JP7454554B2 - Cultivation control system, cultivation control device, cultivation control method, and cultivation control program - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates to plant cultivation control technology.

In recent years, in order to cultivate plants without being affected by weather conditions, artificial light type plant factories have been attracting attention, which promote growth by artificially controlling air conditioners and artificial lighting in an indoor environment. In this artificial light plant factory, in order to stabilize the quality of crops, environmental control equipment such as air conditioners and artificial lighting, as well as water and fertilizers are adjusted based on measurement data such as room temperature, humidity, and light intensity in the cultivation environment. The operation of the supplied growth control equipment is often automatically controlled by a preset growth program.

Even in greenhouse cultivation, in order to create the optimal environment for plants as much as possible, environmental controls such as side windows and curtains are controlled based on measurement data such as temperature, humidity, and light intensity inside and outside the greenhouse. May control the operation of equipment and growth control equipment that supplies water and fertilizer. In order to stabilize the quality of crops even in facility cultivation, it is efficient to automatically control the operation of equipment using preset growth programs. However, facility cultivation is easily influenced by weather conditions, and even with the same cultivation program it is not always possible to achieve the expected cultivation environment. Therefore, it is desirable that the training program can be updated according to the situation. For example, Patent Document 1 describes that the state of growth is managed and grasped using sensors, and the environment is remotely controlled by setting a training program that matches the degree of growth.

However, in Patent Document 1, it is not considered that the heat supplied in accordance with the amount of light supplied to the cultivation environment is used to increase the sensible heat of the cultivation environment, and in realizing cultivation control suitable for growth, Further improvements were needed.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-143794

In order to solve the above problems, a cultivation control system according to one aspect of the present disclosure,
a light control device that controls the amount of light supplied to a cultivation environment in which plants are grown;
a first sensor that detects the growth state of the plant;
a storage unit storing a first program in which operational specifications of the light control device are defined;
a control device that controls the operation of the light control device according to the first program;
Equipped with
The control device includes:
Sensible heat representing the degree to which the supplied heat accompanying the amount of light supplied to the cultivation environment by the light control device is used to increase the sensible heat of the cultivation environment based on the growth state of the plant detected by the first sensor. a determination processing unit that determines whether the degree of contribution has decreased;
Operation specifications of the light control device are determined such that when it is determined that the sensible heat contribution has decreased, the amount of light supplied to the cultivation environment by the light control device is increased compared to the first program. an acquisition processing unit that acquires a second program from the cultivation management server through a communication network and stores it in the storage unit;
a device control unit that controls the operation of the light control device according to the second program instead of the first program when the second program is acquired;
This includes:

According to the above aspect, it is possible to realize cultivation control suitable for plant growth and provide a system that stabilizes the quality of crops.

2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic control configuration of a cultivation management server and a cultivation control system in the first embodiment. FIG. It is a flow chart which shows roughly an example of an operation procedure of a cultivation control system of a 1st embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows typically the control structure of the cultivation management server and the cultivation control system in 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows typically the culture medium weighing scale and the plant body in 2nd Embodiment. It is a flow chart which shows roughly an example of an operation procedure of a cultivation control system of a 2nd embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows typically the control structure of the cultivation management server and the cultivation control system in 3rd Embodiment. It is a flow chart which shows roughly an example of an operation procedure of a cultivation control system of a 3rd embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows typically the control structure of the cultivation management server and the cultivation control system in 4th Embodiment. It is a flow chart which shows roughly an example of an operation procedure of a cultivation control system of a 4th embodiment. It is a flow chart which shows roughly an example of an operation procedure of a cultivation control system of a 4th embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows typically the control structure of the cultivation management server and the cultivation control system in 5th Embodiment. It is a flow chart which shows roughly an example of an operation procedure of a cultivation control system of a 5th embodiment.

(Circumstances leading to the invention of one aspect of the present disclosure)
First, the focus of one aspect of the present disclosure will be explained. In Patent Document 1, when the environmental condition in the growth tank is transmitted to the growth management server through the communication network, a growth program related to the operation of the operation control section is created within the growth management server. The created cultivation program is sent to and stored in a computer such as a smartphone, and the computer switches the cultivation program and controls the cultivation equipment. In this way, in the above-mentioned conventional Patent Document 1, a cultivation program is created based on cultivation environment information, and the cultivation equipment is controlled by updating the equipment operation method according to the cultivation environment state.

However, plants grow over time, and if the growth conditions of plants are different, the same growth program is not necessarily appropriate even under the same cultivation environment. For example, when taking in a lot of light necessary for growing plants, a lot of heat is also taken in and the temperature in the cultivation environment tends to rise, so light control should be performed in consideration of the heat load. However, when plants are in different growth states, the temperature in the cultivation environment does not rise uniformly due to an increase in the amount of light supplied, and even with the same growth program, it may not be possible to maintain the temperature at an appropriate level. Particularly in the summer, or in greenhouse cultivation in tropical and subtropical regions, the increased light supply can sometimes reach temperatures high enough to damage the plants. For this reason, it was necessary to precisely control the cultivation environment according to the growth state of the plants. Therefore, in Patent Document 1, as described above, the growth condition is managed and grasped using a sensor, and the cultivation environment is remotely controlled by setting a cultivation program that matches the growth degree.

However, in Patent Document 1, it is not considered whether or not the supplied heat accompanying the amount of light supplied to the cultivation environment is used to increase the sensible heat of the cultivation environment. Therefore, in Patent Document 1, there is a problem that cultivation control suitable for plant growth cannot be realized and the quality of crops cannot be stabilized. Therefore, the inventors of the present disclosure studied the sensible heat contribution degree, which represents the degree to which the supplied heat accompanying the amount of light supplied to the cultivation environment is used to increase the sensible heat of the cultivation environment.

As the cultivation period passes and the plant grows, the number of leaves increases and the area occupied by the leaves in the cultivation environment increases. As the leaf area increases, the amount of water transpiring from the leaf also increases. As a result, more of the supplied heat associated with the amount of light supplied to the cultivation environment is used for vaporizing the evaporated water. In other words, the supplied heat associated with the amount of light supplied to the cultivation environment is used more in addition to increasing the sensible heat of the cultivation environment. Therefore, the sensible heat contribution degree, which represents the degree to which the supplied heat associated with the amount of light supplied to the cultivation environment is used to increase the sensible heat of the cultivation environment, decreases. When the sensible heat contribution decreases, even if the amount of light supplied to the cultivation environment is increased, the temperature rise in the cultivation environment is suppressed.

On the other hand, as plants grow, they must carry out more photosynthesis and produce more assimilated products in order to maintain the plant's vigor, and therefore require more light. Therefore, if the amount of light supplied to the cultivation environment is increased when the contribution of sensible heat is reduced, the growth of plants can be further promoted while suppressing the temperature rise in the cultivation environment. As a result, it is possible to realize cultivation control suitable for plant growth and provide a system that stabilizes the quality of crops. Based on the above considerations, the inventors of the present disclosure have come up with the following aspects of the present disclosure.

The cultivation control system according to the first aspect of the present disclosure includes:
a light control device that controls the amount of light supplied to a cultivation environment in which plants are grown;
a first sensor that detects the growth state of the plant;
a storage unit storing a first program in which operational specifications of the light control device are defined;
a control device that controls the operation of the light control device according to the first program;
Equipped with
The control device includes:
Sensible heat representing the degree to which the supplied heat accompanying the amount of light supplied to the cultivation environment by the light control device is used to increase the sensible heat of the cultivation environment based on the growth state of the plant detected by the first sensor. a determination processing unit that determines whether the degree of contribution has decreased;
Operation specifications of the light control device are determined such that when it is determined that the sensible heat contribution has decreased, the amount of light supplied to the cultivation environment by the light control device is increased compared to the first program. an acquisition processing unit that acquires a second program from the cultivation management server through a communication network and stores it in the storage unit;
a device control unit that controls the operation of the light control device according to the second program instead of the first program when the second program is acquired;
This includes:

The cultivation control method according to the second aspect of the present disclosure includes:
A cultivation control method in a cultivation control system comprising a light control device that controls the amount of light supplied to a cultivation environment for growing plants, the method comprising:
controlling the operation of the light control device according to a first program in which operation specifications for the light control device are defined;
detecting the growth state of the plant;
Based on the detected growth state of the plant, a sensible heat contribution indicating the degree to which the supplied heat associated with the amount of light supplied to the cultivation environment by the light control device is used to increase the sensible heat of the cultivation environment has decreased. Determine whether or not
Operation specifications of the light control device are determined such that when it is determined that the sensible heat contribution has decreased, the amount of light supplied to the cultivation environment by the light control device is increased compared to the first program. acquiring the second program from the cultivation management server through the communication network and storing it in the storage unit;
When the second program is acquired, the operation of the light control device is controlled in accordance with the second program instead of the first program.

According to the first aspect or the second aspect, it is determined whether the sensible heat contribution degree has decreased based on the detected growth state of the plant, and when it is determined that the sensible heat contribution degree has decreased, The light control device is controlled according to the second program instead of the first program. Here, the operation specifications of the light control device are determined in the second program so that the amount of light is increased compared to the first program. Therefore, it is possible to realize cultivation control suitable for plant growth and provide a system that stabilizes the quality of crops.

In the first aspect, for example,
The first sensor includes at least one of a water supply amount measurement unit that measures the amount of water supplied to the plant, and a drainage amount measurement unit that measures the amount of drainage from the plant,
The determination processing unit calculates the amount of absorbed water absorbed by the plant based on at least one of the water supply amount and the drainage amount, and when the absorbed water amount exceeds a preset water amount threshold, the sensible heat contribution is calculated. It may be determined that the degree has decreased.

The amount of water absorbed by plants increases as the plants grow. Therefore, when the amount of absorbed water exceeds the water amount threshold, it can be determined that the number of leaves increases due to plant growth, and the amount of water transpired from the leaves increases. When the amount of transpiration water increases, it can be determined that more of the heat supplied due to the amount of light supplied to the cultivation environment is used for vaporization of transpiration water other than increasing sensible heat, and the contribution of sensible heat decreases. Therefore, according to this aspect, a decrease in sensible heat contribution can be determined more appropriately.

In the first aspect, for example,
The first sensor includes a medium weight scale that measures the weight of the plant and the medium in which the plant is planted,
The determination processing unit may determine that the sensible heat contribution has decreased when the measured weight measured by the culture medium weighing scale exceeds a preset weight threshold.

The measured weight measured with a culture medium weighing scale includes the plant weight, and therefore increases as the plant grows. Therefore, when the measured weight exceeds the weight threshold, it can be determined that the number of leaves has increased due to plant growth and the amount of water transpired from the leaves has increased. When the amount of transpiration water increases, it can be determined that more of the heat supplied due to the amount of light supplied to the cultivation environment is used for vaporization of transpiration water other than increasing sensible heat, and the contribution of sensible heat decreases. Therefore, according to this aspect, a decrease in sensible heat contribution can be determined more appropriately.

In the first aspect, for example,
The first sensor includes an imaging device that captures an image including the plant,
The determination processing unit calculates an area ratio of at least leaves of the plant in a captured image captured by the imaging device, and determines the sensible heat contribution when the area ratio exceeds a preset ratio threshold. It may be determined that the degree has decreased.

The area of a plant's leaves increases as the plant grows. Therefore, when the leaf area ratio exceeds the ratio threshold value, it can be determined that the number of leaves has increased due to plant growth and the amount of water transpired from the leaves has increased. When the amount of transpiration water increases, it can be determined that more of the heat supplied due to the amount of light supplied to the cultivation environment is used for vaporization of transpiration water other than increasing sensible heat, and the contribution of sensible heat decreases. Therefore, according to this aspect, a decrease in sensible heat contribution can be determined more appropriately.

In the first aspect, for example,
The acquisition processing unit may delete the first program from the storage unit after storing the second program in the storage unit.

According to this aspect, it is possible to avoid a situation where the capacity of the storage unit becomes insufficient.

In the first aspect, for example,
Further comprising a second sensor that detects the temperature of the cultivation environment,
The determination processing unit is configured to control the detection processing unit when the temperature of the cultivation environment detected by the second sensor exceeds a preset temperature threshold after switching from the first program to the second program. It is determined that the degree of heat contribution has increased,
The acquisition processing unit controls the light control device so that when the determination processing unit determines that the sensible heat contribution has increased, the amount of light supplied to the cultivation environment is reduced compared to the second program. acquiring a third program in which operational specifications are defined from the cultivation management server through the communication network and storing it in the storage unit;
When the third program is acquired, the device control unit may control the operation of the light control device according to the third program instead of the second program.

In this aspect, the fact that it is determined that the temperature of the cultivation environment has exceeded the temperature threshold and the sensible heat contribution has increased after switching from the first program to the second program means that it is determined that the plants have grown. It is thought that the number of plants has decreased, for example, due to the plants dying. For this reason, it is thought that if the second program is left as is, the temperature of the cultivation environment will further rise. In contrast, according to this aspect, the operation of the light control device is controlled according to the third program instead of the second program. Here, in the third program, the operation specifications of the light control device are determined so that the amount of light is decreased compared to the second program. Therefore, further increase in the temperature of the cultivation environment can be avoided.

In the first aspect, for example,
The acquisition processing unit may delete the second program from the storage unit after storing the third program in the storage unit.

According to this aspect, it is possible to avoid a situation where the capacity of the storage unit becomes insufficient.

The cultivation control device according to the third aspect of the present disclosure includes:
an equipment control unit that controls the operation of a light control device that controls the amount of light supplied to a cultivation environment in which plants are grown, according to a first program in which operation specifications for the light control device are determined;
Based on the growth state of the plant, whether or not the degree of contribution of sensible heat, which indicates the degree to which the supplied heat accompanying the amount of light supplied to the cultivation environment by the light control device is used to increase the sensible heat of the cultivation environment, has decreased. a determination processing unit that determines;
When it is determined that the sensible heat contribution has decreased, the cultivation management server executes a second program in which operational specifications of the light control device are determined so that the amount of light supplied to the cultivation environment is increased compared to the first program. an acquisition processing unit that acquires data from the computer via a communication network and stores it in a storage unit;
When the second program is acquired, the device control section controls the operation of the light control device according to the second program instead of the first program.

The cultivation control method according to the fourth aspect of the present disclosure includes:
A cultivation control method in a cultivation control device that controls the growth of plants, the method comprising:
controlling the operation of a light control device that controls the amount of light supplied to a cultivation environment in which the plants are grown, according to a first program in which operation specifications for the light control device are defined;
Based on the growth state of the plant, whether or not the degree of contribution of sensible heat, which indicates the degree to which the supplied heat accompanying the amount of light supplied to the cultivation environment by the light control device is used to increase the sensible heat of the cultivation environment, has decreased. Determine,
When it is determined that the sensible heat contribution has decreased, the cultivation management server executes a second program in which operational specifications of the light control device are determined so that the amount of light supplied to the cultivation environment is increased compared to the first program. through the communication network and store it in the storage unit,
When the second program is acquired, the operation of the light control device is controlled in accordance with the second program instead of the first program.

The cultivation control program according to the fifth aspect of the present disclosure includes:
In the computer of the cultivation control device that controls the growth of plants,
A process of controlling the operation of a light control device that controls the amount of light supplied to a cultivation environment in which the plants are grown, according to a first program in which operation specifications of the light control device are determined;
Based on the growth state of the plant, whether or not the degree of contribution of sensible heat, which indicates the degree to which the supplied heat accompanying the amount of light supplied to the cultivation environment by the light control device is used to increase the sensible heat of the cultivation environment, has decreased. a process for determining
When it is determined that the sensible heat contribution has decreased, the cultivation management server executes a second program in which operational specifications of the light control device are determined so that the amount of light supplied to the cultivation environment is increased compared to the first program. a process of acquiring the information from the computer via a communication network and storing it in a storage unit;
when the second program is acquired, controlling the operation of the light control device according to the second program instead of the first program;
This is what allows you to execute the following.

According to the third aspect, fourth aspect, or fifth aspect, similarly to the first aspect, cultivation control suitable for plant growth can be realized and the quality of crops can be stabilized.

(Embodiment)
Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that in each drawing, the same reference numerals are used for the same components, and detailed explanations are omitted as appropriate.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the control configuration of the cultivation management server and the cultivation control system in the first embodiment. The cultivation control system 100 of the first embodiment includes a room temperature sensor 110, a solar radiation sensor 120, a side window 130, a ceiling curtain 140, a water supply device 150, a drainage device 160, and a control device 300. Further, the cultivation control system 100 is communicably connected to the cultivation management server 10 via a communication network 90. In the first embodiment, the cultivation control system 100 is installed in a vinyl greenhouse, which is an example of facility cultivation equipment for cultivating plants to be cultivated (tomatoes in the first embodiment).

Control device 300 includes a memory 310, a central processing unit (CPU) 320, and peripheral circuits (not shown). The memory 310 (corresponding to an example of a storage section) is configured of, for example, a semiconductor memory or the like. The memory 310 includes, for example, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), electrically erasable and rewritable ROM (EEPROM), and the like. The CPU 320 functions as a determination processing section 321, an acquisition processing section 322, and a device control section 323 by operating according to the control program of the first embodiment stored in the memory 310, for example, a ROM. The functions of the determination processing section 321, acquisition processing section 322, and device control section 323 will be described later.

The cultivation management server 10 includes a hard disk, a semiconductor nonvolatile memory, or the like that stores in advance an initial program 20 (corresponding to an example of a first program) and an update program for increase 30 (corresponding to an example of a second program). The initial program 20 and the incremental update program 30 each define operational specifications for the ceiling curtain 140. The initial program 20 is downloaded in advance from the cultivation management server 10 to the control device 300 and stored in the memory 310, for example, RAM or EEPROM. The device control unit 323 of the CPU 320 controls the operation of the ceiling curtain 140 according to the initial program 20.

Room temperature sensor 110 detects the dry bulb temperature inside the vinyl house. Room temperature sensor 110 can be installed at any location within the vinyl house. In the first embodiment, the solar radiation sensor 120 includes a pyranometer that is installed above the ceiling curtain 140 and detects the amount of solar radiation [W/m ² ] entering the vinyl house.

Note that the solar radiation sensor 120 is not limited to a pyranometer that detects solar radiation [W/m ² ], but also a luminometer that detects illuminance [lux] or a photon sensor that detects photon flux density [μmol/m ² s]. It may also include a sensor. Alternatively, the solar radiation sensor 120 may include a sensor that detects energy of a specific wavelength contained in sunlight. In this case, the known relationship between the energy of a specific wavelength contained in sunlight and the amount of solar radiation may be stored in the memory 310 as a control program. The determination processing unit 321 of the CPU 320 can determine the amount of solar radiation from the above relationship in the memory 310 and the energy of a specific wavelength contained in sunlight. Further, the arrangement of the solar radiation sensor 120 is not limited to the above, and may be installed below the ceiling curtain 140, or may be installed outside the vinyl house to detect the amount of solar radiation in the external environment. .

The side window 130 includes a straight tube (not shown) for winding up a coating film that covers the side surface of the vinyl house, and an opening/closing drive unit 131 that rotates this straight tube, so that the side surface of the vinyl house can be opened and closed. . The opening/closing drive section 131 includes, for example, a motor. When the sides of the vinyl house are covered with the covering film and the side windows 130 are closed, the room temperature inside the vinyl house increases due to the incidence of sunlight, and the room temperature becomes higher than the temperature outside the vinyl house. After that, when the covering film is wound up into a straight pipe by the opening/closing drive unit 131 and the side window 130 is opened, outside air can be taken into the vinyl house, so that the room temperature inside the vinyl house can be lowered. can.

The ceiling curtain 140 (corresponding to an example of a light control device) controls the amount of sunlight energy supplied from above that enters the vinyl house. The ceiling curtain 140 is provided near the ceiling inside the vinyl house, and is configured to be able to block sunlight incident from the top surface of the vinyl house at a constant rate. The ceiling curtain 140 includes a straight pipe (not shown) for winding up the curtain, and an opening/closing drive unit 141 that rotates the straight pipe. The opening/closing drive unit 141 includes, for example, a motor.

When the ceiling curtain 140 is opened by winding the curtain into a straight pipe by the opening/closing drive unit 141, much of the light energy required by the plants to be cultivated in the vinyl greenhouse can be taken in, but it is possible to take in a large amount of light energy required by the plants themselves and their surroundings. Temperatures tend to rise, which can inhibit plant growth. On the other hand, when the ceiling curtain 140 is closed by letting out the curtain from the straight pipe by the opening/closing drive unit 141, the sunlight entering the environment around the plant below the ceiling curtain 140 is blocked, and the temperature of the plant itself and the area around the plant increases. Although this has the effect of suppressing the increase in heat, it also reduces the light energy required for photosynthesis. Therefore, it is necessary to control the opening and closing of the ceiling curtain 140 in consideration of the balance between temperature and light intensity that affect the plants. Note that the method for opening and closing the ceiling curtain 140 is not limited to winding it up using a straight pipe, but may also be a structure in which a wire is attached to the curtain and pulled by the opening/closing drive unit 141 to fold it.

The water supply device 150 includes a pump 151 and a water supply amount measuring section 152, and operates the pump 151 at a predetermined time to supply water to the plants to be cultivated. The water supply amount measurement unit 152 is, for example. This is a flow meter that measures the flow rate of water flowing out from the pump 151 to measure the amount of water supplied to the plants to be cultivated. The water supply amount measurement unit 152 may measure the water supply amount based on the operating time of the pump 151 if the flow rate per unit time of the pump 151 is known.

The water supply device 150 may have a simple configuration in which a faucet, a valve, or a solenoid valve is provided on a water pipe or a pipe from a shallow well pump, and water is supplied to plants by opening these when necessary. Moreover, the water supply device 150 may also be used as a device for supplying liquid fertilizer. For example, the water supply device 150 may include a tank that stores liquid fertilizer at a predetermined concentration, and the pump 151 may be used to supply the liquid fertilizer from the tank to the plants to be cultivated at a predetermined time. Moreover, the water supply device 150 may be configured to supply liquid fertilizer after diluting it with tap water or ground water.

Moreover, the water supply device 150 may include a measurement unit that measures the electrical conductivity and pH value of the liquid fertilizer, and may be configured to automatically adjust the electrical conductivity and pH value to predetermined values. Further, the timing at which water is supplied to plants from the water supply device 150 is not limited to a predetermined time, but may also be configured to supply water based on the measurement result of the amount of solar radiation detected by the solar radiation sensor 120. For example, after watering the plants at 9 o'clock, the water supply device 150 normally does not supply water until 12 o'clock, but if the cumulative amount of solar radiation exceeds a predetermined threshold, it may additionally supply a predetermined amount of water.

The drainage device 160 includes a pump 161 and a drainage amount measuring section 162, and drains water that has not been absorbed by the plants to be cultivated (tomatoes in this first embodiment). The drainage amount measurement unit 162 measures the amount of water that is not absorbed by the tomatoes, out of the amount of water supplied to the tomatoes from the water supply device 150. In this first embodiment, tomatoes are placed in a housing (for example, a planter) together with a culture medium, and water that is not absorbed by the tomatoes is collected through the housing into a drainage tank (not shown) provided in one place inside the vinyl greenhouse. It is said that the configuration is as follows. After the amount of water accumulated in the drainage tank reaches a certain level, a pump 161 installed in the drainage tank pumps out the accumulated drainage and discharges it outside the vinyl house. The drainage amount measurement unit 162 is, for example, a flow meter that measures the amount of drainage discharged from the drainage tank to the outside of the vinyl house by the pump 161.

Each function of CPU 320 will be explained below. During the daytime in summer, a lot of solar energy enters the inside of a vinyl house. Therefore, when the side window 130 is closed and the ceiling curtain 140 is open, the temperature of the vinyl house tends to rise as the thermal energy in the solar energy incident on the vinyl house contributes to an increase in sensible heat. , there is a high possibility that the growth of tomatoes will be inhibited. On the other hand, if the ceiling curtain 140 is closed, the rise in room temperature can be suppressed. Therefore, in the initial program 20, when the amount of solar radiation detected by the solar radiation sensor 120 exceeds 500 [W/m ² ], the ceiling curtain 140 is closed and the amount of solar radiation becomes 500 [W/m ² ] or less. The operating specifications of the ceiling curtain 140 are determined so that the ceiling curtain 140 is sometimes opened.

In addition, in the initial program 20, the threshold value of the amount of solar radiation may be set according to the region and time. Further, in order to provide redundancy to the opening and closing operations of the ceiling curtain 140, a differential may be provided between the opening threshold and the closing threshold of the ceiling curtain 140.

As the cultivation period passes and the tomatoes grow, the number of leaves increases and the area occupied by the leaves inside the vinyl greenhouse increases. As the leaf area increases, the amount of water transpiring from the leaf also increases. As a result, more of the thermal energy in the solar energy incident on the vinyl house is used to vaporize the transpired water. In other words, the thermal energy in the solar energy supplied to the vinyl house is used more than for increasing the sensible heat inside the vinyl house. Therefore, the sensible heat contribution rate, which indicates the degree to which the heat supplied with the amount of light supplied to the vinyl house is used to increase the sensible heat inside the vinyl house, decreases. When the sensible heat contribution decreases, even if the amount of light supplied to the cultivation environment is increased, the rise in room temperature inside the vinyl greenhouse is suppressed.

As tomatoes grow, they must perform more photosynthesis and produce more assimilated products to maintain their vigor, so they require more sunlight energy. Even if the solar radiation threshold for opening and closing the ceiling curtain 140 is changed to a higher value to allow more solar energy to enter, whether the rise in room temperature can be suppressed, that is, whether the contribution of sensible heat has decreased. In order to determine whether or not this is the case, a means of understanding the growth state of tomatoes is required. The difference obtained by subtracting the amount of water discharged from the amount of water supplied is the amount of absorbed water absorbed by the tomatoes, and this amount of absorbed water increases as the tomatoes grow.

The determination processing unit 321 grasps the growth state of the tomato from the water supply amount measured by the water supply amount measurement unit 152 and the drainage amount measured by the drainage amount measurement unit 162. That is, when the amount of absorbed water per tomato plant exceeds a predetermined water amount threshold, the determination processing unit 321 determines that the tomato has grown and the sensible heat contribution has decreased, and the initial program 20 is updated. In the first embodiment, the water supply amount measurement section 152 of the water supply device 150 and the drainage amount measurement section 162 of the drainage device 160 correspond to an example of a first sensor.

In the first embodiment, the increase update program 30 that sets the solar radiation amount threshold for opening and closing the ceiling curtain 140 to 700 [W/m ² ] is stored in the cultivation management server 10. That is, in the increase update program 30, when the amount of solar radiation detected by the solar radiation sensor 120 exceeds 700 [W/m ² ], the ceiling curtain 140 is closed and the amount of solar radiation falls below 700 [W/m ² ]. The operating specifications of the ceiling curtain 140 are determined so that the ceiling curtain 140 is opened when the ceiling curtain 140 is opened.

The determination processing unit 321 determines that the sensible heat contribution has decreased when the amount of absorbed water per tomato plant exceeds the water amount threshold (in the first embodiment, for example, 1 [liter/day]). When the determination processing unit 321 determines that the sensible heat contribution has decreased, the acquisition processing unit 322 of the CPU 320 acquires the increase update program 30 from the cultivation management server 10 via the communication network 90. The acquisition processing unit 322 stores the acquired update program 30 in the memory 310, for example, RAM or EEPROM. Thereafter, the device control unit 323 controls the operation of the ceiling curtain 140 and the like according to the update program 30 for increase.

By switching the initial program 20 to the update program 30 for increase, more sunlight energy can be taken into the vinyl house and photosynthesis of tomatoes can be increased. Note that in order to calculate the amount of water absorbed per tomato plant, the number of tomato plants in the vinyl greenhouse is required. Therefore, the control program of the first embodiment stored in the memory 310 in advance includes the number of tomato plants in the greenhouse. Using this number of plants, the amount of water absorbed per tomato plant can be calculated from the water supply amount measured by the water supply amount measurement section 152 and the drainage amount measured by the drainage amount measurement section 162.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart schematically showing an example of the operation procedure of the cultivation control system 100 of the first embodiment. The operation in FIG. 2 is performed, for example, once a day.

When the operation in FIG. 2 is started, in step S1000, the determination processing unit 321 acquires the water supply amount measured by the water supply amount measurement unit 152.

Next, in step S1005, the determination processing unit 321 obtains the amount of drainage measured by the amount of drainage measurement unit 162.

Next, in step S1010, the determination processing unit 321 calculates the amount of water absorbed per tomato plant by dividing the difference obtained by subtracting the water discharge amount from the water supply amount by the number of tomato plants.

Next, in step S1015, the determination processing unit 321 determines whether the amount of water absorbed per tomato plant exceeds a water amount threshold (1 [liter/day] in the first embodiment).

If the amount of water absorbed per tomato plant exceeds the water amount threshold (YES in step S1015), the determination processing unit 321 determines that the sensible heat contribution has decreased, and the process proceeds to step S1020. On the other hand, if the amount of water absorbed per tomato plant is equal to or less than the water amount threshold (NO in step S1015), the operation in FIG. 2 ends.
If it is determined that the amount of water absorbed per tomato plant exceeds the water amount threshold, in step S1020, the acquisition processing unit 322 acquires the update program for increase 30 from the cultivation management server 10, and updates the acquired update program for increase 30. , and stored in the memory 310, for example, RAM or EEPROM. Thereafter, the operation of FIG. 2 ends.

As explained above, according to the first embodiment, the growth state of the tomato can be grasped by determining whether the amount of absorbed water corresponding to the growth of the tomato exceeds the water amount threshold. When it is determined that the amount of absorbed water exceeds the water amount threshold, it is determined that the sensible heat contribution has decreased, and the opening and closing of the ceiling curtain 140 is controlled in accordance with the increasing update program 30 instead of the initial program 20. In the update program 30 for increase, the solar radiation threshold for opening and closing the ceiling curtain 140 is set higher than that in the initial program 20, so the solar energy entering the vinyl house increases, so it is difficult to grow tomatoes. Growth is further promoted. For this reason, it becomes possible to cultivate tomatoes with optimal control according to the growth of tomatoes. As a result, it is possible to provide a system that stabilizes the quality of crops.

In addition, since the opening and closing of the ceiling curtain 140 is initially controlled according to the initial program 20, it is possible to suppress the exposure of plants to high temperatures and promote plant growth, especially in summer or in facility cultivation in tropical and subtropical regions. It can be precisely controlled according to the situation.

In the first embodiment, the water amount threshold for the amount of absorbed water for switching from the initial program 20 to the update program for increase 30 can be set to different values depending on conditions such as region, season, and cultivation area. For example, if the region is in the south, the season is summer, or the cultivation area is small, the room temperature inside the vinyl greenhouse tends to rise. Therefore, in these cases, the water amount threshold value for the absorbed water amount may be set high. By doing so, the timing of applying more sunlight will be delayed, and a situation where the room temperature will rise excessively can be avoided.

The amount of water absorbed by tomatoes also varies depending on the cultivation environment, such as room temperature and amount of sunlight. Therefore, the water amount threshold value may be determined by also considering the value detected by either or both of the room temperature sensor 110 and the solar radiation sensor 120. For example, when the amount of solar radiation is low, it is difficult to evaporate, and when it is high, it is easy to evaporate. Therefore, even if the amount of water absorbed by tomatoes is the same on cloudy days and sunny days, the degree of growth may not be the same. Also, for example, when the room temperature is high, the amount of absorbed water increases, so it is determined that the plant has grown, but it is possible that the plant is not actually growing. For this reason, the determination processing unit 321 may change the water amount threshold according to the daily cultivation environment.

The determination processing unit 321 may change the water amount threshold depending on the room temperature. For example, the determination processing unit 321 may determine the water amount threshold to be 1 [liter/day] when the average room temperature is 25 [° C.]. Note that when the average room temperature is 30 [°C] and the calculated amount of absorbed water is 1 [liter/day], the determination processing unit 321 determines the amount of water absorbed when the average room temperature is 25 [°C]. The calculation result of the amount of absorbed water may be corrected by determining that the amount of water is equivalent to 0.8 [liters/day]. Alternatively, the determination processing unit 321 may correct the water amount threshold according to the average room temperature instead of correcting the calculation result of the absorbed water amount according to the average room temperature. The determination processing unit 321 may change the water amount threshold to 1.2 [liters/day] when the average room temperature is 30 [° C.].

The same can be said about the amount of solar radiation. The determination processing unit 321 may change the water amount threshold depending on the room temperature and the amount of solar radiation. For example, the determination processing unit 321 may determine the water amount threshold to be 1 [liter/day] when the average room temperature is 25 [° C.] and the amount of solar radiation is 500 [W/m ² ]. If the amount of water absorbed today exceeds 1 [liter/day], but the average room temperature is 30 [°C] and the amount of solar radiation is 700 [W/m ² ], the determination processing unit 321 may be determined to be not growing (the amount of water absorbed per plant does not exceed the water amount threshold). Such correction of the calculation result or change of the water amount threshold value may be performed every day, for example, before the operation of FIG. 2 is executed.

Further, in the first embodiment, if the water supply amount is a constant value, the cultivation control system 100 may store the water supply amount in the memory 310 without including the water supply amount measuring section 152, and the determination processing section 321 may store the water supply amount. The amount of absorbed water may be calculated from this fixed amount of water supply and the amount of drainage measured by the amount of drainage measuring section 162.

(Second embodiment)
FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing the control configuration of the cultivation management server and the cultivation control system in the second embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a culture medium weighing scale and a plant body in the second embodiment. The main difference between the cultivation control system 100A of the second embodiment and the cultivation control system 100 of the first embodiment is that it includes a culture medium weighing scale 170.

The cultivation control system 100A of the second embodiment includes a room temperature sensor 110, a solar radiation sensor 120, a side window 130, a ceiling curtain 140, a water supply device 150, a culture medium weighing scale 170, and a control device 300A. Further, the cultivation control system 100A is communicably connected to the cultivation management server 10 via a communication network 90. In this second embodiment, the cultivation control system 100A is installed in a vinyl greenhouse, as in the first embodiment. Note that the water supply device 150 of the second embodiment does not need to include the water supply amount measuring section 152.

As shown in FIG. 4, a medium 172 in which plants 171 (tomatoes in the second embodiment) are planted is placed on the medium weighing scale 170. The medium weight scale 170 measures the total weight of the plant body 171 and the medium 172. Culture medium weighing scale 170 outputs the measured weight to control device 300A. The culture medium weighing scale 170 corresponds to an example of the first sensor in the second embodiment.

Although a configuration in which a rock wool cube is used as the culture medium 172 and the rock wool cube is placed on the culture medium weighing scale 170 is simple, the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which a plant to be cultivated is planted in a cultivation pot filled with soil, coconut shell, etc., and the cultivation pot is placed on the culture medium weighing scale 170. Further, if necessary, the culture medium 172 and drainage equipment may be placed together on the culture medium weighing scale 170. Further, the medium weighing scale 170 may have a structure in which a medium in which a plurality of tomato plants are planted is placed.

The control device 300A includes a memory 310A, a CPU 320A, and peripheral circuits (not shown). The memory 310A (corresponding to an example of a storage section) is composed of, for example, a semiconductor memory or the like. The memory 310A includes, for example, ROM, RAM, EEPROM, and the like. The CPU 320A functions as the determination processing section 321A, the acquisition processing section 322, and the device control section 323 by operating according to the control program of the second embodiment stored in the ROM of the memory 310A, for example.

Each function of the CPU 320A will be explained below when the plant to be cultivated is a tomato. A rock wool cube is used as the medium 172. Tomatoes are sown in rock wool cubes and the seedlings are raised in a separate room, then transferred to a vinyl house together with the rock wool cubes and placed on a culture medium weighing scale 170. A water supply pipe is connected so that water can be directly supplied from the water supply device 150 to the rock wool cube (culture medium 172).

As the number of cultivation days passes and the tomatoes grow, the measured weight measured by the culture medium weight meter 170 increases. As tomatoes grow and gain weight, it means that the number of leaves or leaf area increases. Therefore, the amount of transpiration water also increases. As a result, as in the first embodiment, more of the thermal energy in the sunlight energy that enters the vinyl house is used for vaporizing the transpired water. In other words, the thermal energy in the solar energy supplied to the vinyl house is used more than in addition to increasing the sensible heat of the vinyl house. Therefore, the sensible heat contribution degree, which indicates the degree to which the heat supplied with the amount of light supplied to the vinyl house is used to increase the sensible heat of the vinyl house, decreases. When the sensible heat contribution decreases, even if the amount of light supplied to the cultivation environment is increased, it is possible to suppress the rise in room temperature in the vinyl greenhouse.

The determination processing unit 321A determines that the sensible heat contribution has decreased due to the growth of the tomato when the measured weight exceeds the weight threshold determined according to the type of tomato. In the case of plants other than tomatoes, the weight threshold value may be determined to an appropriate value depending on the type of plant. When the determination processing unit 321A determines that the measured weight exceeds the weight threshold, the acquisition processing unit 322 acquires the increase update program 30 from the cultivation management server 10, and stores it in, for example, RAM or EEPROM of the memory 310A. Thereafter, the device control unit 323 controls opening and closing of the ceiling curtain 140 according to the update program for increase 30.

Figure 5 is a flowchart that shows an example of the operation procedure of the cultivation control system 100A of the second embodiment. The operation of Figure 5 is executed, for example, once a day.

When the operation in FIG. 5 is started, in step S1100, the determination processing unit 321A acquires the measured weight measured by the culture medium weighing scale 170.

Next, in step S1105, the determination processing unit 321A determines whether the measured weight exceeds the weight threshold.

If the measured weight exceeds the weight threshold (YES in step S1105), the determination processing unit 321A determines that the sensible heat contribution has decreased, and the process proceeds to step S1020. On the other hand, if the measured weight is equal to or less than the weight threshold (NO in step S1105), the operation in FIG. 5 ends. The process in step S1020 in FIG. 5 is the same as the process in step S1020 in FIG.

As explained above, according to the second embodiment, the weight of the medium 172 containing the plant body (tomato) 171 is measured by the medium weighing scale 170, and whether the measured weight obtained by the measurement exceeds the weight threshold value or not. By determining whether this is the case, the growth state of the tomato can be grasped similarly to the first embodiment. When it is determined that the measured weight exceeds the weight threshold value, it is determined that the sensible heat contribution has decreased, and the opening and closing of the ceiling curtain 140 is controlled in accordance with the increasing update program 30 instead of the initial program 20. In the update program 30 for increase, the solar radiation threshold for opening and closing the ceiling curtain 140 is set higher than that in the initial program 20, so the solar energy entering the vinyl house increases, so it is difficult to grow tomatoes. Growth is further promoted. Thereby, similarly to the first embodiment, it becomes possible to cultivate tomatoes with optimal control according to the growth of tomatoes. As a result, it is possible to provide a system that stabilizes the quality of crops.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 6 is a block diagram schematically showing the control configuration of the cultivation management server and the cultivation control system in the third embodiment. The main difference between the cultivation control system 100B of the third embodiment and the first embodiment is that it includes a camera 180 that captures images of plants.

The cultivation control system 100B of the third embodiment includes a room temperature sensor 110, a solar radiation sensor 120, a side window 130, a ceiling curtain 140, a water supply device 150, a camera 180, and a control device 300B. Further, the cultivation control system 100B is communicably connected to the cultivation management server 10 via a communication network 90. In this third embodiment, the cultivation control system 100B is installed in a vinyl greenhouse, as in the first embodiment. Note that the water supply device 150 of the third embodiment does not need to include the water supply amount measuring section 152.

The camera 180 images any location including a plant (tomato in the third embodiment). Camera 180 outputs a captured image obtained by imaging to control device 300B. The camera 180 corresponds to an example of the first sensor in this third embodiment.

The control device 300B includes a memory 310B, a CPU 320B, and peripheral circuits (not shown). The memory 310B (corresponding to an example of a storage section) is composed of, for example, a semiconductor memory or the like. The memory 310B includes, for example, ROM, RAM, EEPROM, and the like. The CPU 320B functions as the determination processing section 321B, the acquisition processing section 322, and the device control section 323 by operating according to the control program of the third embodiment stored in, for example, the ROM of the memory 310B.

The determination processing unit 321B determines the growth of a plant (tomato in the third embodiment) by determining the color of the captured image captured by the camera 180 and determining the area ratio occupied by green (that is, leaves) in the captured image. Understand the situation. Note that various shapes of tomato leaves may be stored in the memory 310B in advance, and the determination processing unit 321B may determine the area ratio occupied by the leaves by template matching.

As the number of cultivation days passes and the tomatoes grow, the area ratio occupied by green (that is, leaves) in the captured image captured by the camera 180 increases. When a tomato grows and the area ratio occupied by leaves in a captured image increases, it means that the number of leaves or the area of leaves increases. Therefore, the amount of transpiration water also increases. As a result, as in the first embodiment, more of the thermal energy in the sunlight energy that enters the vinyl house is used for vaporizing evaporated water (that is, other than increasing the sensible heat of the vinyl house). Therefore, the sensible heat contribution degree, which indicates the degree to which the heat supplied with the amount of light supplied to the vinyl house is used to increase the sensible heat of the vinyl house, decreases. When the sensible heat contribution decreases, even if the amount of light supplied to the cultivation environment is increased, it is possible to suppress the rise in room temperature in the vinyl greenhouse.

The determination processing unit 321B determines that the sensible heat contribution has decreased due to the growth of the tomato when the area ratio of green (that is, leaf) exceeds the ratio threshold determined according to the type of tomato. In the case of plants other than tomatoes, the ratio threshold value may be determined to an appropriate value depending on the type of plant. When the determination processing unit 321B determines that the area ratio exceeds the ratio threshold, the acquisition processing unit 322 acquires the increase update program 30 from the cultivation management server 10 and stores it in, for example, RAM or EEPROM of the memory 310B. Thereafter, the device control unit 323 controls opening and closing of the ceiling curtain 140 according to the update program for increase 30.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart schematically showing an example of the operation procedure of the cultivation control system 100B of the third embodiment. The operation in FIG. 7 is executed, for example, once a day.

When the operation in FIG. 7 is started, in step S1200, the determination processing unit 321B acquires a captured image captured by the camera 180.

Next, in step S1205, the determination processing unit 321B calculates the area ratio of green color in the captured image.

Next, in step S1210, the determination processing unit 321B determines whether the green area ratio exceeds the ratio threshold.

If the green area ratio exceeds the ratio threshold (YES in step S1210), the determination processing unit 321B determines that the sensible heat contribution has decreased, and the process proceeds to step S1020. On the other hand, if the green area ratio is equal to or less than the ratio threshold (NO in step S1210), the operation in FIG. 7 ends. The process in step S1020 in FIG. 7 is the same as the process in step S1020 in FIG.

As explained above, according to the third embodiment, by capturing an image of a location containing tomatoes using the camera 180 and determining whether or not the area ratio of green color in the captured image exceeds the ratio threshold, As in the first embodiment, the growth state of tomatoes can be grasped. When it is determined that the green area ratio in the captured image exceeds the ratio threshold, it is determined that the sensible heat contribution has decreased, and the opening and closing of the ceiling curtain 140 is controlled according to the increasing update program 30 instead of the initial program 20. Ru. In the update program 30 for increase, the solar radiation threshold for opening and closing the ceiling curtain 140 is set higher than that in the initial program 20, so the solar energy entering the vinyl house increases, so it is difficult to grow tomatoes. Growth is further promoted. Thereby, similarly to the first embodiment, it becomes possible to cultivate tomatoes with optimal control according to the growth of tomatoes. As a result, it is possible to provide a system that stabilizes the quality of crops.

(Fourth embodiment)
FIG. 8 is a block diagram schematically showing the control configuration of the cultivation management server and the cultivation control system in the fourth embodiment. In the fourth embodiment, unlike the first to third embodiments, the cultivation control system 100C is installed in an artificial light type plant factory, which is cultivation equipment for cultivating plants with artificial lighting. In the fourth embodiment, an example will be described in which lettuce as a plant to be cultivated is hydroponically cultivated in a lettuce cultivation tank installed in a cultivation facility.

The cultivation control system 100C of the fourth embodiment includes a room temperature sensor 110, a water temperature sensor 190, a photon sensor 200, a water supply device 150C, a drainage device 160C, a lighting device 210, an air conditioner 220, and a control device 300C. Further, the cultivation control system 100C is communicably connected to the cultivation management server 10C via the communication network 90.

The control device 300C includes a memory 310C, a CPU 320C, and peripheral circuits (not shown). The memory 310C (corresponding to an example of a storage section) is composed of, for example, a semiconductor memory or the like. The memory 310C includes, for example, ROM, RAM, EEPROM, and the like. The CPU 320C functions as a determination processing section 321C, an acquisition processing section 322, and a device control section 323C by operating according to the control program of the fourth embodiment stored in, for example, a ROM of the memory 310C. The functions of the determination processing section 321C, the acquisition processing section 322, and the device control section 323C will be described later.

The cultivation management server 10C includes a hard disk, a semiconductor nonvolatile memory, or the like that stores in advance an initial program 20C (corresponding to an example of a first program) and an update program for increase 30C (corresponding to an example of a second program). The initial program 20C and the incremental update program 30C each define operational specifications for the lighting equipment 210. The initial program 20C is downloaded in advance from the cultivation management server 10C to the control device 300C, and is stored in the memory 310C, for example, RAM or EEPROM. The device control unit 323C of the CPU 320C controls the operation of the lighting device 210 according to the initial program 20C.

The water supply device 150C includes a pump 151 and a water level sensor 153, and supplies liquid fertilizer to the lettuce. The water level sensor 153 includes three electrodes installed in the lettuce cultivation tank, and detects the water level of the lettuce cultivation tank based on whether electricity is applied between the electrodes. The water level sensor 153 may be configured using a ball tap method, and may be configured to be able to detect the water level of the lettuce cultivation tank. Water supply device 150 includes a tank that stores liquid fertilizer at a predetermined concentration. When the water level of the lettuce cultivation tank detected by the water level sensor 153 falls below a certain standard (described later), the device control unit 323C drives the pump 151 to supply liquid fertilizer to the lettuce cultivation tank. Furthermore, the water supply device 150C may be configured to supply the liquid fertilizer after diluting it with tap water or ground water. Furthermore, the water supply device 150C may include a measurement unit that measures the electrical conductivity and pH value of the liquid fertilizer, and may be configured to automatically adjust the electrical conductivity and pH value to predetermined values.

The drainage device 160C drains water accumulated in the lettuce cultivation tank. In the fourth embodiment, the drainage device 160C is configured to keep the stopper closed without draining water during cultivation, and to drain water when cleaning the lettuce cultivation tank. Note that the drainage device 160C may be configured to drain water all the time. Further, the drainage device 160C may be configured to include a solenoid valve installed in the lettuce cultivation tank, and the device control unit 323C opens the solenoid valve at a predetermined timing to drain water. Further, the drainage device 160C may be configured to include a flow meter and measure the amount of drainage.

The water temperature sensor 190 is installed at the outlet of the water supply device 150C and measures the temperature of the liquid fertilizer supplied to the lettuce. The photon sensor 200 is installed below the lighting device 210 at a location that does not overlap with the shadow caused by the lettuce leaves, and detects the photon flux density [μmol/m ² s]. Note that in place of the photon sensor 200, a pyranometer that detects solar radiation [W/m ² ] or an illuminance meter that detects illuminance [lux] may be provided.

The lighting device 210 includes a straight tube of white light emitting diodes (LEDs). The white LED straight tubes are configured to turn on and off individually in units of multiple pieces. The lighting device 210 is configured to be able to control the supply amount of light energy necessary for photosynthesis of lettuce in units of a plurality of straight tubes. The lighting device 210 corresponds to an example of a light control device in the fourth embodiment.

In the initial program 20C, the device control unit 323C is configured to light some of the straight tubes of the lighting device 210. In the increase update program 30C, the device control unit 323C is configured to light all the straight pipes of the lighting device 210. Note that the device control unit 323C may control the operation of the lighting device 210 based on the detection result of the photon sensor 200.

The air conditioner 220 raises and lowers the room temperature within the cultivation equipment. The device control unit 323C controls the operation of the air conditioner 220 based on the detection results of the room temperature sensor 110 and the water temperature sensor 190, according to the control program of the fourth embodiment stored in the memory 310C.

As the cultivation period passes and the lettuce grows, the leaf area increases and the amount of transpiration water increases. As a result, more of the thermal energy generated by the lighting equipment 210 is used for vaporizing evaporated water (ie, other than increasing the sensible heat of the cultivation facility). Therefore, the sensible heat contribution decreases. When the sensible heat contribution decreases, even if the amount of light supplied to the cultivation facility is increased, the rise in room temperature within the cultivation facility is suppressed.

As the lettuce grows and the number of leaves increases, the area of the leaves for photosynthesis also increases, so by increasing the amount of light supplied from the lighting device 210, growth can be further promoted. Therefore, update to the increase update program 30C that supplies a larger amount of light in anticipation of the time when the temperature rise in the cultivation equipment will be suppressed due to a decrease in the sensible heat contribution of the thermal energy from the lighting equipment 210. is important.

In order to determine when to update from the initial program 20C to the incremental update program 30C, a means for grasping the growth state of the lettuce is required. Like the tomatoes in the first to third embodiments, the amount of water absorbed by lettuce also increases as it grows. Therefore, in the fourth embodiment as well, when the amount of absorbed water per lettuce plant exceeds a predetermined water amount threshold, the determination processing unit 321C determines that the contribution of sensible heat has decreased due to the growth of the lettuce, and the initial The program 20C is updated to the incremental update program 30C.

The water level sensor 153 installed in the lettuce cultivation tank is configured to be able to detect a first water level and a second water level lower than the first water level based on the presence or absence of electricity between three electrodes. When the water level of the lettuce cultivation tank falls to the second water level, the device control unit 323C drives the pump 151 of the water supply device 150C to raise the water level of the lettuce cultivation tank to the first water level. In the fourth embodiment, the water supply device 150C corresponds to an example of the first sensor.

In the fourth embodiment, the amount of water corresponding to the lowered water level in the lettuce cultivation tank corresponds to the amount of water absorbed by lettuce. When the amount of water absorbed by lettuce increases, the rate at which the water level in the lettuce cultivation tank decreases increases. As a result, the number of times the pump 151 is driven per unit time increases. Therefore, the growth state of the lettuce can be determined based on the number of times the pump 151 is driven.

When the number of times the pump 151 in the water supply device 150C is driven per unit period (for example, one day) exceeds a predetermined number of times threshold, the determination processing unit 321C determines that the lettuce has grown and the sensible heat contribution has decreased. judge. The acquisition processing unit 322 acquires the increase update program 30C from the cultivation management server 10C through the communication network 90, and stores it in the memory 310, for example, RAM or EEPROM. Thereafter, the device control unit 323C controls the lighting device 210 and the like according to the incremental update program 30C. This allows more light energy to be supplied to the lettuce and increases the photosynthesis of the lettuce.

Note that in order to calculate the amount of water absorbed per lettuce plant, the number of lettuce plants in the cultivation equipment is required. Therefore, the control program of the fourth embodiment stored in advance in the memory 310C includes the number of lettuce plants in the cultivation equipment. Using this number of lettuce plants, the amount of water absorbed per lettuce plant can be calculated from the number of times the pump 151 in the water supply device 150C is driven.

9 and 10 are flowcharts each schematically showing an example of the operation procedure of the cultivation control system 100C of the fourth embodiment. The operation in FIG. 9 is executed, for example, every 10 seconds, and the operation in FIG. 10 is executed, for example, once a day.

In step S1300 of FIG. 9, the determination processing unit 321C determines whether or not the pump 151 has started to be driven. For example, the device control unit 323C may set a predetermined flag in the memory 310C every time the pump 151 starts driving. The determination processing unit 321C can determine whether or not the pump 151 has started driving by checking the state of a predetermined flag.

If the pump 151 has started driving (YES in step S1300), the process advances to step S1305. On the other hand, if the pump 151 has not started driving (NO in step S1300), the operation in FIG. 9 ends.

If it is determined that the pump 151 has started driving, in step S1305, the determination processing unit 321C adds up the number of times the pump is driven that is stored in the memory 310C. After that, the operation of FIG. 9 ends.

When the operation of FIG. 10 is started, in step S1400, the determination processing unit 321C acquires the number of times the pump 151 is driven, which is stored in the memory 310C.

Next, in step S1405, the determination processing unit 321C determines whether the number of times the pump 151 is driven exceeds the number of times threshold. If the number of times the pump 151 is driven exceeds the number of times threshold (YES in step S1405), the determination processing unit 321C determines that the sensible heat contribution has decreased, and the process proceeds to step S1020. On the other hand, if the number of times the pump 151 is driven is equal to or less than the number of times threshold (NO in step S1405), the process advances to step S1410. The process in step S1020 in FIG. 10 is the same as the process in step S1020 in FIG.

Next, in step S1410, the determination processing unit 321C resets the integrated value of the number of times the pump 151 is driven, which is stored in the memory 310C, to zero. After that, the operation of FIG. 10 ends.

As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, the growth state of the lettuce can be grasped by determining whether the number of times the pump is driven, which represents the amount of absorbed water corresponding to the growth of the lettuce, exceeds the number threshold. When it is determined that the number of times the pump is driven exceeds the number threshold, it is determined that the sensible heat contribution has decreased, and the lighting equipment 210 is controlled according to the increasing update program 30C instead of the initial program 20C. In the update program for increase 30C, the operation specifications are set so that the amount of light of the lighting device 210 is larger than that in the initial program 20C, so the light energy supplied to the lettuce increases, so the growth of the lettuce is improved. further promoted.

When the lettuce is small, the amount of transpiration water is small, so if you use the increase update program 30C from the beginning, the heat generated from the lighting equipment 210 will be used to increase the sensible heat of the cultivation equipment, and the inside of the cultivation equipment will become high temperature. There may also be a situation in which the cooling capacity of the air conditioner 220 is exceeded. On the other hand, in the fourth embodiment, since the initial program 20C is used at first, such a situation can be avoided.

In this way, in the fourth embodiment, the temperature inside the cultivation equipment is also suppressed, and the temperature rise exceeding the capacity of the air conditioner 220 is prevented, or the load on the air conditioner 220 and the load on the lighting equipment 210 is reduced. Also connected. Therefore, like the first embodiment, it is possible to cultivate lettuce under optimal control according to its growth while suppressing electricity costs.

Note that in the fourth embodiment, the amount of water absorbed by lettuce also varies depending on the cultivation environment such as room temperature and water temperature. Therefore, the determination processing unit 321C may change the threshold for the number of times the lettuce growth is determined according to the detection results of the room temperature sensor 110 and the water temperature sensor 190. For example, depending on the operation of the air conditioner 220, the amount of water absorbed by lettuce is considered to change depending on whether the room temperature is 20 [°C] or 30 [°C]. Therefore, the determination processing unit 321C may increase the number of times threshold value as the room temperature increases. This allows for more accurate determination of lettuce growth without being influenced by environmental factors.

(Fifth embodiment)
FIG. 11 is a block diagram schematically showing the control configuration of the cultivation management server and the cultivation control system in the fifth embodiment. In the cultivation control system 100D of the fifth embodiment, the operation after switching from the initial program 20 to the update program for increase 30 is different from the cultivation control system 100 of the first embodiment.

The cultivation control system 100D of the fifth embodiment includes a room temperature sensor 110 (corresponding to an example of a second sensor), a solar radiation sensor 120, a side window 130, a ceiling curtain 140, a water supply device 150, a drainage device 160, and a control device 300D. That is, the cultivation control system 100D of the fifth embodiment is configured in the same manner as the cultivation control system 100 of the first embodiment, except that it includes a control device 300D instead of the control device 300. Moreover, the cultivation control system 100D is communicably connected to the cultivation management server 10D via the communication network 90. In this fifth embodiment, the cultivation control system 100D is installed in a vinyl greenhouse, similar to the first embodiment.

Control device 300D includes a memory 310D, a CPU 320D, and peripheral circuits (not shown). The memory 310D (corresponding to an example of a storage section) is composed of, for example, a semiconductor memory or the like. Memory 310D includes, for example, ROM, RAM, EEPROM, and the like. The CPU 320D functions as a determination processing section 321D, an acquisition processing section 322D, and a device control section 323D by operating according to the control program of the fifth embodiment stored in, for example, a ROM of the memory 310D.

The cultivation management server 10D includes a hard disk, a semiconductor nonvolatile memory, or the like that stores an initial program 20, an update program for increase 30, and an update program for decrease 40 in advance. Similar to the initial program 20 and the increase update program 30, the update program for decrease 40 defines operational specifications for the ceiling curtain 140. The initial program 20 is downloaded in advance from the cultivation management server 10D to the control device 300D and is stored in, for example, RAM or EEPROM of the memory 310D.

The device control unit 323D of the CPU 320D initially controls opening and closing of the ceiling curtain 140 according to the initial program 20D. Thereafter, as described in the first embodiment, the increase update program 30 is acquired by the acquisition processing unit 322D and stored in, for example, the RAM or EEPROM of the memory 310D. Then, the device control unit 323D controls opening and closing of the ceiling curtain 140 according to the update program for increase 30.

Here, when the detected temperature detected by the room temperature sensor 110 exceeds a preset temperature threshold while the ceiling curtain 140 is opened by the device control unit 323D according to the update program for increase 30, sunlight It can be determined that the sensible heat contribution rate, which indicates the degree to which thermal energy in the energy is used to increase the sensible heat of the vinyl house, has increased more than expected. In that case, it is desirable to switch to a control program in which operating specifications for the ceiling curtain 140 are determined so that the amount of light supplied from sunlight energy into the vinyl house is reduced.

In the reduction update program 40 of the cultivation management server 10D, for example, when the amount of solar radiation detected by the solar radiation sensor 120 exceeds 400 [W/m ² ], the ceiling curtain 140 is closed and the amount of solar radiation detected by the solar radiation sensor 120 exceeds 400 [W/m ^{2 ]} . ] The operation specifications of the ceiling curtain 140 are determined so that the ceiling curtain 140 is opened when the following conditions occur.

For example, when the determination processing unit 321D determines that the temperature detected by the room temperature sensor 110 exceeds a predetermined temperature threshold (for example, 40 [°C]), the acquisition processing unit 322D receives the information from the cultivation management server 10D via the communication network 90. The update program 40 for reduction is acquired, and the obtained update program 40 for reduction is stored in the memory 310D, for example, RAM or EEPROM. Thereafter, the device control unit 323D controls opening and closing of the ceiling curtain 140 according to the update program for reduction 40.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart schematically showing an example of the operation procedure of the cultivation control system 100D of the fifth embodiment. The operation in FIG. 12 is executed, for example, every 10 seconds.

When the operation in FIG. 12 is started, in step S1500, the determination processing unit 321D determines whether the increase update program 30 is in operation. For example, the device control unit 323D may set a predetermined flag in the memory 310D when the update program for increase 30 starts operating. The determination processing unit 321D can determine whether or not the incremental update program 30 is operating by checking the state of a predetermined flag.

If the update program for increase 30 is running (YES in step S1500), the process advances to step S1505. On the other hand, if the initial program 20 is being operated (NO in step S1500), the operation in FIG. 12 ends.

If it is determined that the increase update program 30 is operating, in step S1505, the determination processing unit 321D acquires the room temperature detected by the room temperature sensor 110, and determines whether the acquired room temperature exceeds the temperature threshold. . If the room temperature exceeds the temperature threshold (YES in step S1505), the process advances to step S1510. On the other hand, if the room temperature is below the temperature threshold (NO in step S1505), the operation in FIG. 12 ends.

If it is determined that the room temperature exceeds the temperature threshold, in step S1510, the acquisition processing unit 322D acquires the update program for reduction 40 from the cultivation management server 10D, and stores the acquired update program for decrease 40 in, for example, RAM of the memory 310D. Or save it in EEPROM. After that, the operation of FIG. 12 ends.

As explained above, according to the fifth embodiment, some of the plants to be cultivated die for some reason, the amount of transpiration water in the cultivation equipment decreases, and the room temperature in the vinyl greenhouse falls below the temperature threshold. Even when it is determined that the sensible heat contribution has increased by exceeding the above, it is possible to suppress the temperature rise inside the vinyl house. It can also be used even if you are suddenly exposed to unseasonably high weather conditions.

In addition, in the said 5th Embodiment, although the update program 40 for reduction of cultivation management server 10D is applied to the ceiling curtain 140 of 1st Embodiment as mentioned above, the ceiling curtain 140 of 2nd Embodiment, Or it may be applied to the ceiling curtain 140 of the third embodiment.

Alternatively, the update program 40 for reduction of the cultivation management server 10D in the fifth embodiment may be applied to the lighting equipment 210 in the fourth embodiment. For example, when the lighting device 210 is fully lit and the amount of light supplied from the lighting device 210 is large, the device control unit 323D according to the update program for increase 30 sets the detected temperature detected by the room temperature sensor 110 to a preset temperature threshold. When it exceeds , it can be determined that the sensible heat contribution, which indicates the degree to which thermal energy is used to increase the sensible heat of the cultivation facility, has increased more than expected. In that case, it is desirable to switch to a control program in which the operating specifications of the lighting device 210 are determined so that the amount of light supplied from the lighting device 210 is reduced. For example, when the temperature detected by the room temperature sensor 110 exceeds a predetermined temperature threshold (for example, 40 [°C]), a reduction update program for reducing the number of lighting devices 210 is acquired from the cultivation management server 10D via the communication network 90. It may be configured so that

As described above, even if the reduction update program 40 of the cultivation management server 10D is applied to the ceiling curtain 140 of the second embodiment, the ceiling curtain 140 of the third embodiment, or the lighting equipment 210 of the fourth embodiment, The same effects as in the fifth embodiment can be obtained.

(others)
(1) In the first to third embodiments described above, it is only explained that the initial program 20 and the incremental update program 30 have different solar radiation thresholds for opening and closing the ceiling curtain 140. Furthermore, in the fourth embodiment, only the fact that the light amount of the lighting device 210 is different between the initial program 20C and the incremental update program 30C is explained. However, in reality, other parameters are also changed in accordance with the change in the solar radiation threshold or the light amount of the lighting device 210, and it is not just the difference in the solar radiation threshold or the light amount of the lighting device 210. Therefore, in each of the above embodiments, the increase update programs 30 and 30C are stored in the cultivation management server in advance, and the initial programs 20 and 20C are updated to the increase update programs 30 and 30C, respectively, as necessary. It is configured to

For example, in the update programs 30 and 30C for increase, the amount of water supplied per time is increased compared to the initial programs 20 and 20C. Alternatively, in the update program for increase 30, 30C, the number of times of water supply per day may be increased. For example, the control time of the device may be changed according to the times of sunrise and sunset. For example, in the initial program 20, the ceiling curtain 140 is not opened for two hours after sunrise, but in the incremental update program 30, the ceiling curtain 140 may be configured to be opened one hour after sunrise.

(2) In the first to fourth embodiments described above, the side window 130 may be further configured to be opened when the temperature detected by the room temperature sensor 110 exceeds a temperature threshold (for example, 25 [° C.]). good. This allows the room temperature to be lowered. This temperature threshold value may be the same for the initial program 20 and the incremental update program 30. Regarding the side window 130, there are no trade-off parameters even if the side window 130 is opened to lower the room temperature. Therefore, there is no need to change the temperature threshold. On the other hand, when the ceiling curtain 140 is closed to lower the room temperature, sunlight is blocked. In this way, since there are trade-off parameters when opening and closing the ceiling curtain 140, the threshold for opening and closing the ceiling curtain 140 is changed between the initial program 20 and the incremental update program 30.

(3) In the first to fourth embodiments described above, the initial program 20 may be switched to the incremental update program 30 on or after the day after the incremental update program 30 is acquired. Further, the download operation for acquiring the update program for increase 30 and the operation for switching from the initial program 20 to the update program for increase 30 may be performed manually by the cultivation manager.

(4) In the first to fourth embodiments described above, when the result is YES multiple times in each of step S1015 in FIG. 2, step S1105 in FIG. 5, step S1210 in FIG. 7, and step S1405 in FIG. The process may proceed to the step of acquiring the update program 30 for use.

(5) In the first embodiment, the cultivation management server 10 may store a second update program for increase in addition to the update program for increase 30. The second update program for increase may set the threshold value of the amount of solar radiation for opening and closing the ceiling curtain 140 to, for example, 800 [W/m ² ]. Further, in addition to the water amount threshold, a second water amount threshold that is larger than the water amount threshold may be set. Then, after the initial program 20 is switched to the increase update program 30, when the determination processing unit 321 determines that the absorbed water amount exceeds the second water amount threshold, the acquisition processing unit 322 You may acquire the update program from the cultivation management server 10. The device control unit 323 may control opening and closing of the ceiling curtain 140 according to the second update program for increase. The same applies to the second to fourth embodiments described above. In addition to the second water amount threshold and the second increase update program, the cultivation management server 10 may include more water amount thresholds and increase update programs. This allows more sunlight to be taken in to support further growth of the plant. In this embodiment, the incremental update program 30 corresponds to an example of a first program, and the second incremental update program corresponds to an example of a second program.

(6) In the first to fourth embodiments described above, after the initial program 20 is switched to the incremental update program 30, the acquisition processing unit 322 stores the previously used initial program 20 in the memory 310. , 310A, 310B, and 310C. Similarly, in the fifth embodiment, after the update program for increase 30 is switched to the update program for decrease 40, the acquisition processing unit 322D stores the previously used increase update program 30 in the memory. It may be deleted from 310D. By erasing the program before update, free space in the memory 310 and the like can be secured. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the capacity of the memory 310 or the like is exceeded when downloading a program from next time onward, thereby preventing a failure from occurring.

Note that, as in (5) above, when providing more update programs for increase, the acquisition processing unit 322 stores the initial program 20 before update in the memory 310 etc. even after switching to the update program for increase 30. The configuration may be such that the programs are sequentially erased by setting a criterion such as erasing the first program after the remaining three programs are stored. As a result, even if the control program is frequently updated, free space in the memory 310 and the like can be secured, and a situation where the control program cannot be updated due to insufficient capacity can be prevented.

(7) In the first to fourth embodiments described above, the cultivation management server 10 may store a plurality of control programs in the form of a library. The acquisition processing unit 322 may select and acquire a necessary control program according to the cultivation period and cultivation method. Furthermore, the control program stored in the cultivation management server 10 may be configured to be freely modifiable by the cultivation manager. Moreover, the cultivation management server 10 may be configured to be able to additionally store a control program newly created by a cultivation manager.

The cultivation control technology according to the present disclosure is particularly useful for systems for cultivating plants.

Claims (11)

a light control device that controls the amount of light supplied to a cultivation environment in which plants are grown;
a first sensor that detects the growth state of the plant;
a storage unit storing a first program in which operational specifications of the light control device are defined;
a control device that controls the operation of the light control device according to the first program;
Equipped with
The control device includes:
Sensible heat representing the degree to which the supplied heat accompanying the amount of light supplied to the cultivation environment by the light control device is used to increase the sensible heat of the cultivation environment based on the growth state of the plant detected by the first sensor. a determination processing unit that determines whether the degree of contribution has decreased;
Operation specifications of the light control device are determined such that when it is determined that the sensible heat contribution has decreased, the amount of light supplied to the cultivation environment by the light control device is increased compared to the first program. an acquisition processing unit that acquires a second program from the cultivation management server through a communication network and stores it in the storage unit;
a device control unit that controls the operation of the light control device according to the second program instead of the first program when the second program is acquired;
including,
Cultivation control system. The first sensor includes both a water supply amount measurement unit that measures the amount of water supplied to the plant and a drainage amount measurement unit that measures the amount of drainage from the plant, or only the drainage amount measurement unit ,
The determination processing unit calculates the amount of absorbed water absorbed by the plant based on both the water supply amount and the drainage amount, or only the drainage amount , and when the absorption water amount exceeds a preset water amount threshold, determining that the sensible heat contribution has decreased;
The cultivation control system according to claim 1. The first sensor includes a medium weight scale that measures the weight of the plant and the medium in which the plant is planted,
The determination processing unit determines that the sensible heat contribution has decreased when the measured weight measured by the culture medium weight meter exceeds a preset weight threshold.
The cultivation control system according to claim 1. The first sensor includes an imaging device that captures an image including the plant,
The determination processing unit calculates an area ratio of at least leaves of the plant in a captured image captured by the imaging device, and determines the sensible heat contribution when the area ratio exceeds a preset ratio threshold. It is determined that the degree of
The cultivation control system according to claim 1. The acquisition processing unit deletes the first program from the storage unit after storing the second program in the storage unit.
The cultivation control system according to any one of claims 1 to 4. Further comprising a second sensor that detects the temperature of the cultivation environment,
The determination processing unit is configured to control the detection processing unit when the temperature of the cultivation environment detected by the second sensor exceeds a preset temperature threshold after switching from the first program to the second program. It is determined that the degree of heat contribution has increased,
The acquisition processing unit controls the light control device so that when the determination processing unit determines that the sensible heat contribution has increased, the amount of light supplied to the cultivation environment is reduced compared to the second program. acquiring a third program in which operational specifications are defined from the cultivation management server through the communication network and storing it in the storage unit;
When the third program is acquired, the device control unit controls the operation of the light control device according to the third program instead of the second program.
The cultivation control system according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The acquisition processing unit deletes the second program from the storage unit after storing the third program in the storage unit.
The cultivation control system according to claim 6. A cultivation control method in a cultivation control system comprising a light control device that controls the amount of light supplied to a cultivation environment for growing plants, the method comprising:
controlling the operation of the light control device according to a first program in which operation specifications for the light control device are defined;
detecting the growth state of the plant;
Based on the detected growth state of the plant, a sensible heat contribution indicating the degree to which the supplied heat accompanying the amount of light supplied to the cultivation environment by the light control device is used to increase the sensible heat of the cultivation environment has decreased. Determine whether or not
Operation specifications of the light control device are determined such that when it is determined that the sensible heat contribution has decreased, the amount of light supplied to the cultivation environment by the light control device is increased compared to the first program. acquiring the second program from the cultivation management server through the communication network and storing it in the storage unit;
when the second program is obtained, controlling the operation of the light control device according to the second program instead of the first program;
Cultivation control method. an equipment control unit that controls the operation of a light control device that controls the amount of light supplied to a cultivation environment in which plants are grown, according to a first program in which operation specifications for the light control device are determined;
Based on the growth state of the plant, whether or not the degree of contribution of sensible heat, which indicates the degree to which the supplied heat accompanying the amount of light supplied to the cultivation environment by the light control device is used to increase the sensible heat of the cultivation environment, has decreased. a determination processing unit that determines;
When it is determined that the sensible heat contribution has decreased, the cultivation management server executes a second program in which operational specifications of the light control device are determined so that the amount of light supplied to the cultivation environment is increased compared to the first program. an acquisition processing unit that acquires data from the computer via a communication network and stores the acquired information in a storage unit;
When the second program is acquired, the device control unit controls the operation of the light control device according to the second program instead of the first program.
Cultivation control device. A cultivation control method in a cultivation control device that controls the growth of plants, the method comprising:
controlling the operation of a light control device that controls the amount of light supplied to a cultivation environment in which the plants are grown, according to a first program in which operation specifications for the light control device are defined;
Based on the growth state of the plant, whether or not the degree of contribution of sensible heat, which indicates the degree to which the supplied heat accompanying the amount of light supplied to the cultivation environment by the light control device is used to increase the sensible heat of the cultivation environment, has decreased. Determine,
When it is determined that the sensible heat contribution has decreased, the cultivation management server executes a second program in which operational specifications of the light control device are determined so that the amount of light supplied to the cultivation environment is increased compared to the first program. through the communication network and store it in the storage unit,
when the second program is obtained, controlling the operation of the light control device according to the second program instead of the first program;
Cultivation control method. In the computer of the cultivation control device that controls the growth of plants,
A process of controlling the operation of a light control device that controls the amount of light supplied to a cultivation environment in which the plants are grown, according to a first program in which operation specifications of the light control device are determined;
Based on the growth state of the plant, whether or not the degree of contribution of sensible heat, which indicates the degree to which the supplied heat accompanying the amount of light supplied to the cultivation environment by the light control device is used to increase the sensible heat of the cultivation environment, has decreased. a process for determining
When it is determined that the sensible heat contribution has decreased, the cultivation management server executes a second program in which operational specifications of the light control device are determined so that the amount of light supplied to the cultivation environment is increased compared to the first program. a process of acquiring the information from the computer via a communication network and storing it in a storage unit;
when the second program is acquired, controlling the operation of the light control device according to the second program instead of the first program;
Cultivation control program that executes.

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