Automated Plant Module Transfer Using Optical Viability Screening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current agricultural systems lack an efficient method for automating the transfer of plants within facilities, leading to inefficiencies in space utilization and plant growth management, as plants outgrow their initial modules but require different densities for optimal growth stages.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilize autonomous loaders and robotic manipulators to transfer plants from modules of higher densities to those of lower densities, based on viability parameters assessed through optical scans, ensuring plants are transferred only when they meet specific size, quality, and weight criteria, optimizing space and growth conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If plants are kept in high-density modules throughout growth, then space utilization is maximized, but plant growth quality and access to light/nutrients deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts plant density by automatically transferring plants from high-density modules to low-density modules as they grow. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the system to maximize space utilization during early growth stages while ensuring adequate light and nutrient access during later stages, thus resolving the contradiction between space utilization and growth quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the density parameter of plant modules over time. Plants start in high-density modules for efficient space use, then are transferred to low-density modules as they grow, changing the density parameter to match growth requirements. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by adapting density to growth stage.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual transfer of plants between modules is performed, then plant growth stages can be managed, but labor intensity and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service through automated detection and transfer operations. Optical sensors automatically detect plant growth stages and viability, and robotic manipulators automatically transfer plants between modules without human intervention. This eliminates manual labor while maintaining growth stage management capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operations with automated systems. Optical scanning systems replace visual inspection, and robotic manipulators replace manual plant handling. This substitution maintains growth stage management adaptability while dramatically reducing operational complexity and labor intensity.
3Productivity
If all plants in a module are transferred together, then throughput is maintained, but unhealthy plants are transferred reducing overall productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality assessment by evaluating individual plant viability rather than treating all plants uniformly. Optical sensors scan each plant to assess health status, and only healthy plants are selected for transfer. This local quality control maintains throughput by transferring plants continuously while ensuring only healthy plants are moved, thus resolving the contradiction between throughput and health quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs partial transfer actions by selecting and transferring only the necessary healthy plants rather than transferring entire modules at once. This partial action approach maintains throughput by keeping transfer operations continuous while avoiding the transfer of unhealthy plants, thus resolving the contradiction between throughput and plant health quality.
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 approach enhances space efficiency by allowing plants to be transferred to modules with greater access to light and nutrients, improving growth outcomes and maintaining high throughput within the facility, while ensuring only healthy plants are transferred, thereby increasing overall productivity.
Implementation Method 1
recording an optical scan of the first module; and extracting a viability parameter of the set of plants from features detected in the optical scan
Data Source
AI summary
One variation of a method for automating transfer of plants within an agricultural facility includes: dispatching a loader to autonomously deliver a first module—defining a first array of plant slots at a first density and loaded with a first set of plants at a first growth stage—from a first grow location within an agricultural facility to a transfer station within the agricultural facility; dispatching the loader to autonomously deliver a second module—defining a second array of plant slots at a second density less than the first density and empty of plants—to the transfer station; recording a module-level optical scan of the first module; extracting a viability parameter of the first set of plants from features detected in the module-level optical scan; and if the viability parameter falls outside of a target viability range, rejecting transfer of the first set of plants from the first module.