Modular Soilless Cultivation Device for Urban Food Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing soilless soil production systems, such as hydroponics, aquaponics, and aeroponics, are limited in species variability and are difficult to install in urban environments due to their size and architectural restrictions, necessitating long logistical journeys and suboptimal ripening of plant foodstuffs.
Innovation Solution
A modular, compact device for soilless soil production that can be integrated into various urban settings, including shipping containers, with independent energy and water sources, and compartmentalized zones for controlled climate and lighting, allowing for simultaneous growth of multiple plant species.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a transformed maritime container is used for soilless soil production, then the production system can be established, but the device cannot be easily installed permanently in cities due to its dimensions and architectural restrictions
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into multiple independent modular units, each capable of functioning autonomously or being combined with other units. This segmentation allows the system to be transported through standard doorways and installed in various urban locations without requiring large-scale container transformation, directly resolving the installation flexibility issue while maintaining production capacity.
2Productivity
If hydroponics/aquaponics/aeroponics techniques are used, then plant foodstuffs can be produced continuously, but species variability is limited mainly to leafy species, aromatic plants and a small number of fruits and vegetables
Solution Approach 1:
The modular device is designed to support multiple cultivation techniques (hydroponics, aquaponics, aeroponics, and soil-based planting) within the same system architecture. Each module can be configured for different plant types and growth methods, enabling continuous production across diverse species including bulb plants, herbs, vegetables, and fruits, thereby achieving both continuous productivity and broad species variability.
3Productivity
If plants are grown in remote locations, then production can occur, but long logistical journeys are required which traumatize picked plant foodstuffs and require unripe picking for better transport withstand
Solution Approach 1:
The production system is extracted from remote agricultural locations and brought directly into urban environments where consumers are located. By situating multiple modular units within cities, the logistical journey between production and consumption is eliminated or minimized to hours rather than days, preventing trauma to harvested plants and enabling ripening at the point of consumption.
4Reliability
If unripe plant foodstuffs are picked for transport, then they better withstand transport and storage, but suboptimal ripening occurs in remote locations
Solution Approach 1:
Plants are allowed to complete their natural ripening process within the controlled environment of the modular device before harvest, rather than being picked unripe for transport. The short-distance urban distribution network enables timely delivery of fully ripened produce to consumers, ensuring both transport durability and optimal ripening quality are achieved simultaneously.
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 local, sustainable, and inclusive food production, reducing logistical journeys and ensuring fresh food availability, adaptable to different environments, and resistant to external pests and diseases, while minimizing energy and water consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a thermally insulated block cooperating with: an air conditioning module adapted to produce and maintain a controlled atmosphere inside the block
Implementation Method 2
a lighting module cooperating with the electrical energy supply module and adapted to illuminate the interior of the block and the pots arranged inside the block
Implementation Method 3
an air conditioning module cooperating with the electrical energy supply module and adapted to produce and maintain a controlled atmosphere inside the block
Implementation Method 4
a module for supplying the block with pure water, pots arranged in the controlled atmosphere inside the block, each of these pots being irrigated by the pure water supplied by the module
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a device (1) for producing plant-based foodstuffs using soilless cultivation, comprising: - a unit (10) collaborating with: - a power-supply module (101) supplying electrical energy (E), - a supply module (102) supplying pure water (P); - a discharge module (103) discharging wastewater (U), - a lighting module (104) able to illuminate the interior (11) of the unit (10), - a climate-control module (105) able to produce and maintain a controlled atmosphere (TH) in the interior (11) of the unit (10), - pots (12) disposed in the controlled atmosphere (TH) in the interior of (11) the unit (10) and able to: - receive a plant organ, - be irrigated with the pure water (P) supplied by the supply module (102). According to the invention, a kit of nesting elements is formed.