LED Light Redirection in Vertical Farms Using Plant Feedback
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional greenhouses using high-pressure sodium (HPS) lamps for supplemental lighting in indoor agriculture face high power consumption and heat generation issues, making them unsuitable for young greens and microgreens, while the transition to LED lighting in multi-level farms leads to inefficient power usage due to misdirected LED light in areas where it is not needed.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing cameras and sensors to capture real-time images and data, analyze plant characteristics, and manipulate LED light wavelengths to optimize redirection for improved plant growth by identifying patterns of light origin and direction, employing image recognition and predictive modeling to adjust LED light distribution based on plant species, growth stage, and health.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If HPS lamps are used for supplemental lighting, then plant growth is enhanced, but power consumption increases and heat generation damages young greens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from HPS lamps to LED lighting, changing the spectral parameters and energy efficiency characteristics of the lighting system. LEDs provide the necessary growth-enhancing wavelengths while consuming less power and generating less heat, thus resolving the contradiction between plant growth enhancement and power consumption.
2Use of energy by moving object
If LED lighting is used to reduce power consumption, then energy efficiency improves, but light is misdirected to areas where it is not needed
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses cameras and sensors to capture real-time images and data of the vertical farm environment, analyzes plant characteristics and light patterns, then uses this feedback information to dynamically adjust LED lighting placement and direction. This closed-loop control ensures light is directed precisely where needed, eliminating waste while maintaining energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of LED lighting systems based on real-time plant characteristics and growth stages. The lighting configuration changes adaptively rather than being static, allowing the system to optimize light distribution continuously and prevent misdirection to areas where plants are not present or do not need light.
3Quantity of substance
If LED light is increased to improve plant growth, then vitamin and antioxidant levels increase, but more light is wasted in areas without plants
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides localized lighting optimization by analyzing plant characteristics and growth stages individually, then directing appropriate light wavelengths and intensities to specific plant locations. This localized approach ensures that increased LED light output benefits target plants (enhancing vitamin and antioxidant production) without being wasted in areas where plants are absent or do not require additional light.
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
The system effectively recovers and redirects LED light to enhance plant growth by minimizing waste and optimizing energy usage, improving vitamin and antioxidant levels in plants through targeted wavelength manipulation.
Implementation Method 1
capturing and redirecting unused or wasted light (spillage, scatter)
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for recovering LED light in indoor multi-level farms. A plurality of cameras and sensors capture in real time in a vertical farm environment a plurality of camera images and sensor data. The camera images include physical images of the vertical farm environment, and the sensor data includes light data. The camera images and sensor data are analyzed to identify a pattern of light origin and direction in the vertical farm environment. The plant characteristics are identified based on comparing the captured camera images, using image recognition, against a model. Based on the identified plant characteristics, manipulating the light data. The plant characteristics include plant species growth state and general health. The light is manipulated by breaking it into component visible light wavelengths. The model predicts optimizing the redirecting of the optimal wavelengths for improved plant growth.