Embodiments of the invention comprise a spray-on substance that harvests components of sunlight that are not very useful in plant photosynthesis and transform them into wavelengths of light that plants can absorb and use. This is done by spraying phosphors or proteins on the plant or on transparent or translucent windows through which the plants are illuminated by sunlight, such as in a greenhouse. The spray can also be combined with substances that enhance plant growth or health, such a pesticide, fungicide, or nutrient.
A01N 59/00 - Biocides, pest repellants or attractants, or plant growth regulators containing elements or inorganic compounds
B05B 7/14 - Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas designed for spraying particulate materials
C09K 11/00 - Luminescent, e.g. electroluminescent, chemiluminescent, materials
A01G 7/06 - Treatment of growing trees or plants, e.g. for preventing decay of wood, for tingeing flowers or wood, for prolonging the life of plants
F21V 9/30 - Elements containing photoluminescent material distinct from or spaced from the light source
2.
ROBOTICALLY MANIPULATED SENSORS FOR AGRICULTURAL HABITATS
A sensor module having multiple sensors for collecting, analyzing, storing, and transmitting data related to environmental and plant growth data in an agricultural habitat, such as a greenhouse, is disclosed. One or more modules are placed at various locations in a greenhouse, to collect data including any of temperature, temperature gradient, humidity, light levels, light frequencies, soil moisture, soil composition, plant health, plant growth, plant quality e.g. maturity and/or fruit quantity and/or ripeness. The sensor module is adapted for robotic placement within the greenhouse, although the module ay initially be placed by hand. The module is powered by internal batteries or a large capacitor or capacitor array and is recharged by a greenhouse robot that may comprise any of a robot arm configured for movement within a greenhouse via a conveyer or track system, a wheeled robot, or a drone.
A sensor module having multiple sensors for collecting, analyzing, storing, and transmitting data related to environmental and plant growth data in an agricultural habitat, such as a greenhouse, is disclosed. One or more modules are placed at various locations in a greenhouse, to collect data including any of temperature, temperature gradient, humidity, light levels, light frequencies, soil moisture, soil composition, plant health, plant growth, plant quality e.g. maturity and/or fruit quantity and/or ripeness. The sensor module is adapted for robotic placement within the greenhouse, although the module ay initially be placed by hand. The module is powered by internal batteries or a large capacitor or capacitor array and is recharged by a greenhouse robot that may comprise any of a robot arm configured for movement within a greenhouse via a conveyer or track system, a wheeled robot, or a drone.
A01D 41/00 - Combines, i.e. harvesters or mowers combined with threshing devices
G05B 13/00 - Adaptive control systems, i.e. systems automatically adjusting themselves to have a performance which is optimum according to some preassigned criterion
G06Q 10/04 - Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem"
Pretensioned panels are provided for use in the construction of a greenhouse, as well as a system for tensioning the panels and configuring the panels into panel arrays. The panels are pretensioned by stretching a transparent or translucent sheet over a rigid frame when the panels are assembled. During installation the panels are dropped in place within a rigid peripheral frame. The resulting assembly forms a complete tensile structure across the surface of the greenhouse.
E06B 3/28 - Wing frames not characterised by the manner of movement with additional removable glass panes or the like, framed or unframed
A01G 9/22 - Shades or blinds for greenhouses, or the like
E04D 3/06 - Roof covering by making use of flat or curved slabs or stiff sheets of plane slabs, slates, or sheets, or in which the cross-section is unimportant of glass or other translucent materialFixing means therefor
A01G 9/22 - Shades or blinds for greenhouses, or the like
E04D 3/06 - Roof covering by making use of flat or curved slabs or stiff sheets of plane slabs, slates, or sheets, or in which the cross-section is unimportant of glass or other translucent materialFixing means therefor
A greenhouse superstructure that blocks less sunlight entering the greenhouse and therefore does not shade the plants grown in the greenhouse comprises trusses that have a mirrored or otherwise reflective surface facing south. In the northern hemisphere the south end of the greenhouse typically faces the sun, and the sun is always above the horizon during daylight hours. In embodiments of the invention used in the southern hemisphere the reflective surface faces north. A reflective surface, such as a mirror, is placed on the greenhouse trusses with the reflector extending above the top surfaces of the truss. The trusses have an east-west orientation. In this way, sunlight is reflected into the greenhouse by the mirrors during the east-west transit of the sun across the sky. As such, neither the trusses nor the top surfaces of the trusses block the sunlight but, rather, reflect the sunlight down into the greenhouse.
A greenhouse thermal control mechanism comprises an under-table airflow system that is enabled in embodiments by robotically moved tables. An internal shading system may also be included. The under-table arrangement defines a plenum from which conditioned air rises to maintain uniform plant temperature. The conditioned air rises vertically from the plenum and is evenly circulated among each of the plants as it rises. As a result, the coolest (or warmest) air is evenly circulated directly on the plants. Each plant is cooled (or heated) in the same way. There is no significant thermal differential between the plants because any warming (or cooling) of the conditioned air occurs as the air rises evenly through the plants.
Described herein are platforms, methods, software, systems and devices for agricultural product management. In some embodiments, a platform as described herein includes a map configured to display a plurality of visual layers, a user interface to display the map and at least one user portal configured to access the user interface. The plurality of visual layers may represent components relating to a grow of an agricultural product in an agricultural facility or display data based on a grow of the agricultural product in the agricultural facility.
Described herein are platforms, methods, software, systems and devices for agricultural product management. In some embodiments, a platform as described herein includes a plurality of sensors, such as an array of sensors. In some embodiments, a platform as described herein includes a plurality of actuators, such as an array of actuators. A processor may receive data from at least one sensor and may direct a change in an operating parameter of at least one actuator. In some embodiments, a platform as described herein includes a database that comprises a data set, such as data set including data from a plurality of agricultural facilities.
G06Q 10/04 - Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem"
patents
