Systems and techniques for a sensor carrier, and intelligent track infrastructure for the navigation and operation of the sensor carrier are described. The sensor carrier is an autonomous robot navigating a track. The carrier holds cameras and other sensors to receive horticultural images and telemetry for plants in a grow operation. The carrier reads embedded signals in the track including Radio Frequency Identifier (RFID) tags, embedded positioning magnets, and drilled hole patterns for a beam breaking system to determine navigation and operation. For tracks placed at sharp angles, a transfer station with wall guards to prevent the carrier from falling enable safe transfers from different track segments. Additional features include an emergency stop (e-stop) switch and power management for autonomous sensor carriers.

A growth information management apparatus is provided, which can accurately ascertain a growth situation of plants or the like regardless of a positional change of an equipment where the apparatus is mounted. A growth information management apparatus 100 emits a measuring beam to a plant P and acquires growth information on the plant, based on received reflected light, with the growth information management apparatus being mounted on another equipment 1. The growth information is corrected based on change information on the irradiation direction of the measuring beam according to a positional change of the other equipment.

A temperature control system (300) comprising a first peripheral fluid circuit (312) for the passage of a first heat exchanger fluid. The first peripheral fluid circuit (312) comprises a first fluid connection (314) for fluidly connecting a first peripheral heat exchanger (310) in series with a first peripheral-evaporator heat exchanger (316). There is also provided a first peripheral pump (318) for pumping the first heat exchanger fluid around the first peripheral fluid circuit (312). There is also provided a first evaporator circuit (320) for the passage of an evaporator heat exchanger fluid through the first peripheral-evaporator heat exchanger (316). The first evaporator circuit (320) comprises a first evaporator pump (322) for pumping the evaporator heat exchanger fluid around the first evaporator circuit (320). The first evaporator circuit (320) is fluidly isolated from the first peripheral fluid circuit (312). The first peripheral-evaporator heat exchanger (316) is configured to permit heat exchange between the heat exchanger fluids.

A temperature control system (300) comprising a first peripheral fluid circuit (312) for the passage of a first heat exchanger fluid. The first peripheral fluid circuit (312) comprises a first fluid connection (314) for fluidly connecting a first peripheral heat exchanger (310) in series with a first peripheral-evaporator heat exchanger (316). There is also provided a first peripheral pump (318) for pumping the first heat exchanger fluid around the first peripheral fluid circuit (312). There is also provided a first evaporator circuit (320) for the passage of an evaporator heat exchanger fluid through the first peripheral-evaporator heat exchanger (316). The first evaporator circuit (320) comprises a first evaporator pump (322) for pumping the evaporator heat exchanger fluid around the first evaporator circuit (320). The first evaporator circuit (320) is fluidly isolated from the first peripheral fluid circuit (312). The first peripheral-evaporator heat exchanger (316) is configured to permit heat exchange between the heat exchanger fluids.

The invention provides a method for providing a non-uniform pigment distribution in a first plant part (110) of a pigment generating plant (100), which accumulates pigment upon exposure by light, during indoor cultivation of said plant (100), wherein the first plant part (110) comprises a second plant part (120) and a third plant part (130), the method comprising subjecting in a first lighting stage at least the first plant part (110) to first light conditions that inhibit or prevent pigment accumulation in said first plant part (110), and subsequently subjecting in a second lighting stage the second plant part (120) of said first plant part (110) to second light conditions that promote pigment accumulation in said second plant part (120) while subjecting the third plant part (130) of said first plant part (110) to third light conditions that inhibit or prevent pigment accumulation in said third plant part (130).

The invention provides a method for providing a non-uniform pigment distribution in a first plant part (110) of a pigment generating plant (100), which accumulates pigment upon exposure by light, during indoor cultivation of said plant (100), wherein the first plant part (110) comprises a second plant part (120) and a third plant part (130), the method comprising subjecting in a first lighting stage at least the first plant part (110) to first light conditions that inhibit or prevent pigment accumulation in said first plant part (110), and subsequently subjecting in a second lighting stage the second plant part (120) of said first plant part (110) to second light conditions that promote pigment accumulation in said second plant part (120) while subjecting the third plant part (130) of said first plant part (110) to third light conditions that inhibit or prevent pigment accumulation in said third plant part (130).

A system for monitoring fruit growth including: a vibration exciter that imparts predetermined vibration to a stem or a branch between a fruit and a stalk growing on a plant; a vibration sensor that detects vibration of the stem or the branch caused by the vibration imparted by the vibration exciter; and a detector that detects a weight or weight change of the fruit based on a frequency of the vibration detected by the vibration sensor.

A system for monitoring fruit growth including: a vibration exciter that imparts predetermined vibration to a stem or a branch between a fruit and a stalk growing on a plant; a vibration sensor that detects vibration of the stem or the branch caused by the vibration imparted by the vibration exciter; and a detector that detects a weight or weight change of the fruit based on a frequency of the vibration detected by the vibration sensor.

A method includes receiving, using at least one processor, first sensor data pertaining to plant-related parameters of each of multiple first plants over time. The method also includes storing the first sensor data in at least one memory. The method further includes identifying, using the at least one processor, an issue affecting at least one of the first plants. The method also includes analyzing, using the at least one processor, at least some of the stored first sensor data to generate a predictive model associated with the issue. The method further includes receiving, using the at least one processor, second sensor data pertaining to plant-related parameters of each of multiple second plants. In addition, the method includes identifying, using the at least one processor, at least one of the second plants to receive one or more interventions by applying the predictive model to the second sensor data.

A method includes receiving, using at least one processor, first sensor data pertaining to plant-related parameters of each of multiple first plants over time. The method also includes storing the first sensor data in at least one memory. The method further includes identifying, using the at least one processor, an issue affecting at least one of the first plants. The method also includes analyzing, using the at least one processor, at least some of the stored first sensor data to generate a predictive model associated with the issue. The method further includes receiving, using the at least one processor, second sensor data pertaining to plant-related parameters of each of multiple second plants. In addition, the method includes identifying, using the at least one processor, at least one of the second plants to receive one or more interventions by applying the predictive model to the second sensor data.