RU2776122C1 - Plant cultivation control system - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: agriculture.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to the field of agriculture, in particular, to hydroponics. The system (13) for controlling the plant cultivation conditions in hydroponic cultivation systems comprises: at least one detector (1301) for measuring at least one property of the substrate for plant cultivation or environmental conditions; first (1303) and second data processing tools. One or each detector (1301) is therein configured to measure the property or properties of the substrate for plant cultivation or environmental conditions and transmit the identifier of the detector and the measured property or properties via a communication channel to the first data processing tool. The first data processing tool (1303) is configured to: store the predetermined cultivation data in memory, including irrigation data, environmental data, yield data, cultivated crop data and/or climatic data determining the relation between: multiple values for one or more magnitudes from the number of temperature, pH level, water content, nutrient content, oxygen content in the substrate, air temperature, humidity, and illumination level, climatic conditions, parameters of the plant, yield, and crop condition; and multiple desired irrigation parameters and environmental parameters; process the measured properties received from each detector, resulting in processed properties of the substrate; provide output data indicating the desired input cultivation data for the cultivation substrate based on the processed properties and the predetermined cultivation data. The processed properties and the indicated output data form the processed data. The predicted properties of the substrate are calculated based on the processed data, the difference between the processed properties of the substrate and the predicted properties of the substrate is determined. The second data processing tool is therein configured to receive said difference from the first data processing tool (1303); receive the input message condition data in order to output a message based on said difference, and output a message when said difference satisfies the message condition.In the method, the system (13) for controlling the plant cultivation conditions is used. Portable communication apparatus of the detector (12) is adapted for use in the system.

EFFECT: improvement in the control of plant cultivation conditions.

21 cl, 18 dwg

Description

Technical field

The present invention relates to growing plants in hydroponic growing systems containing artificial substrates, including the control of plant growing conditions, such as plant growing conditions in mineral wool substrates used for growing plants, as well as environmental conditions.

State of the art

Hydroponic growing systems are known in the art for growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions without soil (ie, soilless crops). Plants in hydroponic growing systems can be grown on different types of substrates such as mineral wool, glass wool, coco coir (coir) or peat slabs.

It is known that plants can be grown in mineral wool growing substrates. Such growth substrates are typically provided in the form of a coherent plug, block, slab, or mat/blanket and generally include a binder, usually an organic binder, to ensure the structural integrity of the product.

As a rule, the process of growing a plant is controlled in two stages: the first stage, controlled by the "grower", in which the plant is grown from seeds; and the second stage, controlled by the "producer", during which the plant is maintained and whatever crop is harvested. For example, in the case of a tomato plant, the grower may plant individual tomato seeds in cylindrical plugs having a thickness of 25-30 mm and a radius of about 20-30 mm. After the seed germinates, the grower places the cork in the cuboid block to allow further growth of the root system and the plant. The individual plant in the block is then tended until it can be transferred from grower to grower.

Although often only one plant is provided in each block, many plants can be placed in one block. In some examples, one plant in a block is divided into two by splitting the stem early in development, whereby the two plants share the same root system. Alternatively, a plurality of plants may be grafted together and grown in one block.

The grower's use of a separate plug and block is not essential for all plants, but has been described, for example in European patent application EP 2111746, as providing a number of advantages. In particular, the small size of the plug allows more regular watering of the plant in the initial stage without saturating its substrate.

Upon receipt from the grower, the grower places a number of blocks on a single rock wool slab to form a plant growing system. The rock wool board is generally completely covered with foil or other liquid-impervious layer, except for holes on the top surface to receive the plant blocks and a drain hole provided on the bottom surface.

During the subsequent growth of the plant, water and nutrients are supplied using drippers that deliver a liquid containing water and nutrients into the system, either directly to the blocks or to the slabs. The water and nutrients in the blocks and slabs are absorbed by the roots of the plants and the plants grow accordingly. Water and nutrients that have not been taken up by the plant are either left in the system's substrate or drained through the drain hole.

During the growing process, it is desirable to use water and nutrients as efficiently as possible. This is due to both cost and environmental reasons. In particular, obtaining nutrients is expensive, and wastewater containing such nutrients is difficult to dispose of due to environmental legislation. Such challenges will grow as raw materials (especially fertilizers such as phosphates) become increasingly scarce. The desire to eliminate such waste coincides with the desire to improve the growing conditions of plants, and, consequently, to increase the yield and quality of the fruits obtained in this way from plants.

The environment of a hydroponic growing system, such as a greenhouse, can be controlled by a climate control computer capable of adjusting factors such as hours of exposure to sunlight, temperature, humidity, wind speed, or wind direction, for example. The climate computer can also monitor plant growth, plant health, water content and nutrient content in the substrate. The measurement of water content and/or nutrient content in a growing substrate is known. Although the known systems and devices can provide useful information about the composition of agricultural soil and can help with the automation of soil irrigation, they, however, cannot provide solutions for the efficient management of water and water/nutrient distribution in hydroponic growing systems, such as mineral wool substrates. . It is also desirable during the growing process to use as efficiently as possible the resources consumed by the climate control computer, such as electricity, water and heating, for the same reasons as above.

European patent application EP 3016492 proposes a solution for efficient management of water and nutrient distribution in hydroponic growing systems. With such a system, growers approve an irrigation strategy (which refers to the amount of nutrients and water supplied to the system), monitor the system, and then adjust irrigation levels based on, for example, measurements of water content or nutrient content. However, the problem with this approach is that the irrigation strategy is not adjusted in a timely manner and target levels (eg water or nutrients) are reached either too early or too late.

There is a continuing need for improved systems available to the user for managing plant irrigation when growing plants in hydroponic growing systems. In particular, it is desirable to improve the management of growing conditions in response to rapidly changing factors, such as environmental factors, or to changes in plants, substrates, or other materials used in the system.

The essence of the invention

To eliminate the shortcomings of the prior art, a system for controlling plant growing conditions in hydroponic growing systems is proposed, and the system for controlling plant growing conditions contains:

at least one detector for measuring at least one property of the growing substrate or environmental conditions;

first and second data processing means;

data storage means; and

wherein one or each detector is configured to measure a property or properties of the growing substrate or environmental conditions and transmit the detector identifier and the measured property or properties over a communication channel to the first data processing means;

wherein the first data processing means is configured to:

store in memory predetermined growing data, including irrigation data, environmental data, plant data, yield data, crop data and/or climate data defining the relationship between:

multiple values for one or more of temperature, pH level, water content, nutrient content, oxygen content in the substrate, air temperature, humidity and light level, climatic conditions, plant parameters, yield and crop conditions; and

a variety of desired irrigation parameters and environmental parameters;

process the measured properties received from each detector to obtain processed properties of the substrate;

provide output indicating a desired growth input for the growth substrate and growth medium based on the processed properties and predetermined growth data, the processed properties and said output forming the processed data; and

calculate predicted properties of the substrate based on the processed data;

determine the difference between the treated properties of the substrate and the predicted properties of the substrate;

where the second data processing means is configured to:

receive said difference from the first data processing means;

receive a message condition input to output a message based on the specified difference; and

output a message when the specified difference satisfies the message condition.

It should be understood that the system is suitable for hydroponic systems at the breeding stage as well as the growing stages as described above; in other words, the system can be used by both growers and growers.

Advantageously, the control system provides users (eg growers or growers) with the ability to optimally manage their crops at critical times during cultivation. This is achieved by displaying a message to the user when the growing strategy needs to be changed to ensure that the predicted properties of the substrate are achieved in a timely manner. By having a system in which the first data processor is able to act as a buffer to collect data from one or more detectors and process the data, it is easy to provide the processed data and other notifications (such as alerts) to the second data processor. Of course, the first processing means may forward said difference to the second processing means. In some embodiments, measured properties, processed properties, predicted properties, specified outputs, predetermined growth data, relationships stored in memory, and/or processed data may also be received by the second data processor from the first data processor.

The data is received from the detectors placed on the object and transmitted to the first data processing means. In preferred embodiments, the detectors are wireless sensors. In addition, data may be obtained from a climate computer storing climate information (such as information about local climate conditions), from inputs relating to plant growing information and crop and/or crop information.

The data may then be sent from the first data processing means to a data storage medium such as a cloud or a database and stored over time as logged data. On the other hand, the system may further include a data storage medium such as a cloud or a database. The first data processing means may also be configured to send the processed data to the data storage means, and the data storage means may be configured to store the directed data over time as logged data. In some embodiments, the data storage means and the first data processing means may be part of a single unit or device, which may hereinafter be referred to as a smart box. In other embodiments, the storage means and the first data processing means may be part of a cloud service, for example. It should be understood that the functionality of the first and second data processing means can be achieved, for example, using the same block or cloud service.

The "message" mentioned above may be a recommendation, such as a recommendation for a set value, to be applied. Such a recommendation may contain advice. The Board may provide detailed information on the settings applied to the system for managing plant growing conditions based on the collected growing data and the stored relationship between various parameters (such as one or more of temperature, pH, water content, nutrient content, oxygen content in the substrate, air temperature, humidity and light level, PAR level (PAR), climatic conditions, CO ₂ level, plant parameters, yield and crop conditions) and irrigation and environmental parameters. As discussed below, such irrigation and environmental parameters may include irrigation, fertigation, heating, ventilation, lighting, shading, and humidity. The tip can also show the impact that the application of irrigation and/or environmental parameters is predicted to have on the system. In addition, as discussed below, the recommendation may be automatically applied by the system with or without user input.

The detectors may be configured to measure parameters occurring in the plant or in the environment (ie, in and around the growing space). For example, when measuring temperature, the detectors may be able to measure the temperature of the ambient air (ie, the temperature in the growing environment, or at a particular location, or representative of the entire growing space), or measure the temperature of the plant.

In addition to the above parameters, other parameters of the plant can be measured by the detectors. Examples of specific plant parameters include plant stem diameter, plant height, and plant sap flow. When measuring plant parameters, the detector may use one or more invasive probes and non-invasive sensors to perform measurements. By "invasive" in this context is meant that the probe can be designed and positioned, in use, so that it can be introduced into the plant volume to make specific measurements for the plant. A non-invasive sensor may allow measurements to be taken on the plant without penetrating the inside of the plant.

The first data processing means (which may be called, for example, a "bridge") then calculates the predicted properties of the substrate based on the recorded data. By "predictable property" is meant an indicator of a property expected at a particular point in time or after a particular period of time based on the recorded data. For example, the water content achieved in a producer section on a particular day can be predicted from the water content achieved on the previous day if the weather conditions remain unchanged. Once stored in the cloud, the logged data can be analyzed by any analytical tool. In other embodiments, the implementation of the second data processing means, which may be a PC (PC) or a smartphone, performs the calculation of the predicted properties of the substrate based on the recorded data.

In particular, a message is triggered when there is a difference between the processed and predicted values and the difference satisfies a message condition, eg, is within a predetermined interval or above a predetermined threshold that can be set by the user. For example, message triggers can be set by the user by entering "setpoints", which means desired values or properties of the system (also called targets). By setting one or more of these messages, the user is able to create a personalized irrigation strategy quickly and more efficiently than existing systems.

In some embodiments, the message condition may be entered into the second data processor by the user and/or the first data processor. When the reporting condition is input from the first data processing means, the first data processing means may generate a reporting condition based on the relationship stored in the memory or the desired irrigation parameters and environmental parameters.

The processed property may refer to a directly measured property, such as temperature, or a calculated property, such as nutrient content, based on sensor data. A predictable property is a property indicator based on logged data, such as data stored in the cloud. In other words, the predicted value is based on the value obtained at an earlier time for a similar set of conditions.

In preferred embodiments, the processed properties and predicted properties are displayed, for example, in a graphical user interface, allowing the user to visually compare them and therefore make quick decisions and get quick feedback on the consequences of those decisions. The graphical user interface may belong to an application running on a PC or a mobile device referred to as a "handheld communication device", such as a smartphone, tablet, etc. For example, processed and predicted properties in a graphical user interface may be displayed side by side (ie, curves plotted side by side). In particular, the user's decisions relate to the setting of message trigger levels and/or irrigation strategy. The interaction between the user and the graphical user interface allows more flexible and precise control of growing conditions, which can be easily and centrally reconfigured in response to new data or in response to other influencing factors such as environmental factors or replacement of plants or substrates or other materials used. in system.

In preferred embodiments, the level of difference at which the message fires, that is, the predetermined interval or threshold within which the difference guarantees the message, can be adjusted by the user. This level of flexibility advantageously improves control and can enhance user experience.

The first detector data processing means may be configured to correct input data indicating the triggering of a message. This allows system staff to upload setpoints and calculations to the user's irrigation management system so that the user is automatically advised on the best irrigation strategy. Preferably, optimal setpoints and calculations can be obtained by analytical evaluation of data (eg, graphs and calculated values) compared to the system over time as part of the logged data. In other embodiments, the second detector data processing means may be configured to correct input data indicating the triggering of a message.

The portable communication device in the system may be, for example, a smartphone or tablet that includes a second data processing means. Accordingly, the portable detector communication device is preferably suitable for running a plant management application. On the other hand, the portable communication device may be a dedicated "handheld" device that communicates with the receiver. The receiver may also transmit data directly to the data storage means.

When a portable communication device is in communication with detectors, it may be referred to as a "detector portable communication device". The portable communication device in the system additionally allows checking and testing of individual system components and allows for easier system setup, as the user can place detectors in the growth area and check output parameters without having to return to the central computer or processing device to check or update the configuration and characteristics. systems. One or more detectors may be used in the system, and preferred embodiments may include 1 to 3 or more detectors. Preferably, the system in the monitored area may be deployed wirelessly as will be described in more detail below.

The first data processing means may be configured to control the growth input (such as irrigation input) for the growing substrate and/or the environment in which the substrate is located based on the output indicative of the desired grow input (such as irrigation input). "Output indicating the desired irrigation input" refers to inputs to the growth substrate provided by the first detector processing means of the system. For example, irrigation inputs may be input to the climate control computer of a hydroponic system. In other words, not only can the system determine if the desired goal will be reached on time and recommend changes to the strategy, but the recommendation can be automatically enforced by changing the climate computer's irrigation strategy. In other embodiments, the portable communication device may be configured to control the growth input for the growing substrate and/or the environment in which the substrate is located based on the output indicative of the desired growth input.

In preferred embodiments, the detector transmits data to the first detector data processing means at a time interval of less than 10 minutes, preferably less than 5 minutes, more preferably less than 3 minutes. This allows timely monitoring and management of the irrigation strategy. In addition, the detector may directly transmit data to the second data processing means of the detector or to the data storage means.

Accordingly, the present invention can use properties such as temperature (i.e., root temperature), water content, and nutrient content to determine the electrical conductivity of a fluid in a substrate, for example, to accurately determine the nutrient content of an artificial substrate as opposed to the levels of individual elements. "Nutrient content" also refers to the content of individual nutrients, which can be measured, for example, with a sensor.

Thus, unlike existing systems, the present system provides a flexible solution to the water waste management problem associated with soilless crop hydroponic systems. As discussed above, substrates in hydroponic systems often have fixed volumes of water, in contrast to soils and transport in soils, in which water can spread over an unlimited volume of substrate in any direction. Fixed volumes of water in hydroponic systems are typically 1 to 30 liters per m ² , most commonly 4 to 15 liters per m ² . For one plant, fixed volumes of water, as a rule, are 0.5-10 liters. Fixed volumes of water in hydroponic systems are also quite small compared to plant rooting areas in the soil.

Soilless substrates in hydroponic systems can be placed on top of the soil, on concrete floors, on gutters, mobile tables, etc. Relatively smaller volumes of water, combined with out-of-soil cultivation, allow growers to collect excess water, disinfect the water, and reuse the water to make new nutrient solutions. The amount of water drained is relatively small (eg 0 to 60 m ³ per ha on a summer day). With existing disinfection systems (using, for example, pumps specially designed for this purpose), the collected drain water can be disinfected, usually within 24 hours, so that it is ready for use the next day.

In artificial substrates, for example, the suction pressure applied by plants to absorb water is typically between pF 0 and 2, most commonly between pF 0 and 1.5. Although the uptake of water by plants in this interval is not limited, differences in this interval may determine differences in the distribution of dry matter in plants. In contrast, in agricultural soils, normal pF ranges are between pF 2 and pF 4.2 (applied plant suction pressure is between 100 and 16,000 atm). In this interval, we are talking about the availability of water for plants, and not about its effect on the distribution of dry matter.

The portable communications device may also be configured to: receive detector data from a system detector; and transmitting the detector data to the first detector data processing means. The portable communication device may be configured to receive processed data from the data storage means. The portable communication device may also be in communication with the data storage means and may be configured to receive data from at least one wireless detector and send the data to the data storage means. This may allow the user to check the detector data related to the output data or the state of the detector in the growing area, and then forward the received data to the first detector data processing means to store the data for later analysis, or to update the input or configuration data in the system after correction or update the installation or configuration of system components. The data may be stored on one or more detectors, the portable communication device, the detector's first or second data processing means, and the data storage means for extended periods, such as 7 days. When monitoring plant growth, it is often useful to analyze production data covering long periods to provide a reliable and useful trend view. By having a system that can store data for long periods, such as 7 days, it is possible to provide manufacturers with reliable and representative data.

Typically, measured parameter data (i.e., data measured directly by the detector) may be sent from the detector and stored locally on the first data processing means ("bridge") for periods of at least one month, preferably at least , two months. When the parameter data is sent to the cloud service or storage medium, the parameter data may generally be stored in the cloud service or storage medium for periods of at least one year, preferably at least two years. Likewise, calculated data (i.e., measured parameter data that has been processed through calculations to provide interpreted values) may also be stored in a cloud service or storage medium for periods of at least one year, preferably at least , two years. With data stored over a long period, a reliable source of data can be created from which growing trends and actions required for growing can be calculated. Moreover, having short-term data (data for the last one or two months) stored locally on the bridge allows faster access to data that is often used for calculation and provision to the user.

Data can be stored and processed into discrete, averaged values. For example, measured parameter data from detectors may be averaged over a five-minute period to provide "5-minute data" of measured parameters. Although 5 minute data has proven useful for the purposes of the present invention, data averaged over other time periods such as 10 minute data and hourly data that are produced as well as 5 minute data have also been found useful in use. The calculated data can also be stored and processed in discrete units such as 5 minute data.

The first detector data processing means may also be configured to: process the measured properties received from each detector to determine the nutrient content of the substrate associated with each detector; and provide an output indicative of the desired irrigation input for the growing substrate based on the calculated nutrient content of the substrate. Management of irrigation inputs based on nutrient content is not known, as other inputs such as detected irradiation or detected water levels are commonly used. The use of nutrient levels for irrigation management reflects the recognition that, at least occasionally, water levels should not be maintained at a certain point if this has a detrimental effect on nutrient levels. For example, when deliberate efforts are made to reduce the water content of the substrate, there is a risk that this will lead to increased levels of nutrients. Therefore, it has not been deemed appropriate to ignore nutrient levels when managing water levels. In preferred embodiments, the property indicative of nutrient content is the electrical conductivity of the liquid in the growth substrate.

The portable communications device may also be configured to: receive a detector identifier from a system detector; receive detector data related to the detector; and transmit the detector ID and detector data to the first data processing means, also called "detector central processing means". This allows for flexible input of detector data to the system CPU without the need for detector data to be present on the CPU, so that configuration can be performed more efficiently in the growing area.

The portable communications device may be configured to: receive, with user input, user-defined detector data with a detector ID; and transmitting the detector ID and the user-defined detector data to the first detector data processing means. Entering user data allows the user to define the data for the detector and transmit the data to the first data processing means of the detector for the remote location, so that the configuration can be performed more efficiently in the growing area.

The data associated with a detector ID may include any or all of the following: detector location data; detector power status; state of the communication line between the detector and the first data processing means of the detector; information indicative of the type and/or size of the growth substrate as measured by the detector; and/or the properties or properties of the growth substrate as measured by the detector. Some or all of the above data may be transmitted by the detector or entered by the user into the detector's portable communication device.

The portable communication device may be configured to: receive measured properties from the detector; associate the measured properties with the detector ID of that detector; and transmitting the detector identifier and associated measured properties to the first detector processing means of the system. This may allow the user to check the output of the detector in the growing area and then send it to a central processing facility for data storage for later analysis, or to update the input or configuration data in the system after correcting or updating the installation or configuration of system components.

The portable communication device may further comprise a location means for determining the location data of the device or detector, and may also be configured to: associate a detector identifier with certain location data; and transmitting the detector ID and associated location data to the first detector processing means of the system. This makes it possible to send location information of the detector or detectors of the system to the first detector data processor without having to return to the first detector data processor.

The first data processing means and one or more detectors may each include a LoRa module configured to receive and transmit data via LoRa data transmission technology. The first data processing means may be configured to interact with one or more detectors through data transmission over the LoRa protocol. LoRa (short for Long Range) data transmission allows you to set up a wireless network for data transmission with a very long range (typically approximately 10 to 25 km) at low cost and low power consumption. This allows the detectors and the first processing means, the bridge, to be securely connected in a cost-effective and efficient manner.

Alternatively, or in combination, the first processing means and the one or more detectors may each include a Bluetooth module configured to establish a Bluetooth wireless communication system with each other. The first data processing means may be configured to communicate with one or more detectors via Bluetooth data transmission. Bluetooth data transmission allows you to set up a wireless data network at a short distance (typically approximately 100 m) at low cost. This allows the detectors and the first data processing means to be securely connected in an inexpensive and efficient manner.

The portable communications device may include a Bluetooth module configured to establish Bluetooth wireless communication with the first processing means or with one or more detectors. The portable communication device may be configured to transmit and receive data via a Bluetooth network with the first data processing means and one or more detectors. This configuration allows the portable communications device to communicate with the detectors even if the wider network fails. In other words, the user can quickly and directly access the data measured by the detector via a short-range network, even in the event of a power failure.

In addition, a method is provided for controlling plant growing conditions using a system in accordance with the invention.

The method may further include introducing a message condition to the portable communication device executing the application in accordance with the invention, as described above.

Also provided is a portable communication device adapted for use in the system described above, such as a smartphone or dedicated handheld device. Preferably, when used, the portable communication device forms part of the system according to the invention.

In addition, a computer program product is provided that is loaded into the memory of the electronic communication device and contains instructions that, when executed by this electronic communication device, cause it to be configured as the claimed portable detector communication device.

It also creates a data analysis platform for processing the logged data used in the system according to the invention. This advantageously allows users to receive expert advice based on the analyzed data.

A number of factors monitored by system detectors can have a strong influence, either alone or in combination with nutrient levels, and these factors can vary throughout a large growing system. The system described above allows the user to implement a low cost system and quickly and easily move equipment or detectors to other areas of the greenhouse or other growing areas so that conditions in multiple areas can be quickly and easily controlled without having to purchase new equipment for each area.

Thus, a fast and flexible feedback system has been proposed that can be used to closely and reliably monitor the nutrient levels in the slab and to control the water supply based on this level. This makes it possible to timely manage the environment for each plant, ensuring the maximum result for a given supply of water and/or nutrients.

The benefits of improved management of water and/or nutrient distribution are especially important at an early stage when the block containing the plant is first placed on the slab. At this point, it is important that the first layer contains enough water and nutrients to ensure good rooting inside the slab. This promotes positive root development to ensure optimal and healthy plant development. Advantageously, the plate of the present invention not only provides sufficient amounts of water and nutrients, but also allows the water and nutrient levels in the immediate vicinity of the roots to be carefully managed. This helps to avoid overfeeding the plant, which can reduce fruit and/or vegetable development.

The system of the present invention can be used in any plant growing system (both growers and growers alike) and can be implemented with essentially any plant growing substrate that may contain natural or artificial materials and that can be used in a controlled manner. environment such as a greenhouse, in tunnel greenhouses, or in an outdoor environment. The benefits of the invention can be realized in virtually any field of agriculture or horticulture where the growing conditions described here are to be controlled.

A system for managing plant growth conditions in hydroponic growing systems may be provided, the system for controlling plant growing conditions including:

at least one detector for measuring at least one property of the plant growth substrate;

first and second data processing means;

data storage means; and

one or each detector is configured to measure a property or properties of the plant growth substrate and transmit the detector identifier and the measured property or properties over a communication channel to the first data processing means;

wherein the first data processing means is configured to:

store in memory predefined irrigation data defining the relationship between:

multiple values for one or more of temperature, pH, water content, nutrient content, oxygen content, and substrate plant parameters; and

a variety of desired irrigation parameters;

process the measured properties received from each detector to obtain processed properties of the substrate;

provide an output indicative of a desired irrigation input for the growth substrate based on the processed properties and predetermined irrigation data, where in some embodiments, said output and the processed properties form the processed data; and

forwarding the processed data to a data storage means, the data storage means being configured to store the directed data as logged data;

where the second data processing means is configured to:

receive data from the data storage means;

calculate predicted properties of the substrate based on the recorded data; determine the difference between the treated properties of the substrate and the predicted properties of the substrate;

receive a message condition input to output a message based on the specified difference; and

output a message when the specified difference satisfies the message condition.

A system for managing plant growing conditions in hydroponic growing systems can be proposed, and this plant growing condition management system includes:

at least one detector for measuring at least one property of the growing substrate or environmental conditions;

first and second data processing means;

data storage means; and

one or each detector is configured to measure a property or properties of the growing substrate or environmental conditions and transmit the detector identifier and the measured property or properties over a communication channel to the first data processing means;

wherein the first data processing means is configured to:

store predefined growing data, including irrigation data, environmental data, plant data, yield data, crop data and/or climate data, defining the relationship between:

multiple values for one or more of temperature, pH level, water content, nutrient content, oxygen content in the substrate, air temperature, humidity and light level, climatic conditions, plant parameters, yield and crop conditions; and

a variety of desired irrigation parameters and environmental parameters;

process the measured properties received from each detector to obtain processed properties of the substrate;

provide output indicative of a desired growth input for the growth substrate and substrate environment based on the processed properties and the predefined growth data, where in some embodiments the processed properties and said output form the processed data; and

forwarding the processed data to a data storage means, the data storage means being configured to store the directed data as logged data;

where the second data processing means is configured to:

receive the logged data from the data storage means;

calculate predicted properties of the substrate based on the recorded data; determine the difference between the treated properties of the substrate and the predicted properties of the substrate;

receive a message condition input to output a message based on the specified difference; and

output a message when the specified difference satisfies the message condition.

Brief description of the drawings

An example of a system, method, portable communication device, computer program and platform is described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a plate used for growing plants.

FIG. 2 illustrates a plant growing system comprising a block along with the plate of FIG. one.

FIG. 3 illustrates the block of FIG. 2 together with cork and plant.

FIG. 4 illustrates an in situ irrigation arrangement adjacent to the plant growing system of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 illustrates the location of the water and nutrient detectors on the plant growing system of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 shows schematically a plant management system including various elements.

FIG. 7 illustrates another system including various elements.

FIG. 8 is an example of a graphical user interface showing measured levels of water content, conductivity, and temperature.

FIG. 9A and 9B show other examples of the graphical user interface.

FIG. 10 is an example of a graphical user interface showing multivariable measurements for water content, conductivity, and temperature levels.

FIG. 11A is an example of a graphical user interface showing the daily trend in the system where setpoints can be entered.

FIG. 11B is an example of a graphical user interface showing yearly progress in a system where the reference (ie, target) line is displayed next to the irrigation control curve.

FIG. 11C is an example of a graphical user interface showing predictive lines plotted based on certain predetermined values.

FIG. 11D shows an example of one form of a message, such as a notification.

FIG. 11E shows another screen shot of a graphical user interface running on a smartphone.

FIG. 12 illustrates an example of slab and block media used for growing plants.

FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a plant management system containing various elements.

Detailed description

FIG. 1 shows a rock wool board 1 having a first layer of first density placed over a second layer of second density. Cooker 1 has a volume of 6.8 liters, although more generally, for preferred embodiments, the volume may be in the range of 3 to 20 liters, more preferably in the range of 5 to 15 liters, and most preferably in the range of 5 to 11 liters. Such plates may have a volume in the range of 6 to 8 liters. On the other hand, the volume may be in the range of, for example, 3 to 15 liters or 3 to 10 liters. An alternative preferred cooker has a volume of 9 liters. The slab may include a plurality of layers, including a bottom layer and a top layer, whose growth conditions may vary relative to each other.

As with the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, it is preferable that the height of the lower layer is greater than the height of the upper layer. For example, the ratio of the heights of the upper and lower layers may be 1:(1-3) or preferably 1:(1.2-2.5). More preferably this ratio is 1:(1.2-1.8).

The use of two different densities in the board of the preferred embodiment, along with its relatively small size, has been found to help retain water and nutrients, as well as provide a substantially uniform distribution throughout the board.

With regard to FIG. 2, plate 1 is shown with block 2 located on its upper surface. The board 1 also has a liquid-impervious cover around the mineral wool, the cover having two openings. Firstly, there is an opening on the top surface to allow contact between the mineral wool of the slab 1 and block 2. Secondly, there is an opening on the bottom surface that acts as a drain hole 3.

Block 2 and plate 1 are preferably made of the same or similar material. Thus, the following description of the material of board 1 can also be applied to block 2. In particular, block 2 may contain stone wool and the binders and/or wetting agents described below.

Block sizes can be selected depending on the plant being grown. For example, the preferred length and width of the block for pepper or cucumber plants is 10 cm. For tomato plants, the length is increased to 15 cm or even 20 cm. The height of the blocks is preferably in the range of 7 to 12 cm, and more preferably in the range of 8 to 10 cm. .

Thus, the preferred sizes for pepper and cucumber plants are in the range of 10 x 10 x 7 cm to 10 x 10 x 12 cm and more preferably 10 x 10 x 8 cm to 10 x 10 x 10 cm.

FIG. 3 illustrates a plant 5 in position within a plug 4 placed inside the block 2 shown in FIG. 2. Like block 2, plug 4 is typically formed from mineral wool with a binder and/or wetting agent, as described below for board 1.

In some embodiments, plug 4 is not provided and seeds are placed directly inside the hole in the block, from which plant 5 subsequently grows. An example of a plant for which this approach is applied is cucumber.

Preferably plant 5 is a fruit or vegetable plant such as a tomato or the like. On the other hand, the plant may be, for example, a cucumber, an eggplant or a bell pepper. The present invention can help increase the yield of fruits or vegetables from a plant, and can also improve the quality of these fruits or vegetables by improving the accuracy of controlling the growing conditions for the substrate in which the plant is grown.

As mentioned above, the board 1 is preferably a mineral wool board. The mineral fibers used can be any man-made vitreous fibers (MMVF) such as glass fibers, ceramic fibers, basalt fibers, cinder wool, stone wool and others, but are usually stone wool fibers. Stone wool generally has an iron oxide content of at least 3% and an alkaline earth metal content (calcium oxide and magnesium oxide) of 10 to 40%, along with other conventional mineral wool oxide constituents. These include silica, alumina, alkali metals (sodium oxide and potassium oxide), which are usually present in small amounts; and titanium dioxide and other minor oxides may also be present. In general, the product may be formed from any type of man-made fiberglass that is conventionally known for the production of growth substrates.

Mineral wool is typically bonded with a binder system that contains a binder composition and an additional wetting agent.

In FIG. 4 shows a plant growing system consisting of the slab 1, block 2 and plug 4 shown in FIG. 1-3, and irrigation devices. The irrigation device 6 is configured to supply a solution of water and nutrients to the system either directly to the block or to the plate. Preferably, the sprinkler is configured to supply water and/or nutrient solution directly to the block 2. Since the block is located far from the drain hole 3 (as described above with reference to FIG. 2), the solution from the sprinkler must pass more than 50% of the distance along slab 1 until it reaches drain 3. Alternatively, the sprinkler can supply water and nutrient solution directly to slab 1, but is preferably positioned to do so either next to the block or on the far side of block 2 relative to drain 3.

Irrigation device 6 can be connected to separate nutrient and water tanks and can be controlled to select the appropriate proportions of nutrients and water. Alternatively, a single combined reservoir of nutrients and water may be provided so that the sprinkler supplies liquid to the system having the same proportions of water and nutrients as in that reservoir.

The control of the irrigation device can advantageously be influenced using a control system or method according to various embodiments. The control system can control irrigation devices supplying nutrients and water to a plurality of plant growing systems, each of which contains a plate 1 on which a block 2 containing plants is placed. The control system can be controlled based on the detected levels of nutrients in the water in one or more plates, as described in EP 2953447A, which is incorporated herein by reference, as well as based on a number of other factors, as set forth below. Additional control may be performed based on certain levels of water content and/or temperatures in one or more plates.

The location of the detectors 7 used to determine these levels in one embodiment is shown in FIG. 5. Exemplary detectors are described in EP 2953446A, which is incorporated herein by reference. Detectors typically comprise a body along with one or more, typically three or six probes that extend from the body into the plate. The probes are typically made of stainless steel or other conductive material and are used to measure the water content and/or electrical conductivity levels (EC(EC)) of a substrate by analyzing the temperature, resistance and/or capacitance of the substrate. EC levels can be used to establish the nutrient level of a solution in plate 1, as they reflect the ion content of that solution.

Preferably, the EP level is maintained in the range of 1.0 to 12 mS/cm, more preferably in the range of 2 to 7 mS/cm. Preferred levels of EPO may be selected depending on the type of crop being grown. If the EC is too low (eg, less than 1.0 mS/cm), the plant will be deficient in nutrients. If the EC is in the range from 2 to 3.5 mS/cm, this will maximize the production volume. If the EC is slightly higher, this will result in improved fruit quality (eg EC between 3.5 and 5 mS/cm). If the EC is too high (for example, over 5 mS/cm for peppers and cucumbers or over 12 mS/cm for tomatoes), this will lead to fruit quality problems such as Blossom End Rot. A high EC implies that there will be high levels of sodium and chlorine in the substrate, which can lead to yield loss and the need to drain the greenhouse.

In prior art systems, the detectors 7 are placed on the top surface of the slab 1 with the probes passing vertically through the slab. This approach is intended to provide a measurement that reflects the total vertical water or nutrient content of slab 1. However, in practice, such probes tend to produce results that are overly influenced by conditions in one or more areas of slab 1, such as the top plates. One of the reasons why this discrepancy may occur is the change in the level of the electric field across the plate 1, which clearly affects the measured electrical properties, such as resistance and/or capacitance, from which, for example, the water content is calculated.

Additional difficulties arise in prior art approaches due to the number of blocks 2 typically placed on slab 1. It is often difficult to find positions on slab 1 that are functionally equivalent for each block 2, especially given the potential asymmetry in the system caused by the location of the drain hole. 3 at one end of plate 1.

In the system of the present invention, these difficulties can be overcome. In particular, in FIG. 5 shows that the detectors 7 are located on the side of the slab 1 (that is, the body of the detector 7 is against the vertical surface of the slab and the probes run horizontally). This approach is available due to the improved water content and distribution of EC in slab 1. Since they are substantially uniform in slab 1 of the preferred embodiment, the horizontal extent of the probes provides accurate readings.

Indeed, although plate 1 in FIG. 5 is shown with a plurality of detectors 7, this does not apply to all preferred embodiments. The array of detectors 7 shown in FIG. 5 allows the water content distribution and the EP distribution to be measured and used to analyze the characteristics of the plate 1, providing results such as those discussed in detail below. However, in practice it turns out that only one detector 7 may be required per slab and the detectors can be distributed around different slabs in a growing area to give a visual indication of the general growing conditions for that area. This detector 7 preferably comprises horizontally extending probes located in a position offset from the block towards the drain 3.

In addition to the detectors 7 described above placed in contact with the slab 1 to record information from the slab (ie, to record information from the "root zone"), as shown in FIG. 12, in some embodiments, additional detectors 22 may also be used in the system. They may be mounted on or near slab 1, mounted on a column, on the ground, on a prop, or surface. In addition to detectors 7 and additional detectors 22 in FIG. 12 also shows a greenhouse 20 containing a number of slabs 1 and blocks 2, thereby providing an environment in which the plants in the blocks can grow.

Additional detectors 22 are configured to monitor, measure and/or transmit properties such as air temperature, pressure, light and/or radiation levels, humidity and/or air velocity, and/or properties indicative of such criteria. The detectors may be sensors such as a thermometer (eg, an electrical thermometer, including a digital or analog thermometer), a barometer, a photometer, a humidity sensor, and/or an anemometer. This allows environmental information to be collected in addition to root zone information.

Detectors 7 and additional detectors 22 may be used to control the quality of water and/or nutrients supplied to stove 1 using a control system 10, such as the system shown in FIG. 6 as described in EP 3016492A1, which is incorporated herein by reference. The control system can also change the concentration of nutrients in the solution supplied by the irrigation systems 6 to the plates 1. As can be seen in FIG. 6, the detectors 7 monitor the data in the plates 1 and transmit the data via the network 8 to the control unit 9 and the portable communication device 12 such as a mobile phone, smart phone, tablet or the like while interacting with the network. Additional detectors 22 monitor data in the environment in which the plates are placed. Network communication with the control unit and portable communication device in the additional detectors 22 is the same as in the case of the detectors 7. Regardless of the source, the data is uploaded to a database such as a cloud service. The control unit then operates irrigation devices (drippers) 6 and environmental devices (such as humidifiers, dehumidifiers, ventilation devices, lights, curtains, heaters, air conditioning and/or cooling devices) through the network 8 to supply water and nutrients to slabs 1. The control unit 9 can be programmed with the desired irrigation strategy and can automatically ensure that irrigation is carried out to control nutrient levels in slab 1 and water levels can also be controlled. Thus, automatic control of the irrigation process is achieved to obtain the desired result.

Similarly, detectors 7 and additional detectors 22 may be used to control the environmental conditions in the environment in which stove 1 is located (such as the greenhouse shown in FIG. 12). This is achieved using the control system shown in FIG. 6. In addition, the control unit 9 can be programmed with a desired environmental strategy and can automatically ensure that environmental control is performed to control environmental conditions. As in the case of the irrigation strategy, in this way automatic control of the process in the environment is achieved to obtain the desired result.

The system may include one or more portable communication devices 12, such as a smartphone, tablet, or the like, and/or a dedicated handheld device in cooperation with a receiver (not shown), as will be described in connection with FIG. 7. The portable communication device 12 or a PC connected to a network, for example, may be configured to run an application executing the control method, as will be described in detail below.

Typically, each control system will contain a large number of slabs 1. Detectors may be placed on each slab 1, or detectors may be placed on a sample of slabs 1 to provide representative results. In addition, additional detectors 22 may be placed in the environment in which the slabs are located. The detectors 7 are rigidly mounted on the plates 1 so that they can transmit the results to the control unit 9 at regular intervals. For example, the detectors and additional detectors may provide results at intervals of one minute, five minutes, or other suitable time period. This makes it possible to constantly or periodically control the plates 1 in the system and the environment, so that the plates can be properly watered and the environmental conditions adjusted accordingly.

Additional information can be provided to the system from the climate computer as shown below. In addition, crop data, such as plant and yield information, as well as climate information from a climate computer, can be provided to the system. Plant and yield information may either be provided automatically through the use of plant monitoring devices such as cameras and automatic crop monitors, or may be provided manually by the user.

Irrigation devices 6 in the system can be controlled to apply a particular irrigation strategy. In addition, environmental devices 24 in the system can be controlled to apply a certain environmental strategy. Irrigation strategy and environmental strategy can be linked and form part of a broader growing strategy. For example, such a growing strategy may include a number of separate phases designed to manage plants through a generative stage and a vegetative stage of development. As understood in the art, the generative stage of development refers to a type of development in which flower/fruit production is encouraged, while during the vegetative stage, the plant produces a higher proportion of leaves and other green elements. The generative stage of development is encouraged with relative water scarcity, while the vegetative stage of growth is encouraged with abundant water supply. The vegetative stage of growth leads to a higher growth of the total biomass of the plant, while the generative stage of development increases the percentage of development that contributes to the production of fruits or flowers.

It is known that one can take advantage of these types of growth stages by applying irrigation strategies that change the preferred water content. According to such a growing strategy, the growing substrate is watered every day in an attempt to achieve the desired water content, and the environmental conditions are adjusted every day in an attempt to achieve the desired environmental situation. The water content of the substrate is measured as a percentage of the water content of the substrate at full saturation. Therefore, a value of 0% refers to a dry substrate and a value of 100% to a fully saturated substrate.

As for the irrigation strategy, as a rule, this type of irrigation strategy includes a number of separate stages. First, before placing block 2 on slab 1, slab 1 is typically saturated or nearly saturated with water. This helps to ensure that when block 2 is first placed on slab 1, root growth is encouraged into slab 1. At this point, however, the grower is concerned that plant 5 will bear fruit as soon as possible. To achieve this, the producer seeks to give a "generative impulse" (that is, the impulse to initiate the generative stage of growth). This is done during the first period of the irrigation strategy by reducing the desired water content to a minimum level before increasing it again. The principle is that reducing the water content will encourage the generative development of the plant and hence the flowering of the plant resulting in fruit at the earliest available time.

After applying the generative impulse, the grower wishes to return the plants to a stable phase of predominantly vegetative growth in order to obtain leaves and plant structure that will now support growing fruits. Therefore, towards the end of the first period of the irrigation strategy, the desired water content is increased. The level of the desired water content is raised until it reaches a stable value at which it is kept substantially constant during the second period of the irrigation strategy.

In the second period, more intensive vegetative growth is encouraged due to the higher water content in the substrate. The second period generally corresponds to the summer season, during which a relatively large amount of sunlight encourages plants to grow faster. Accordingly, the plants need to be provided with a relatively high percentage of water. It should be understood that although during this period the development may be directed towards vegetative growth to a greater extent than in other periods, the fruits continue to grow, although the growth rate is controlled by such management. As autumn and then winter come, the rate of transpiration decreases. As a result, it is no longer necessary to maintain the same water content in the substrate. Moreover, at this stage there is a need to stimulate further fruit growth before the plant reaches the end of the cycle. For both of these reasons, the irrigation strategy may include a third period during which the water content is reduced. The rate of decline is relatively gradual.

The reduction in water content during the third period encourages the generative growth of the plant, and as a result, prolongs the season during which useful fruits can be obtained from the plant.

Accordingly, irrigation strategies can be used to attempt to manage the plant between the generative and vegetative growth stages to increase the yield of fruit obtained from the plant. Typically, this process is carried out by adjusting the levels of water content within the substrate to the desired levels. However, it should be understood that such management is not sufficient to create optimal growing conditions. In particular, lower water levels can lead to elevated nutrient levels, which have been found to inhibit plant growth. Accordingly, in the present embodiments, the level of water supplied to the stove is controlled depending on the level of nutrients in order to avoid undesirable effects.

When considering the cultivation strategy, it is obvious that similar separate stages can also be used, and generative impulses and vegetative impulses can be caused not only by irrigation management. Providing additional heat during cooler periods of the year, providing cooling or preventing light from entering the greenhouse (for example, using screens or chalk on greenhouse glass) during warmer periods of the year will have an impact on plant growth, as well as changes in humidity and light levels. /irradiation. Additional ventilation can also be provided during the warmer seasons. The specific amount and type of adjustment will result in generative and/or vegetative effects in plants.

In terms of plant information and yield information (also referred to as crop information) that is taken into account in some embodiments, this includes plant stem diameter and flowering height, which can be measured over a number of days and/or weeks. The number of fruits produced by a plant can also be controlled, as can their size. In addition, the position of the fruit or the number of fruit clusters that were produced by the plant during the growing cycle can be recorded to determine what phase of the growth cycle the plant is in. For example, a tomato plant typically has a six phase growth cycle with different conditions providing benefits when the plant is in each of the different phases.

FIG. 7 shows a system 11 including a plurality of detectors 1101 (also referred to as sensors), a receiver 1102, a first detector processor 1103 (referred to as a detector central processor or smartbox in some embodiments), a signal converter 1104 ("transducer "") and portable communication devices 1105 and 12. Although FIG. 7 shows only root zone sensors, the following also applies to environmental sensors, including how sensors interact and communicate information and how that information is used, analyzed, processed and stored, and how sensors are identified by any platform, graphical user interface, mobile device and a portable communication device.

In this example, the first portable communication device 1105 is a dedicated "portable" device that communicates with the receiver 1102 using radio technology. In this example, the second portable communication device 12 is a smartphone phone that does not require a receiver 1102.

The system also includes a database such as a cloud service 1120, and the detector central processing unit 1103 is configured to access the data array from the cloud and retrieve data to be temporarily stored in its memory for processing. Data may be sent from detectors 1101 to receiver 1102 and from receiver 1102 to smart box 1103. The smart box processes the raw data into processed values. For example, a detector (i.e., a sensor) can measure a property of a substrate, a smart box processes or converts the raw data, and the data is sent to the cloud for storage as logged data.

As can be seen in FIG. 7, data transmission is two-way. Accordingly, data may be sent from smart box 1103 to cloud 1120, or from cloud 1120 to smart box 1103. It should be appreciated that in alternative embodiments, data may be sent to the cloud directly from a receiver and/or sensor, as shown in FIG. 7. In such embodiments, the smart box functionality described below can be implemented remotely from a manufacturer's workstation, such as in a cloud service. In other words, it is the functionality of the smart box device that matters, not the device itself, whether implemented in the device at the manufacturer's workstation or remotely.

In this example, the system includes both a smartphone 12 and a dedicated handheld device 1105, although it should be noted that only one portable communication device can be used to alert the user. It will also be appreciated that a message triggered by an application may be transmitted to a user by any means without the use of a portable communication device, such as by e-mail, or by a message sent to a user terminal such as the user's PC.

The portable communication device, however, has the advantage of ensuring that the message is delivered to the user in a timely manner. Smartphone 12 is capable of wirelessly communicating with cloud 1102 and is capable of running applications, including graphical user interfaces, as will be described in more detail below. The handheld device requires a receiver 1102 and can download stored data from the sensor 1101. In alternative embodiments, a smartphone can function as both a handheld computer for checking sensors and as a data processor for executing an application in accordance with the invention, alerting the user and displaying graphical user interfaces.

The system can also be connected to the climate computer 1106 to control the delivery of water and nutrients to the growing substrates. A user terminal, such as a laptop, desktop computer, mobile communication device, or other electronic interface, may be connected to the system via a physical or wireless network, as in 1107. The system of an embodiment may include some or all of the elements described above and their description in relation to This embodiment does not imply that any or all are essential elements, as the embodiments may be implemented using a subset of the described components and/or features.

Each of the detectors or sensors 1101 of the system is configured to measure at least one property of the substrate, such as temperature, water content, pH level, and nutrient content in the plant growth substrate, when the detector is placed on the substrate, or is in contact with substrate, or at least partially inserted into the substrate for growing plants; or is configured to measure at least one property of the environment, such as air temperature, humidity, pressure, carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ), light or exposure level, also called the level of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR (PAR)), and air movement. In some systems, detectors can directly measure individual nutrients and temperature, and calculate, for example, water content, pH, or nutrient content of the substrate.

In some examples, the detectors include probes and specialized sensors to directly measure individual parameters. For example, the detector may include a temperature sensor (comprising one or more of a thermistor, thermocouple, resistance thermometer, or wide bandgap semiconductor sensor), a humidity sensor, a CO ₂ sensor, a PAR (PAR) sensor, each selectively operable to measure temperature, humidity, CO ₂ level and PAR levels, respectively, at or near the detector.

While the PAR sensor is capable of making reliable, high quality measurements of light levels, in some applications the detector includes a simple light sensor that selectively operates to detect the presence or absence of light. Such photosensitive sensors may include, for example, a photoelectric cell or a photoresistor, and in use may be positioned to respond to the presence of a light source.

The detectors may be configured to measure parameters occurring in the plant or in the environment (ie, in and around the growing space). For example, when measuring temperature, the detectors are able to measure the temperature of the environment (ie, the temperature in the growing environment, or at a specific location, or representative of the entire growing space), or to measure the temperature of the plant.

In addition to the above parameters, additional plant parameters can be measured using detectors. Examples of specific plant parameters include plant stem diameter, plant height, and plant sap flow. When measuring plant parameters, the detector may use one or more invasive probes and non-invasive sensors to perform measurements. By "invasive" in this context is meant that the probe is designed and located in use with the possibility of penetration into the volume of the plant to perform specific measurements in the plant. The non-invasive sensor allows you to take measurements in the plant without having to penetrate it.

For example, as described above, the detectors may be configured to measure sap flow in a plant. Sap flow means the movement of fluid in the roots, stems and shoots of plants. The measurement of sap flow is generally made by measuring the movement of fluid and other compounds through the plant's xylem. Such measurements can be made, for example, with non-invasive sensors configured to respond (usually through the use of radiation such as infrared) to the flow of fluid through the plant's xylem, or with invasive probes configured to be inserted into any application. either place on the plant and obtain physical measurements of fluid flow through the xylem.

Some measurements may require the manufacturer or other person to manually take measurements and enter the measurement results into the system. For example, plant stem diameter measurements can be made by measuring the plant stem with a pair of calipers. The measurement result may be entered into the detector 1101 or portable communication device to be sent to the smart box 1103 or data storage. On the other hand, the measurement result can be directly entered into the smart box 1103.

It has been found that in the system of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, it is preferable that the detector reads an appropriate property indicating temperature, water content, oxygen content, total nutrient content, individual nutrient content (e.g. calcium, potassium, sodium), root parameters, plant parameters or pH levels in the substrate, or air temperature, humidity, pressure, light or irradiation level, or air movement, and communicate this property directly to a remote processor such as the smart box of the preferred embodiment, so that the conversion of the recorded and transmitted parameter can be controlled, adjusted, and performed centrally and remote from the detector or sensor 1101. In general, electrical conductivity (EC) can be used as a setpoint for the overall power state. However, individual measurements on nutrients can be important in determining the individual balance of elements, for example, to establish how the concentrations of ammonia and nitrate relate to each other.

Detectors and/or a bridge can also be used to calculate a Vapor Pressure Deficit (VPD) value. The DDP value measures the difference between the level of moisture in the air and the maximum amount of moisture the air can hold when saturated. The DDP can typically be calculated by the detector by taking readings of temperature and humidity in the growing medium, and optionally the temperature of the plant. While the detector may convert specific parameters to a DFT value before sending the DFT data to the bridge, on the other hand, the bridge can also receive specific parameters and convert or convert to a DFT value.

In instances where the detector converts key measured parameters to "useful" physical values (e.g., converting temperature and humidity to a DDP value), the detector may only send the converted "useful" values and discard or store the measured base values. The measured parameters can be saved locally, but can also be saved to a smart box, data storage, or the cloud. This can greatly reduce the amount of transmission required. On the other hand, the detector can send both the main measured values and the converted "useful" values to the bridge. This configuration allows key measured values to be stored on the bridge for later access when required. In addition, the bridge can perform calculations on its own to verify the conversion calculations performed by the detector.

The detector may also be configured to detect other relevant plant parameters such as extrudates or microorganisms, for example by mass spectroscopy. The plant parameters may include, for example, the physical parameters of the roots, such as length and width, as well as the pH value near the roots (relevant for uptake processes), the chemical oxygen uptake of the roots, or the production of ethylene, for example, as a state of growth. Other plant parameters may include, for example, photosynthesis, leaf area, stem length, thickness or diameter, shoot thickness, EC in the stem stream, number of fruits, and/or fruit size.

Examples of properties that define the above properties may include: capacitance, indicative of water content, or electrical conductivity, indicative of nutrient content. Properties indicative of overall nutrient levels or individual nutrient levels can be derived from electrical conductivity values. The air content of a slab can also be measured indirectly, as it is related to the volume of the slab, which can be known, its fiber density, water content, and nutrient content. The air content can thus be calculated after these properties have been measured. For example, if the board has a volume of 11 liters, then in some examples 2% fibers and 98% pores. If the water content is 60%, then the pore volume minus the water volume (98%-60%) equals an air content of 38%. 38% of 11 liters corresponds to 4.18 liters of air. Temperature can be measured directly and transmitted directly with little or no conversion after transmission from a detector or sensor.

Transferring indicative properties and calculating actual values in a smart box, or in the detector's first data processor, or in the handheld device of the system of the invention can help to lower the performance requirements and associated costs of the electronics in the detector or sensor 1101 than when calculations are performed in the detector or sensor itself. In addition, it can provide centralized management of any correction and conversion calibration factors that may be needed, and also improve the accuracy of the measurement and conversion process for the system as a whole. It can also help to reduce the load on the power supply of the 1101 detectors to extend the life of the detectors when they are battery powered, as less processing is required in the detectors, since the processing can be done in the central control unit, which may have, for example, a more reliable or a durable power source such as a grid connection, solar or wind power, or a more reliable battery. These factors can also help reduce the weight of the 1101 detectors. This allows the 1101 detectors to be placed on or in a growing substrate without the need for significant mounting or holding devices to secure the detector in place.

The sensor or detector data of the preferred embodiment is broadcast at intervals, preferably every 3 minutes, on a specific frequency using the RFID-UHF (MHz/GHz) bands, which are known means for electronic communication. Useful time intervals may vary between 20 seconds and 10 minutes, for example, depending on the frequency of required updates and user requirements.

In some embodiments, the detector may include a plurality of elongated probes 1108 that are configured to be inserted into a plant growth substrate to measure its properties. The detector may further include a guide or plate 1109 that is positioned to support the elongate probe 1108 at a predetermined distance from the surface of the growing substrate, which may in fact be the top surface. The use of limited-capacity electronics, a lightweight power supply, and a simple attachment mechanism allows the detector or detectors to be easily transported and therefore easily deployed to multiple locations in a growing area such as a greenhouse or irrigation area with minimal effort and minimal re-mounting steps. which need to be carried out.

The detectors or sensors 1101 may be configured to communicate over a communication channel with the central processing unit of the detector 1103, known in the preferred embodiment as a smart box, or with the portable communication device described for the system. The communication channel may be a direct wired connection. However, it has been found to be preferable to use a wireless connection, as this allows easy movement of the detectors and minimizes installation effort. Wireless communication may be direct with the central processing unit of the detector 1103 when the central processing unit of the detector has wireless communication capabilities. However, it may be preferable to provide a separate wireless receiver 1102 to receive wireless communications from the detector and optionally send wireless communications to detectors 1101. Receiver 1102 may be connected via a physical channel such as Ethernet, a cable connection, or via a wired line 1110 to a central processing unit. detector 1103. Both the receiver and the smart box can be supplied with a battery pack to provide power. It can be built into the smart box of the 1103 detector's central processing unit.

Wireless communication may be provided by known technologies that are commonly used in electronic communications, such as RFID-UFH bands in the range of 800 to 1000 MHz or 2.4 GHz. However, alternative wireless communication means such as IEEE 802.11 may be used. Physical connections between the various devices in the system may be made via Ethernet connections over copper wire, optical fiber, and any other suitable means of communication that is commonly known in electronic and computer communications, including, if necessary, via mobile data networks.

In some examples, wireless communication is provided by using LoRa technology. Such technologies typically use (unlicensed) sub-GHz frequency bands to enable low power long distance transmission.

LoRa communication can be implemented by equipping one or more detectors 1101, receiver 1102, smart box 1103, portable communication device 1105, and climate computer 1106 with LoRa modules. LoRa modules may include one or more wireless transmitters designed to transmit long range RF signals and a wireless receiver adapted to receive long range RF signals. In some examples, the LoRa module includes a single wireless transceiver configured to transmit and receive long range RF signals. In the example of FIG. 13 described below, the bridge 1303 is also equipped with a LoRa module, which allows the bridge 1303 to provide LoRa communication.

In some examples, wireless communication is provided through the use of wireless personal area networks (PANs), such as Bluetooth technologies. In particular, wireless communication can be provided using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). Such technologies typically use shortwave microwave radio waves to enable low-cost, low-power communication over short distances. Therefore, the 1101 detectors and other component devices of the system can be equipped with a Bluetooth module for communication and data exchange via local BLE networks. In the example of FIG. 13 described below, the bridge 1303 is also equipped with a Bluetooth module allowing the bridge 1303 to communicate via Bluetooth.

One or more detectors 1301 in system 13 may be enclosed in a waterproof housing. By "watertight" in this context is meant that the detectors 1301 are in a sealed enclosure that prevents any liquid, such as water, from entering the internal components of the detector 1301. The detector 1301 enclosed in a waterproof casing can be placed in or near a humid environment, and may even be completely or partially immersed in liquid. This is of particular advantage when monitoring irrigation conditions in growing systems that use tide irrigation, for example, where the detector may be temporarily submerged or partially submerged in water when the reservoir is filled with water.

The central device, smart box, data processing detector 1103 includes at least one processor and at least one storage device. The storage device may store, either in a database, or as separate files, or in any suitable data storage medium, one or more data files relating to one/one or more irrigation strategies or cycles. Preferably, the dataset is sorted over time as logged data and stored in a database such as a cloud service 1120. Preferably, the smart box device 1103 is configured to access the dataset from the cloud and retrieve data to be temporarily stored and stored in it. memory for processing.

The data set may provide a relationship between the measured parameters provided by the detectors and the desired irrigation output, also referred to as desired irrigation parameters, together with the desired environmental output, also referred to as desired environmental parameters. Together, the desired irrigation parameters and the desired environmental parameters can be considered as the desired cultivation parameters. Desired growing output refers to the parameters that determine the growing strategy. For example, the irrigation output may refer to the desired irrigation cycle, a simple indication of the on/off of the irrigation equipment, or may contain additional information such as the irrigation flow rate, the irrigation cycle specifying the duration of the on and off periods for the irrigation cycle, and the duration over time, during which irrigation cycle is to be applied. Examples of environmental outputs may relate to raising or lowering temperature, humidity levels, or light levels by turning on or off suitable equipment for heating or cooling, humidifying or drying, or lighting or shading. The preferred embodiment includes 1 database, but may include more, such as 2, 3 or 4 databases. The first database contains raw recorded parameters, while the second database may contain transferred or converted parameters after conversion for parameters such as water content, electrical conductivity, substrate temperature, air temperature, humidity and light level.

One or more, preferably at least two models may also reside in the memory of device 1103. The first model may be known as the substrate model and contains instructions for converting the raw detector or sensor output to actual values for water content, conductivity, and temperature. An additional model found in device 1103 can be referred to as an irrigation model and contains commands for calculating new values, such as calculating water reduction between 2 irrigation cycles, or ordering data for analysis, presentation, or comparison so that other irrigation cycles can be entered. substrate. Other models detailing environmental conditions, such as an environmental model, as well as models detailing irrigation and environmental conditions, such as a cultivation model, may also be stored in device 1103. Each of these other models contains instructions for calculating new values, such as calculating temperature rise during heating, or organizing data for analysis, presentation, or comparison so that other environmental or irrigation outputs can be applied as needed. Models can also be combined into one database. Other output from the detector's central processing unit may include aggregated data collected from the detector over time and/or displayed relative to differing locations of any or each detector.

The processor of the data processing device 1103 may thus be configured to receive detector output data relating to parameters measured by the detectors, process the detector output data to determine one or more of temperature, water content, pH levels, and nutrient content in grow substrate and output aggregate data of the detector, desired irrigation, environment, or grow strategy or irrigation, environment, or grow command.

The first ("central") data processing device 1103 may also be connected to one or both of the climate computer 1106 and the user terminal 1107. The climate computer may be configured to monitor and control various climatic factors in the growing area, such as irradiation, temperature, humidity, and the like, as shown in the examples above. Connection 1111 between processor 1103 and climate computer 1106 may be a wireless, physical, or Ethernet connection, or other computer network. However, in some cases, the central processing unit 1103 and the climate computer 1106 may be combined in one device and may simply mean separate logical computer programs running on a common hardware device. In this case, the communication between the two elements may be simply through internal communication in the hardware device, such as a processor bus or storage device in the hardware device, or by transferring functions and variables between logical computer processes running on the device. As such, the detector central processing facility 1103 and the climate computer may be implemented as separate logic processes on a common computing device. The present system can thus operate in conjunction with a climate computer such that the present system controls irrigation and/or fertigation while the climate computer can manage climatic conditions such as heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning as needed.

Alternatively, in some circumstances it is necessary to communicate with the climate computer via analogue input and output connections. In this case, a digital-to-analog converter 1104 may be needed, which may be connected to the detector's central processor 1103 via a physical connection, or may be integrally formed in the data processor and may be configured to convert digital values output from the detector's central processor. , into analog electronic output signals, which are then transferred to the climate computer via the analog interface 1112 after passing through the digital interface 1113.

The user terminal 1107 may be connected or logically integrated as described above with one or both of the climate computer 1106 and the central processing unit 1103. The user terminal may include a screen and an input means in the form of a keyboard, touch screen, audio input, or other human-machine interfaces well known for electronic devices. The user terminal may be used to configure the detector's central data processor by uploading data files to the processor, to establish relationships between detector inputs and irrigation and environmental control outputs, and to apply general configuration parameters to the processor. Irrigation and environmental management is often based on setpoints such as set start time for irrigation and/or heating, stop time, dripping rate, heat temperature, cycle length and/or frequency, set time intervals (rest time) before resuming irrigation.

The system of the present invention measures, converts, and combines various outputs from one or a number of sensors from a range of areas in a growing area into a single system that can output desired irrigation or nutrient control inputs to start or stop irrigation or nutrient input, and adapt input data for cycles and frequency of irrigation or nutrient application, etc.

The system may further include a portable detector communication device 1105, also known as a handheld device, as it can advantageously be configured to be carried in one hand by the user to allow for easy transport of the device and another item, such as one or more detectors 1101. , in the user's second hand. The detectors 1101 can often be located in remote or scattered locations around a greenhouse or irrigation area, which can sometimes span several hectares. Therefore, the user often needs to travel considerable distances to reach the detector, either to check its configuration or installation, or to move it to a new location. Therefore, it is useful to have a lightweight portable handheld device to assist in checking the installation, calibration, configuration and general condition of the detectors in the system. This eliminates the need for multiple return trips from the detectors back to the user terminal or central processor to change aspects of the setup and then check the configuration or output. Therefore, the handheld device is provided with its own power supply so that it can be carried independently. It also includes a built-in display so that output or status information from any of the detectors 1101 can be displayed on the device. The device can be durable and its body is made of impact resistant material to prevent damage when used in agricultural or horticultural environments. The device is typically designed to be easily carried by the user, who may need to travel long distances to reach the detectors in the system. However, the handheld device must include certain aspects of functionality to facilitate the installation, testing, and configuration of the detectors and the system as a whole.

The central processing facility needs to be alerted to a number of factors for each detector. A portable communication device can be used to read, enter, or transmit any or all of these factors to a central data processing unit (smart box) of the detector. These include: information from the detector's current location, the date and/or time the detector was placed at its current location, any detector settings related to what properties it is configured to monitor and report, the status of the detector's power source, the status of the detector's connection to to a central processing unit, checking the output of the sensor, the access point for which the sensor or detector is intended for system communication, reviewing the raw output or properties of the substrate to which the detector or sensor is applied, such as material, type and dimensions, and any other relevant sensor data.

Thus, preferably, the portable communication device will include the following functions. It will be capable of either determining its own location or accepting user input relating to the location of the device and/or associated detector. It will be capable of receiving at least the identifier of the detector with which it is communicating, either through user input or through direct communication with the detector 1101. This may include optical reading of a barcode, alphanumeric identifier, QR code, or another optical or visual identifier, or reading the identifier via RFID or Near Field Communication (NFC). In preferred embodiments, the RFID-UHF band is used, suitably selected in the frequency range, typically 800 to 1000 MHz or 2.4 GHz. The identifier may include the serial number and/or product code for the detector or sensor. The portable communications device may be configured to associate its location data with a particular detector and transmit the location data and detector ID to the central processing device such that the central processing device can store a location record of each detector that can be linked by the central means. processing data with parameters that the detector outputs for some time. The portable communications device may also be capable of putting the detector into test mode.

In preferred embodiments, many aspects of functionality will be common to the detector central processor, the smart box, and the handheld device. These include: displaying to the user available or connected nodes (sensors or detectors) and data related to detectors or sensors; sampling nodes (sensors or detectors) and testing the output; communication functionality, etc.; checking the exact readings of the sensor; setting the location of the node; checking the connection of the sensor with the central data processing facility; addressing nodes to the correct access point/detector CPU; calculation of water content (MW), electrical conductivity (EC), temperature values, humidity level and light level.

A portable communication device (for example, a dedicated handheld device or a smartphone launched by a special application) may also have additional functions, such as recording measurement data in multiple measurement units; basic statistical analysis of the results can be performed, for example, mean values and standard deviation can be calculated for each block; text help function can be enabled and different languages can be installed; power status output can also be performed.

A specialized handheld device 1105 in combination with at least one sensor 1109 may be referred to as a "meter". A handheld device can interact with one detector at a time. Unlike a smartphone, for example, a handheld device works autonomously and is not connected to a network. The handheld device can perform single measurements, multiple measurements, log data taken over a certain period of time (for example, several days). The logged data can then be aggregated, processed and displayed as a function of time in a suitable application on any suitable device such as a PC, tablet, mobile phone, etc.

The central data processor of the detector 1103 or smart box can send data to a database or cloud 1120 (as shown in FIG. 7, and the communication is two-way). Examples of user interfaces, including graphs based on such data, are shown in FIG. 8-11 described below. The user interfaces are preferably displayed on a portable communication device, preferably a wireless device such as a smartphone or tablet, although they may also be displayed on any user terminal running the application, such as a PC.

As shown in FIG. 12, which illustrates aspects of the embodiment when used in a large greenhouse, this embodiment can be applied in situations where a huge number of variables need to be monitored and controlled. For example, in a greenhouse, there are many parameters such as light levels, gas levels and distribution of concentrations; all these parameters change depending on time and position inside the greenhouse. Monitoring variables in a reliable and reproducible manner is a complex task requiring significant data processing capabilities. Moreover, trying to manage variables in a large, semi-open space, such as a greenhouse, can be especially difficult and also increases the demands on data processing capabilities. Thus, greenhouse applications are particularly suited to a system such as that shown in FIG. 7, with a climate computer specifically designed to carry out all the required complex calculations and data processing.

In some situations, the growing conditions can be simplified and the amount of computation and data processing required can be significantly reduced. For example, plant growing may take place in an environment where the grower has more control over irrigation and environmental conditions. In such an environment, there will be fewer parameters to monitor and manage. In these situations, the climate computer, alarm controller, user terminal, and smart box can be replaced by a "bridge" capable of communicating with the detector to receive data, process data received from the detector, and capable of outputting its calculation to remote equipment. such as a smartphone, or upload data to the cloud/database. In addition, the bridge can issue commands to controllers within the environment to control irrigation and environmental variables.

In another embodiment, shown in FIG. 13, system 13 includes a plurality of detectors 1301 (also referred to as sensors), a detector central processing unit 1303 (referred to as a "bridge" in some embodiments), and a portable communication device 12. In this example, the portable communication device is a smartphone phone. Although detectors 1301 are shown in FIG. 13 as root zone sensors, the following also applies to environmental sensors, including how sensors communicate and transmit information, how that information is used, analyzed, processed and stored, and how a sensor is identified by any platform, GUI, mobile device, and portable communication device. System 13 also includes a database such as cloud service 1320, and bridge 1303 is configured to access the data array from the cloud and retrieve data to be temporarily stored in its memory for processing. In some examples, cloud service 1320 may also be directly accessible to detectors 1301 and smartphone 12, and cloud service 1320 may directly or indirectly communicate with bridge information 1303 from detectors 1301 and smartphone 12.

In many aspects, system 13 in FIG. 13 is similar to system 11 in FIG. 7. However, the system 13 of the present embodiment is a greatly simplified system in which the detectors 1301 directly communicate with the central processing unit 1303, which contains its own application capable of processing data and influencing control equipment to control parameters in the growth environment. By "proprietary" in this context is meant that an application is software or a program that is stored locally and is capable of processing data locally. Moreover, a native application located on the board of the processing device 1303 allows the information obtained from the data of the detector 1301 to be sent and displayed on the device of the portable smartphone 12 to provide a user with quick access to cultivation information. The application also allows the user from the smartphone 12 to easily control, through the processing device 1303, various parameters in the growing area.

Each of the exemplary detectors 1301 shown in FIG. 13 is similar to detectors 1101 in FIG. 7 in that each of the detectors or sensors 1301 of the system is configured to measure at least one property of the substrate, such as temperature, water content, pH level, and nutrient content of the growing substrate when the detector is placed on the substrate. , or is in contact with it, or at least partially immersed in the substrate for growing plants; or configured to measure at least one environmental property such as air temperature, humidity, pressure, CO ₂ level, illumination or exposure level, such as PAR level, and air movement.

As with the detectors 1101 described with respect to system 11 in FIG. 7, in system 13 in FIG. 13, detectors 1301 can be configured to read significant properties such as temperature, water content, oxygen content, total nutrient content, individual nutrient content (such as calcium, potassium, sodium), root parameters, plant parameters, or pH levels. in the substrate, or air temperature, humidity, pressure, light or irradiation levels, or air movement. Such readings are then transmitted directly to the bridge processor 1303 so that the conversion of the recorded and transmitted parameter can be adjusted, controlled and performed centrally and separately from the detector or sensor 1301.

One or more detectors 1301 in system 13 may be enclosed in a waterproof housing.

In addition to the capabilities described above with respect to the detectors 1101 in FIG. 7, each of the exemplary detectors 1301 has the additional ability to communicate directly with the detector central processing unit ("bridge") 1303. In this example, the detectors 1301 and bridge 1303 are capable of communicating using LoRa radio technology. The bridge 1303 and each of the detectors 1301 are equipped with a LoRa module to transmit and receive long-range RF signals. Such signals may be transmitted to be able to connect to a wide area computer network (LoRaWAN). Each of the detectors 1301 may also transmit data to each other. A useful configuration is provided in which each of the detectors 1301 communicates through the LoRaWAN network and data is shared to the bridge 1303. The cloud service 1320 can also be connected to the LoRaWAN network, and the bridge 1303 and each of the detectors 1301 can directly transmit data to the cloud service 1320 and from it.

In some examples, bridge 1303 may include a LoRa repeater configured to extend the range of transmission or reception over the LoRa network. Such a repeater can amplify signals originating at the bridge and entering bridge 1303 to allow devices (such as detectors 1301) to be further away from bridge 1303 while remaining connected to the same network in system 13.

The central data processing device 1303, the bridge, contains at least one processor and at least one memory device. The storage device may store, either in a database, or as separate files, or in any suitable data storage medium, one or more data files relating to one/one or more irrigation strategies or cycles. Preferably, the dataset is combined over time as logged data and stored in a database such as cloud service 1320. Preferably, the bridge device 1303 is configured to access the dataset from the cloud and retrieve data to be temporarily stored in its memory for processing.

The data set may provide relationships between the measured parameters provided by the detectors and the desired irrigation output, also referred to as the desired irrigation parameters, together with the desired environmental output, also referred to as the desired environmental parameters. Together, the desired irrigation parameters and the desired environmental parameters can be considered as the desired cultivation parameters. Desired growth outputs are the parameters that determine the growth strategy. For example, the irrigation output may refer to the desired irrigation cycle, a simple indication of the on/off of the irrigation equipment, or may contain additional information such as the irrigation flow rate, the irrigation cycle specifying the duration of the on and off periods for the irrigation cycle, and the duration over time, during which irrigation cycle is to be applied. Examples of environmental outputs may relate to raising or lowering temperature, humidity levels, or light levels by turning on or off suitable equipment for heating or cooling, humidifying or drying, or lighting or shading. The preferred embodiment includes 1 database, but may include more, such as 2, 3 or 4 databases. The first database contains raw recorded parameters, while the second database may contain transferred or converted parameters after conversion for properties such as water content, electrical conductivity, substrate temperature, air temperature, humidity, and light level.

One or more, preferably at least two models may also reside in the memory of the bridge device 1303. The first model may be known as the substrate model and contains instructions for converting the raw detector or sensor output to real values for water content, conductivity, temperature , humidity, CO ₂ level and PAR. An additional model found in bridge device 1303 can be referred to as an irrigation model and contains instructions for calculating new values, such as calculating water reduction between 2 irrigation cycles, or ordering data for analysis, presentation, or comparison so that other irrigation cycles can be entered. substrate. Other models detailing environmental conditions, such as the environmental model, as well as models detailing irrigation and environmental conditions, such as the cultivation model, may also be stored in the bridge device 1303. Each of these other models contains instructions for calculating new values. such as calculating temperature rise during heating, or organizing data for analysis, presentation, or comparison so that other environmental or irrigation outputs can be applied as needed. Models can also be combined into one database. Other output from the detector's central processor may include aggregated data collected from the detector over time and/or displayed relative to differing positions of one or each detector.

The bridge device 1303 may also be connected to a user terminal designed to enable the user to monitor and control various climatic factors in the growing area. In addition, as shown in FIG. 13, bridge device 1303 is wirelessly connected to smartphone 12. The wireless connection may use any suitable long-range or short-range network technology. For example, bridge 1303 and smartphone 12 may be connected via a WiFi network via Bluetooth technology, via a LoRaWAN network, or any other suitable means. This can be achieved, for example, by equipping the bridge device 1303 with a WiFi transceiver module, a Bluetooth transceiver module, or a LoRa transceiver module. These near field communications are particularly useful as they allow data to be collected and transmitted even when the network is down. For example, even when the cloud service 1320 is down or unavailable, the detectors 1301 are able to transmit data to and from the bridge 1303. Thus, the bridge can act as a buffer to collect data from the detectors 1301 when the server or cloud system 1320 is unavailable. The data can then be processed and uploaded to the cloud system 1320 at a later time.

An additional advantage of near field communication, such as via a Bluetooth connection, is to set up the sensors 1301 for the first time, that is, when the sensor has not previously been connected to the system (eg, to each other and to the bridge 1303). When a growth medium is installed, for example, or when new detectors 1301 are added to system 13, detectors 1301 may be designed to connect to a particular bridge 1303 using near-field Bluetooth connectivity. Once the appropriate connections are made, the detectors 1301 can be placed and positioned at the desired locations.

Some growing facilities are equipped with an already existing local WiFi network. In such a case, various device components of system 13 (such as detectors 1301, bridge 1303) may be connected to an already existing local area network and may use the network to exchange data. This configuration eliminates the need to create a new WiFi network.

In another embodiment, the detectors 1301 are capable of operating to directly transmit data to and from the smartphone 12, thereby allowing the user to collect and view data received from the detectors 1301 without the need to be connected to a network or bridge 1303.

The bridge device 1303 has a built-in native application that allows the user to access data received from the detectors 1301 and allows the user to control irrigation and environmental conditions in the growing area. The native application is typically stored in the memory of the bridge device 1303.

FIG. 8 shows an example of electrical conductivity (EC), water content (WC) and temperature (T) measurements as a function of time, with each curve showing the average of the respective measurements taken from one or more detectors deployed in a "section" manufacturer's site. FIG. 9A shows a graphical user interface "dashboard" function view with graphs of average data acquired over 36 hours on different sections. Data is received from one or more detectors. In the example of FIG. 9B, data from two sensors in a section are displayed next to each other. In this example, the water content (CB (WC)) is expressed in % CB by volume, EC is expressed in dS/m (decaSimmens per meter), and T is expressed in degrees C. As shown in FIG. 10, MW, EC and temperature are displayed at two locations in the greenhouse. In preferred embodiments, the system comprises at least three detectors.

In preferred embodiments, a portable communications device, such as a smartphone or tablet, automatically displays averages and distributions of values across series, such as irrigation sections. This advantageously allows settings to be reliably adjusted to optimize irrigation, environment or growing strategy. Measurements are typically made on approximately 20 slabs and a comparable number of environmental sensors and the average of the measurement is taken for a representative slab, which may be referred to as a reference slab, and for environmental conditions. Reference slabs in a greenhouse can be easily determined by repeated measurements.

The dedicated handheld device may also be configured to communicate with the detector to change the detector's mode from periodic data output to continuous data output. Periodic pings can be used to maintain detector life, while continuous pings can be used to fully detect or check detector status.

For example, in some preferred embodiments, the meter may be provided with a logging function in which measurements are taken at predetermined time intervals. For example, the user can easily adjust the time intervals at which measurements are to be taken in the slab or in the environment. In preferred embodiments, the meter can receive and store 2300 or more measurements taken in the slab and in the environment. This provides reliable information related to SW, EC and temperature values as a function of time (i.e., in the form of curves) obtained over a period of time defined, for example, by the manufacturer, as well as reliable information related to environmental conditions. Examples of such curves are shown in FIG. 8, 9 and 10. Long-term use of the meter without interruptions or failures also contributes to obtaining stable and reliable measured data. Based on these data, the irrigation strategy can be adjusted using the method according to the invention in order to optimize the cultivation of crops.

The manufacturer can enter setpoints for, for example, water content, conductivity, temperature, light level and/or humidity to set the conditions under which the message is triggered. For example, a manufacturer can configure the system to receive a message if the water content drops by 3% (EG, Error Anticipation). The system can use the logged data to predict section parameters for the current day, for example. Therefore, the system can use data recorded the previous day, for example, to make a forecast that indicates where the water content will stop if the weather conditions are similar. This can be reflected, for example, starting at sunset.

In addition, or instead of being based on root zone setpoints, the messages may be based on setpoints in the climate computer to enable the grower to receive an alert based on greenhouse parameters such as humidity and amount of light as discussed above. For example, the manufacturer can set the system to receive a message if the humidity is over 80%. The system can use the logged data to predict parameters, such as sections for the current day. Thus, the system can use data recorded the day before, for example, to make a forecast that indicates where the humidity will stop if the weather conditions are similar. This can be reflected, for example, starting at sunset.

With respect to system 13 illustrated in FIG. 13, the bridge 1303 is configured to alert the grower based on greenhouse parameters directly on their smartphone device 12. The alert may include commands to manually adjust irrigation and environmental conditions in the growing area. On the other hand, the warning may include a notice that the system 13 across the bridge 1303 will automatically or autonomously make certain changes in irrigation or environmental conditions.

FIG. 11A and 11B show examples of a graphical user interface where the user can enter setpoints to control the irrigation strategy based on daily and yearly dynamics, respectively. The setting of the setpoints can be performed, for example, by CB and/or EP levels. With regard to FIG. 11A, the CB setpoint or threshold is set to 10% to increase the water content per day (daily trend). For example, the % reduction may be between 0.5 and 30%. The duration can be set in hours and/or minutes.

FIG. 11B shows an example of a setpoint generator for yearly dynamics, by means of which a manufacturer can set desired values for EF and CB for certain weeks of the year. FIG. 11B, the weeks shown are weeks from start of planting (not calendar weeks), with the start week of planting being designated week "0". Next to manufacturer setpoints, you can display a recommended setpoint, such as one received from an analytics platform or consultant. Such "recommended setpoints" may take the form of manufacturer's recommendations, which are described in more detail below.

It should be borne in mind that the set values may vary, for example, depending on the type of crop or type of slab. The dotted curve labeled with triangles provides the target SP, while the dashed curve labeled with squares provides the target CO. Accordingly, the solid lines represent the actual measured levels of EP and CO (as processed data from the smart box). FIG. 11C, predictive lines (diamonds) are plotted based on certain predetermined values. An example of messages is given in FIG. 11D. FIG. 11E shows another screenshot of a graphical user interface running on a smartphone. FIG. 11E shows a basic graphical user interface "menu" through which the user can select between the types of plots displayed (section, single gauges, daily/yearly trend).

In preferred embodiments, the system is connected to a climate computer and may advantageously report data in graphical form, either instantaneously or continuously . For example, data can be sent directly to the cloud or climate computer every 3 minutes and therefore data is sent continuously. The data can also be displayed on a graph immediately after it is received.

A portable communication device (whether it be a dedicated handheld device or a smartphone device as described above) may contain a communication interface for communicating with detectors. The device may further be configured to communicate with the detector to determine the detector ID, combine the detector ID with location information, and forward the information to the detector central processing facility. For example, location information may be entered into the handheld device 1105 by a user, or alternatively or additionally, may be determined by the device itself using GPS equipment or other location determination means. The location means may include a means configured to optically read a barcode, alphanumeric identifier, QR code, or other optical or visual identifier, an RFID device, or a Near Field Communication (NFC) device located at the location of the device and pointing to information about location. The location information may comprise point coordinates determined from a map, or GPS coordinates, or column and row information relating to the location of the substrates in the growing area. The location information may further include a greenhouse number or code, irrigation section code, hood code, row number, and slab number. In a preferred embodiment, the location information includes, among other things, at least an irrigation section code and a row number. The device may additionally be configured to take measurements of the output of the detector to display it to the user and, if necessary, to send the data to the central processing unit via an additional communication channel. The apparatus may be configured to, in response to user input, place the detector in a setup mode or a test mode and transmit status change results or test results to the detector's central processing facility over an additional communication channel. The link can be physical or wireless, but using wireless reduces installation and configuration time and can reduce costs over long distances.

A portable communications device may be a standard piece of communications electronic equipment such as a PDA or a mobile telephone such as a smartphone, and therefore the invention may be embodied in a computer program product containing instructions that, when executed by a processor of an electronic communications device containing remote communication, configuring the device to establish a communication channel with the detector to interrogate the detector to determine the identifier of the detector, associate the identifier with the configuration information of the detector, and transmit the configuration information to the central data processing facility of the detector. The configuration information may include location data, detector configuration data, detector status data such as power supply information, operating time, in addition to the functions and options described above with respect to the handheld device.

Data collected from manufacturers is uploaded to the cloud and can be stored on a server for processing, for example, within an analytics platform. This enables consultants to remotely view manufacturer data on a remote device such as a laptop, tablet or smartphone. Analytical platforms can implement the stages of data visualization, data analysis, data integration and technology management. Preferably the downloaded data over time is combined and evaluated. For example, the results of an analytical assessment carried out by experts or consultants can be presented in reports that are automatically provided to users. In preferred embodiments, setpoints and calculations can be downloaded automatically to the user's climate computer so that automatic control (i.e., irrigation and environmental control) is advantageously involved. The analyzed data can be sent from the cloud to a climate computer and/or any other remote device, for example, to control or adjust an individual's irrigation, environment, or growing strategy.

Additionally, recorded data (also referred to as platform data) from any measurement devices or climate computers can be combined to form integrated data on the platform, the platform being visible to remote devices. These platforms may also include data such as climate computer setpoints and parameters, crop registration data, and other data relevant to growers.

As discussed above, in some embodiments, the system may be capable of making recommendations. Typically, recommendations are issued to the manufacturer through a graphical user interface on a mobile device, PDA, or computer. The recommendations contain suggested actions that the grower should take to manage the production of plants. In some embodiments, the system may be able to implement recommendations without the manufacturer taking action to implement them, or only after receiving confirmation from the manufacturer.

Recommendations are provided based on MW, EC and substrate temperature, environmental conditions, plant and crop information, and climate information. The tips provided differ from each other depending on which growth phase the plants are in and are triggered and determined by setpoints. For example, if a particular setpoint is exceeded, a recommendation is issued. For example, if the irrigation for a particular plant type is ideally between 8 and 15% overnight and if the irrigation is set too high, for example more than 15%, a recommendation will be made that the irrigation stop time should be adjusted. Another example is where, upon detection of an exposure of 100 Joules (J), an irrigation recommendation will be issued with an appropriate start time for irrigation.

Graphs displayed to the user in their graphical user interface may also show what effect the recommendation will have, such as temperature or water content, to give the manufacturer an idea of the effect of the recommendation. Such forecasting is made possible by the inclusion of environmental, plant and climate information in the system in addition to the root zone information.

As mentioned above, recommendations provide management of a number of factors. These include control depending on air temperature, irrigation, electrical conductivity and humidity. This is achieved by accessing a database that stores the relationship between these parameters and plant growth data. For example, the base may include that for a particular variety or type of plant, the air temperature should be in the range from X to Y degrees Celsius. A number of parameters are analyzed in the database to determine suitable setpoints for making a recommendation to the manufacturer. The order in which the parameters are analyzed varies depending on the time or year and (probably) the growth phase of the plant, since the significance of the parameters changes with time or year and growth phase. For example, temperatures are more difficult to manage during periods of the year when the weather is hot, so during periods of hot weather more importance is placed on parameters such as irrigation.

As a supplement or alternative to this method of providing recommendations, recommendations can also be provided based on machine learning algorithms trained with data from databases, such as the databases mentioned above, and based on the reactions of manufacturers to such recommendations. This creates a feedback loop, allowing machine learning algorithms to continue learning and thus improve the recommendations provided.

The recommendations given are specified depending on the type of substrate used and the stage of cultivation. At the beginning of cultivation, the producer has very small plants. They have different requirements than for a fully grown plant in summer. In addition, recommendations may vary depending on the type of substrate. To determine the appropriate growing stage at the grower, input variables such as planting, cultivar data, fruit abundance (i.e. yield) and set of fruit clusters are important variables. Based on these variables, it can be determined at what stage the culture is and what recommendations apply. When a grower applies one or more of the recommendations, he will see the yield change over time. For example, the balance of cultivation may change from vegetative to generative; the thickness and length of the grown top of the plant can be changed at will, and the number of fruit ovaries can be increased or decreased. Over a longer period, this will show up as an improvement in average fruit weight or faster harvest over a period of, for example, six weeks, or other related elements.

In some embodiments, the following process is followed to determine whether to issue a recommendation. First, the crop registration information, which is information related to the crop harvested from the plant, is evaluated. This allows you to set the growth phase of the plant. Plant growth and conditions are then predicted using known methods for, for example, the next week, two or three weeks. These plant predictions are then compared to the expected set of growth parameters and conditions for a standard plant (ie, a plant that follows the expected growth pattern). If the predictions match the expected parameters while maintaining the current system settings, no recommendations are issued. On the other hand, if the predictions are outside the expected parameters, then a suitable recommendation is made to change the current system settings based on how the expected parameters and the predicted parameters differ from each other.

Variations and modifications of the embodiments described above will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such variations and modifications may include equivalent and other features already known and which may be used instead of or in addition to the features described herein. Features that are described in the context of separate embodiments may be provided in combination in one embodiment. Conversely, features that are described in the context of one embodiment may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination.

It should be noted that the term "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, the article "a" or "an" does not exclude plurality, one feature can function as several features set forth in the claims, and reference positions in the claims should not be construed as as a limitation on the scope of the claims. It should also be noted that the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale; instead, emphasis is usually placed on illustrating the principles of the present invention.

Claims (38)

1. A system (13) for managing plant growing conditions in hydroponic growing systems, wherein the plant growing conditions management system comprises: at least one detector (1301) for measuring at least one property of the growing substrate or environmental conditions; first (1303) and second data processing means; and wherein one or each detector (1301) is configured to measure a property or properties of the growing substrate or environmental conditions and transmit the detector identifier and the measured property or properties over a communication channel to the first data processing means; wherein the first data processing means (1303) is configured to: store predefined cultivation data in memory, including irrigation data, environmental data, crop data, crop data and/or climate data, defining the relationship between: multiple values for one or more of temperature, pH level, water content, nutrient content, oxygen content in the substrate, air temperature, humidity and light level, climatic conditions, plant parameters, yield and crop conditions; and a variety of desired irrigation parameters and environmental parameters; process the measured properties received from each detector to obtain processed properties of the substrate; provide output indicative of a desired growth input for the growth substrate based on the processed properties and predetermined growth data, the processed properties and said output forming the processed data; and calculate predicted substrate properties based on the processed data; determine the difference between the treated properties of the substrate and the predicted properties of the substrate; wherein the second data processing means is configured to: accept the specified difference from the first means of data processing (1303); receive a message condition input to output a message based on the specified difference; and output a message when the specified difference satisfies the message condition. 2. The system (13) according to claim 1, further comprising a data storage means (1320), and the first data processing means (1303) is further configured to send the processed data to the data storage means (1320), wherein the data storage means is configured to store directed data as logged data. 3. System (13) according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a portable communication device (12). 4. System (13) according to claim 3, wherein the portable communication device (12) comprises a second data processing means. 5. The system (13) of claim 3, wherein the portable communication device (12) is configured to receive processed data from the data storage means (1320). 6. System (13) according to claim 5, wherein the portable communication device (12) is in communication with the data storage means (1320) and is configured to receive data from at least one wireless detector (1301) and send the received data to data storage means (1320). 7. System (13) according to any one of paragraphs. 3-6, wherein the portable communication device (12) is further configured to manage the growth input for the plant growth substrate and/or for the environment in which the substrate is located based on the growth input for the growth substrate provided by the first means. processing data detector system. 8. System (13) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one or each detector (1301) is further configured to transmit the detector identifier and the measured property or properties over a communication channel to the first detector data processing means at time intervals of less than 10 minutes, preferably less than 5 minutes, more preferably less than 3 minutes. 9. The system (13) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one or each detector (1301) is further configured to transmit the detector identifier and the measured property or properties over a communication channel to the second detector data processing means at time intervals of less than 10 minutes, preferably less than 5 minutes, more preferably less than 3 minutes. 10. The system (13) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one or each detector (1301) is further configured to transmit the detector identifier and the measured property or properties over a communication channel to the data storage means (1320) at time intervals of less than 10 minutes , preferably less than 5 minutes, more preferably less than 3 minutes. 11. System (13) according to any one of paragraphs. 3-10, wherein the portable communication device (12) is further configured to: receive detector data from the detector; and transmitting the detector data to the first detector data processing means. 12. The system (13) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first data processing means (1303) and one or more detectors (1301) each comprise a LoRa module and/or a Bluetooth module, wherein the LoRa module is configured to receive and transmit data via LoRa transmissions, and the first data processing means is configured to communicate with one or more detectors through transmission over the LoRa protocol; and the Bluetooth module is configured to establish Bluetooth wireless communication with each other, and the first data processing means (1303) is configured to communicate with one or more detectors (1301) via Bluetooth transmissions. 13. The system (13) according to any of the previous claims, in which the portable communication device (12) contains a Bluetooth module designed to establish a Bluetooth wireless network with the first data processing means (1303) or with one or more detectors (1301), and the portable the communication device (12) is configured to transmit and receive data via the Bluetooth network with the first data processing device and one or more detectors. 14. The system (13) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first data processing means and the data storage means are part of the same unit. 15. System (13) according to one of paragraphs. 1-14, in which the storage medium is a cloud service database. 16. A method for controlling plant growing conditions using the system (13) according to any of the previous paragraphs. 17. The method according to p. 16, in which the system (13) corresponds to any one of paragraphs. 3-15 and the method further comprises inputting the detector configuration data into the portable communication device (12) of the system and causing the portable communication device to transmit the detector configuration information to the first detector data processing means. 18. The method according to p. 16 or 17, in which the system (13) corresponds to any of paragraphs. 3-15, and the method further comprises inputting a message condition input to the portable communication device (12). 19. The method according to paragraphs. 16-18, in which the system (13) corresponds to any of paragraphs. 3-15, and the method further comprises notifying the user with the portable communication device (12) when the second data processing means outputs a message. 20. Portable detector communication device (12), adapted for use in the system according to any one of paragraphs. 1-15. 21. The portable detector communication device of claim 20, wherein the device is a mobile phone.

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