Modular Plant Cultivation System with Sensor-Based Irrigation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current plant cultivation systems face inefficiencies in irrigation, leading to underwatering or overwatering due to non-targeted and unregulated watering methods, particularly in conveyor systems where all plants receive the same amount of irrigation regardless of their growth stage.
Innovation Solution
A modular system with sensors in each container or dimensionally stable substrate to measure moisture levels, coupled with an irrigation unit that delivers water only when the substrate is below a predetermined minimum moisture, and a continuous irrigation line that connects multiple containers or substrates for needs-optimized irrigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a common irrigation line supplies water to all containers, then the irrigation system is simple and continuous, but all plants receive the same amount of water regardless of their growth stage, leading to under- or over-watering
Solution Approach 1:
The common irrigation line is segmented into individual supply lines for each container, allowing independent control of water supply to each plant based on its specific needs while maintaining system simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
Moisture sensors in each container provide feedback on substrate moisture content, which triggers the irrigation element to release water only when needed, preventing both under- and over-watering while maintaining system reliability
2Area of stationary object
If spray nozzles are positioned above plants for large-area irrigation, then irrigation coverage is improved, but water primarily wets leaves rather than roots, reducing irrigation effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The irrigation system extracts water delivery directly at the container level through irrigation elements, bypassing the ineffective aerial spray approach and ensuring water is delivered directly to the substrate and roots
Solution Approach 2:
The container acts as an intermediary that receives and distributes water to the substrate, ensuring water reaches the roots effectively while the sensor monitors and controls the entire process
3Device complexity
If manual irrigation monitoring is used, then system complexity is reduced, but labor requirements increase and irrigation timing precision decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-monitoring through moisture sensors and self-regulation through automated irrigation elements that release water based on sensor feedback, eliminating manual intervention while maintaining high irrigation efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
Manual monitoring and decision-making is replaced with automated sensor-based detection and electronic control of irrigation release, significantly improving productivity and timing precision
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
This system ensures individual and targeted irrigation, preventing underwatering or overwatering, reduces personnel costs, and allows for flexible and efficient plant cultivation, enabling continuous harvesting with easy handling and adaptable production quantities.
Implementation Method 1
with at least one sensor (4) which is designed to measure a moisture content of the substrate (11)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The modular system (1) for plant cultivation, comprising a plurality of containers (2), each configured to hold a substrate (11), and/or dimensionally stable substrates (22), wherein the containers (2) and the dimensionally stable substrates (22) are each configured to hold a number of seeds or plants (12), in particular cuttings, in the substrate (11), is characterized in that at least one sensor (4) is provided in each container (2) or dimensionally stable substrate (22) and is configured to measure the moisture content of the substrate (11) when the container (2) or the dimensionally stable substrate (22) is used for plant cultivation, and that an irrigation unit (3) comprising a supply line (5) and an irrigation part (6) is provided at each container (2) or dimensionally stable substrate (22).wherein the supply line (5) is provided for conveying irrigation fluid (19) and the irrigation part (6) is connected to the supply line (5) to convey irrigation fluid (19) from the supply line (5) to a dispensing point (7) of irrigation fluid (19) on the irrigation part (6), wherein the irrigation part (6) interacts with the at least one sensor (4) and the irrigation part (6) is configured, when the container (2) or the rigid substrate (22) is used for plant cultivation, to release the supply of irrigation fluid (19) to the dispensing point (7) when the at least one sensor (4) measures a moisture content of the substrate (11) that is below a predetermined minimum moisture content, and wherein a connecting part is provided at each axial end of the supply line (5) of each container (2) or rigid substrate (22). (8) is provided for,which are designed to detachably connect the supply line (5) of a container (2) or a dimensionally stable substrate (22) to the supply line of an adjacent container (2) or an adjacent dimensionally stable substrate (22) when used for plant cultivation via the respective connecting parts (8) in order to form a continuous irrigation line (9).