Stackable Vertical Farming Modules With Non-Drip Watering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vertical farming systems face challenges with rigid, box-shaped containers that are difficult to transport and store, and provide inadequate lighting, water distribution, and airflow to vertically growing plants.

Innovation Solution

A modular vertical farming system using stackable modules with growth boards and non-drip watering arrangements, where plants grow horizontally, allowing for efficient assembly and disassembly, and integrated water distribution and drainage systems to prevent water from dripping into rail systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If rigid, box-shaped containers are used for vertical farming, then structural stability is improved, but transportability and assembly difficulty worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidtransportability and assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The container is divided into a base portion and a stackable module portion that can be separated. The base portion remains stationary while the module portion can be transported and stacked, combining structural stability with improved transportability and assembly ease.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple stackable modules are designed to nest within each other or stack vertically, allowing compact storage during transport and easy assembly by stacking pre-fabricated modules onto the base container.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Area of stationary object

If vertically stacked growth containers are used, then space utilization is improved, but lighting and airflow distribution worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidlighting and airflow distribution

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from horizontal to vertical stacking of growth containers, utilizing the vertical dimension to increase space utilization while maintaining adequate lighting and airflow through strategic container design and spacing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Device complexity

If traditional watering systems are used in vertical stacks, then water distribution is simplified, but water dripping into rail systems worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewatering system complexityVSAvoidwater dripping

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful dripping function is extracted and eliminated from the watering system by implementing a non-drip watering arrangement that prevents water from escaping the container, thereby eliminating the harmful effect while maintaining water distribution functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The watering system is designed to convert potential water loss through dripping into beneficial controlled water distribution, where excess water is captured and redirected to lower growth containers, transforming a harmful effect into a water-saving benefit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 improves transportability and assembly of farming components, enhances lighting and airflow, and ensures efficient water distribution without dripping, optimizing plant growth conditions.

Implementation Method 1

the growth board being provided with a porous growth medium in which plants are planted and grow, the porous growth medium having a property whereby when water is distributed through the growth medium, the water will drain from a lower edge of the growth medium

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 2

a drain with an elevated inlet in the watering trough with a liquid passage bypassing the growth medium, arranged such that a portion of the water introduced into the watering trough will enter the drain

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity-driven flow: Gravitation

Implementation Method 3

a water collection trough arranged along a lower edge of the growth board to collect the portion of water exiting from the growth medium, the water collection trough having a valve device which is open or closed according to whether the growth module is arranged in the stack or lifted from the stack by a module handling vehicle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical valve control: Valve

Data Source

PatentUS12564141B2Vertical farming system

Publication Date: 2026.03.03 AUTOSTORE TECH AS

AI summary

An automated vertical farming system, includes a framework structure forming a grid storage arrangement. One or more module handling vehicles are arranged to travel and transport modules along a rail system. A control system is configured to control the travel and operation of the one or more module handling vehicles. Stackable growth modules are arranged to support growing plants, the growth modules having a footprint corresponding to that of a column of the framework structure, such that the growth modules may be arranged in stacks in the columns. The growth modules allow plants to grow horizontally, and also provide a non-drip watering system for watering the plants.