ZENIT

     With the intensification of urbanization, the rapid growth of urban population, and the construction of a large number of artificial environments, environmental pollution and land resource scarcity have emerged as significant bottlenecks hindering the creation of a harmonious society and impeding sustainable economic development. Vertical farming and greening not only conserve land use, require less investment, and produce quick results, but also offer considerable benefits. They represent one of the best approaches to achieving China's "energy conservation and emission reduction" strategy and improving the environment in modern cities.

     As one of the developing directions for emerging agriculture, vertical farming expands into space without compromising horizontal cultivation, fully utilizing greenhouse space and solar energy. This increases land utilization by 3 to 5 times and can boost unit area yields by 2 to 3 times, effectively alleviating the issue of urban agricultural land scarcity. The high efficiency and automation of vertical farming not only provide technical support for industrial promotion but also serve as a demonstration for modern urban agriculture, offering broad prospects for system applications.

  ▸ The cubic greenhouse features multiple rows and columns of nutrient solution planting trough racks. Each trough, measuring 8 meters in length with the highest trough reaching 6 meters from the ground, is dedicated to the cultivation of specific crops. However, manually moving these troughs, whether for planting or harvesting, poses significant challenges and safety hazards. Given the multiple racks arranged in columns, lifting mechanisms like forklifts cannot access the rack areas for operation.

To address this, the mechanical design incorporates a warehouse-style telescopic arm for retrieving, lifting, and moving the troughs. This mechanism is divided into two parts, moving along tracks outside the rack areas, enabling actions such as trough relocation and circular harvesting. The trough repositioning process requires a customizable operational trajectory to ensure efficient and accurate movements.

▸ Crop cultivation requires precise regulation of various environmental conditions based on changing climatic factors. To achieve this, the greenhouse is equipped with sensors that monitor indoor temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide levels, and light intensity. These sensors provide real-time data on the cultivation environment, allowing for timely adjustments and optimizations. Additionally, the system includes the capability to display data in graphical curves, providing a comprehensive overview of environmental changes.

▸ Despite the automation of irrigation systems, extreme weather events such as storms can still pose a threat to crops. Therefore, remote network access is crucial for monitoring indoor environmental parameters at all times. The system is designed to set up alert notifications, enabling immediate response in case of adverse conditions. Beyond monitoring, remote control capabilities are also desired, allowing for timely intervention and vegetation control upon receiving alerts. This ensures that any potential issues can be addressed promptly, minimizing crop damage and maximizing yield.

  ▸ Each trough slot within the greenhouse is assigned a unique location number for identification purposes. These corresponding number coordinates are pre-set to facilitate accurate navigation and operations. For example, moving an agricultural product from slot 1# to slot 3# involves retrieving the item from slot 1 and placing it in slot 3. Similarly, movement rules for all trough slots are predefined, ensuring smooth and efficient operations.

▸ touchscreen interface allows for the direct import of CSV files containing trough movement rules into a recipe table. This feature enables customers to customize the trough movement trajectories and store/download recipes as needed. With this functionality, there is no need for manual input or trajectory switching, and thousands of movement trajectories can be imported at once. This comprehensive approach covers various planting needs for different vegetation and systems, eliminating the need for individual trajectory loads for each unique system, thereby achieving universal planning effectiveness.

▸ The system incorporates various sensors that capture critical environmental data. The Yongju touchscreen interface features data collection capabilities, storing collected information not only on the touchscreen and USB drives but also directly to a remote cloud database via FTP Client. Beyond data collection, the system also presents this data in graphical curves, significantly enhancing visualization and facilitating data analysis and evaluation. Users can search and retrieve sensor data from specific time periods, facilitating quick troubleshooting and issue identification.

▸ Utilizing IoT connectivity, sensor data is uploaded to the cloud in real-time. This allows for immediate monitoring and control through computers and mobile devices. In the event of any environmental or equipment irregularities, the system sends out alert notifications via remote data monitoring. This ensures prompt identification and correction of issues, minimizing potential damage.

Overall, the cubic greenhouse automation and monitoring system provides a comprehensive solution for efficient crop cultivation, precise environmental control, and remote management capabilities. It not only enhances the productivity and quality of agricultural products but also reduces operational risks and improves decision-making processes.

 “Customized Slot Switching Rules”

The implementation of customized slot switching rules significantly enhances the diversity of planting methods. Compared to the earlier manual slot switching methods, this approach not only provides greater safety but also reduces labor costs. It allows for precise and efficient management of agricultural products, enabling growers to adapt to varying planting needs and optimize their operations.

“Remote Data Monitoring” 

Remote data monitoring offers growers the ability to view their greenhouse or farm environment remotely. In the event of any irregularities or issues, the system can immediately send out alert notifications. This helps growers respond promptly, minimizing agricultural losses and ensuring the overall health and productivity of their crops.

“Scheduled Data Backup”  

The regular saving of historical data is crucial for comprehensive data reporting and crop growth analysis. This feature ensures that growers have access to a complete record of their operations, enabling them to make informed decisions and optimize their planting strategies.

“4G/WiFi Dongle Connectivity” 

The touchscreen interface supports 4G/WiFi connectivity, effectively addressing the challenges faced by growers in areas where wired network connections are inconvenient or unavailable. This feature ensures seamless internet access, enabling growers to access their greenhouse or farm data remotely, monitor their operations, and make necessary adjustments anytime, anywhere.

Users can customize, store, and download their desired slot switching rules, eliminating the need for repetitive modifications. If any issues arise during the slot switching process, users can choose to restart the cycle or revert to the original slot position. Additionally, the system incorporates low-speed buffering and stabilization at the end points of each trajectory, significantly enhancing the accuracy of picking and placing operations.

Remote data monitoring allows users to keep tabs on their farmland's real-time conditions without leaving their homes, and it can even be accessed via mobile phones. Even when users are thousands of miles away, they can log into the software on their phones to instantly view their farmland environment.

The collection and analysis of data can significantly enhance the productivity of individual farms. It not only tracks changes in vegetation throughout the entire growing season but can also predict yields to a certain extent. This information is invaluable for growers, enabling them to make informed decisions, optimize their operations, and ultimately maximize their agricultural output