Modular Vertical Farming System with Automated Cart Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current crop growth technologies face challenges such as weather, disease, and limited farmland, which affect harvest efficiency and food production, especially in regions with insufficient arable land.
Innovation Solution
Modular grow tower systems comprising vertically stacked body and lift frames with integrated irrigation and lighting systems, and a controller to manage the movement of carts containing seeds or crops, allowing for customizable and efficient crop growth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional farming methods are used, then crops can grow naturally, but they are affected by weather, disease, and limited farmland
Solution Approach 1:
The farming system is divided into modular units (body frames, lift frames, subframe supports) that can be independently assembled and configured. This segmentation allows the system to be deployed in controlled environments such as vertical farms or urban settings, isolating crops from traditional harmful factors like weather and pests while maintaining reliable growth conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular frames and supports are designed to be multi-functional, serving as structural elements, transport pathways, and support structures for irrigation and lighting systems. This universality allows the same system to address multiple challenges (weather protection, disease prevention, space limitation) simultaneously through integrated design.
2Area of stationary object
If vertically stacked modular system is implemented, then space utilization is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vertical farming system is segmented into standardized modular units (body frames with subframe supports, lift frames) that can be stacked to create vertically integrated farming layers. This segmentation enables efficient space utilization by stacking multiple growing layers vertically while keeping each module relatively simple in design, thus managing overall system complexity through standardization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs nested structures where subframe supports are positioned within body frames, and multiple body frames are stacked within lift frames. This nesting arrangement maximizes vertical space utilization by creating compact, space-efficient layers while maintaining manageable complexity through hierarchical organization of standardized components.
3Productivity
If automated cart movement system is used, then labor efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated system merges multiple functions into integrated components: the lift frames serve both as structural supports and as mechanisms for automated cart transport between vertical levels. The body frames combine structural support, subframe positioning, and irrigation/lighting system integration. This merging reduces the number of separate automated systems needed, thereby managing complexity while maintaining productivity benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular frames and supports are designed to be multi-functional, serving as structural elements, transport pathways, and support structures for irrigation and lighting systems. This universality allows the same system to address multiple challenges (weather protection, disease prevention, space limitation) simultaneously through integrated design.
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 modular system enables efficient and controlled crop growth, adaptable to different crop types and user requirements, improving harvest efficiency and addressing limitations in traditional farming.
Implementation Method 1
a lowering lift mechanism within each lift frame, configured to move the carts vertically between the rows of body frames
Implementation Method 2
the irrigation system including a plurality of spray nozzles, drip nozzles, or flood nozzles mounted within the body frames to provide water to the carts
Implementation Method 3
a lighting system integrated within the body frames, the lighting system including a plurality of lighting elements configured to emit light towards the carts
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure presents modular growing systems and related methods for growing crops. One such system comprises a plurality of body frames; a plurality of lift frames positioned at each end of the modular system; wherein the body frames and lift frames are arranged in a plurality of vertically stacked rows, each row comprising at least one body frame and two lift frames, the body frames being positioned between the lift frames in each row; a plurality of subframe supports within each body frame, each subframe support configured to hold at least one cart containing seeds or crops; a lowering lift mechanism within each lift frame, configured to move the carts vertically between the rows of body frames; and/or a controller communicatively coupled to the lowering lift mechanisms and translating mechanisms, configured to operate the movement of the carts through the modular system based on predetermined parameters.