Rotating Vertical Grow Tower With Automated Plant Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
The rapid industrialization and population growth, coupled with soil erosion, necessitate innovative approaches to utilize vertical space for food production, particularly in urban areas.
Innovation Solution
A vertical growing system utilizing a central post with uppermost and lowermost multiple arm structures, synchronized motor assemblies, chains, and plant support bars to rotate plants to optimal heights, integrated with a watering, audio, lighting, and vibration systems, controlled by a computing device for automated growth and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If traditional horizontal farming is used, then land area is required for plant growth, but land availability is limited due to soil erosion and urbanization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional horizontal farming to three-dimensional vertical farming by implementing a multi-level tower structure with plants arranged at different heights. The system uses vertical posts, horizontal arms at multiple levels, and hanging planters to utilize the vertical dimension, thereby maximizing space utilization without requiring additional land area.
2Ease of operation
If manual gardening is used, then labor intensity is high, but automation requires complex mechanical systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automated systems for watering, lighting, and nutrient delivery that operate without continuous human intervention. Sensors detect plant needs and trigger appropriate responses, such as activating water pumps or adjusting LED lighting, thereby reducing labor intensity while maintaining manageable system complexity through intelligent automation rather than purely mechanical complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors and controllers that monitor environmental conditions (moisture, light, temperature) and automatically adjust watering, lighting, and other parameters. This feedback mechanism enables automated operation with reduced labor while keeping system complexity manageable through intelligent control rather than complex mechanical design.
3Device complexity
If plants are grown at fixed heights, then structural simplicity is maintained, but optimal growing conditions cannot be achieved for different plant stages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements adjustable-height mechanisms that allow planters to be positioned at different vertical levels based on plant growth stages and species requirements. Motors and传动 mechanisms enable dynamic repositioning of planters along the vertical posts, providing optimal growing conditions for different plants while maintaining relatively simple structural design through modular components.
Data Source
AI summary
A vertical growing system includes an uppermost multiple arm structure with a series of arms that extend horizontally outward from a vertical post adjacent its top end. Each of these arms includes a gear attached to its distal end which rotates in response to a rotation of the arm. A lowermost multiple arm structure is generally identical to the uppermost multiple arm structure, but adjacent the lower end of the post. Each of the arms of the lowermost multiple arm structure is aligned in the same vertical plane as a corresponding arm of the uppermost multiple arm structure. Each set of vertically aligned arms includes a chain that rotates about the gears of the set. Pairs of plant support bars extend horizontally from opposite sides of the chains at various vertical heights. Each plant support bar supports one or more plant-holding hangers.