Robotic Sprayer for Vertical Farming Humidity and Disinfection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vertical farming faces challenges in maintaining optimal humidity levels and preventing pathogen growth due to the complexity of managing environmental conditions in layered structures, with existing solutions being energy-intensive and labor-dependent, leading to inefficient and unsustainable practices.
Innovation Solution
A vertical farming spraying system featuring a robotic mobile sprayer with a control unit that navigates a vertically oriented elongated cylindrical support with a spiral path, allowing for precise and automated application of moisture and disinfectants using humidity and disinfection sensors, and micro-jet sprayers, reducing reliance on manual labor and energy-intensive systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If air conditioning systems are used to regulate temperature and humidity, then climate control effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses robotic mobile sprayers that autonomately navigate and spray disinfectants and moisture without requiring continuous human intervention or energy-intensive air conditioning. The robots self-regulate by following sensors and pre-programmed routes, eliminating the need for high-energy climate control systems while maintaining environmental conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical air conditioning system with a robotic spraying system that uses minimal energy. Instead of using AC to control humidity and temperature, the system uses robotic mobile sprayers to apply moisture and disinfectants directly where needed, substituting a complex mechanical climate control system with a simpler, lower-energy robotic approach.
2Ease of operation
If manual spraying methods are used for disinfectant application, then operational simplicity is maintained, but labor costs increase and coverage consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic mobile sprayers perform disinfectant application autonomously without manual intervention. The robots self-navigate using sensors and pre-programmed routes, self-positioning to ensure consistent coverage across all areas including hard-to-reach locations, thereby eliminating labor costs while maintaining operational simplicity through automated self-service operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors that provide feedback on the spraying process and environmental conditions. This feedback mechanism allows the robotic sprayers to adjust their operation in real-time to maintain consistent coverage, ensuring that disinfectant and moisture application is uniform across all areas while operating autonomously without manual control.
3Device complexity
If manual spraying is used in densely populated areas, then system simplicity is maintained, but spraying coverage and accessibility worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic mobile sprayers autonomously navigate densely populated vertical farming areas using sensors and pre-programmed routes. The robots self-adjust their positioning and spraying patterns to ensure uniform coverage in hard-to-reach areas, maintaining system simplicity while achieving superior spraying coverage uniformity through automated self-service operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from two-dimensional manual spraying to three-dimensional automated spraying by deploying robotic mobile sprayers at multiple vertical levels. This dimensional change enables comprehensive coverage of densely populated areas at different heights, achieving uniform spraying coverage throughout the entire vertical farming structure while maintaining operational simplicity.
4Reliability
If uniform humidification is achieved through conventional methods, then plant health is improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The robotic mobile sprayers perform humidification tasks autonomously by navigating to plant locations and applying moisture as needed. The robots self-regulate their operation based on sensor feedback, achieving uniform humidification across all plant levels without requiring complex centralized humidification systems, thereby maintaining plant health while reducing system complexity and cost.
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 ensures consistent and precise delivery of water and disinfectants across multiple layers, improving plant health and yield while reducing operational costs and environmental impact through automated and scalable humidification and disinfection processes.
Implementation Method 1
a humidifier sprayer and a disinfection sprayer mounted on the first mechanical support and the second mechanical support, respectively. The humidifier sprayer is fluidly connected to the first pump through a first conduit. The disinfection sprayer is fluidly connected to the second pump through a second conduit. A first set of micro-jets is mounted on the humidifier sprayer.
Implementation Method 2
a disinfection sensor and a disinfection sprayer mounted on the second mechanical support. The disinfection sprayer is fluidly connected to the second pump through a second conduit. A second set of micro-jets is mounted on the disinfection sprayer.
Data Source
AI summary
A vertical farming spraying system including a robotic mobile sprayer with a base and driving members. The robotic mobile sprayer includes a first cylindrical element connected to a first pump and a second cylindrical element connected to a second pump. A first mechanical support is mounted on the base, supporting a humidity sensor and a humidifier sprayer connected to the first pump; and a second mechanical support is mounted on the base, supporting a disinfection sensor and a disinfection sprayer connected to the second pump. A control unit controls operation of the driving members and mechanical supports, and of the pumps through the respective sensors via a flow control sensor. The vertical farming spraying system further includes a vertically oriented elongated cylindrical support encircled by a spiral path, designed to guide the robotic mobile sprayer from the base to the top for humidification and disinfection operations.