates the required water and nutrient volumes; controls the pumping of solutions; and monitors plant growth parameters. This multi-functionality approach consolidates complex monitoring and control tasks into a single device, improving plant growth efficiency without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20250255233A1Methods and systems for controlled soil-less plant growing

Publication Date: 2025.08.14 GROWEE TECH LTD

AI summary

The present disclosure relates generally to controlled hydroponic plant growing systems.