The present invention relates to a hydroponic facility for cultivating crops without soil by using a culture solution, and more particularly to a hydroponic facility system for helping to save energy and grow crops in a hydroponic facility, which, when crops are grown through hydroponic facilities using a hydroponic method in many farms, can prevent the destruction of a natural environment attributable to the depletion of underground resources (water resources) and can reduce the economic burden of farmers attributable to a large amount of electricity consumed for constant temperature and constant humidity.

The present invention relates to a hydroponic facility for cultivating crops without soil by using a culture solution, and more particularly to a hydroponic facility system for helping to save energy and grow crops in a hydroponic facility, which, when crops are grown through hydroponic facilities using a hydroponic method in many farms, can prevent the destruction of a natural environment attributable to the depletion of underground resources (water resources) and can reduce the economic burden of farmers attributable to a large amount of electricity consumed for constant temperature and constant humidity.

One variation of a method for automating transfer of plants within an agricultural facility includes: dispatching a loader to autonomously deliver a first module—defining a first array of plant slots at a first density and loaded with a first set of plants at a first growth stage—from a first grow location within an agricultural facility to a transfer station within the agricultural facility; dispatching the loader to autonomously deliver a second module—defining a second array of plant slots at a second density less than the first density and empty of plants—to the transfer station; recording a module-level optical scan of the first module; extracting a viability parameter of the first set of plants from features detected in the module-level optical scan; and if the viability parameter falls outside of a target viability range, rejecting transfer of the first set of plants from the first module.

The agricultural greenhouse of the invention and the plant cultivation method using the same can cultivate plants economically and efficiently with less energy per crop yield, as it is provided with a CO.sub.2 supply means, a heat-ray shielding means, and a dehumidification and cooling means, the heat-ray shielding means is formed of using a heat-ray reflecting film, and plural through holes are formed in the heat-ray shielding means. The heat-ray reflecting film structure can cultivate plants by the agricultural greenhouse utilizing sunlight economically and efficiently as it has a structure that narrow band-shaped tapes obtained by cutting a multi-layer laminated film made by laminating at least two kinds of resin layers with different refractive indices alternately and having an average transmittance at 80% or more for visible light and an average reflectance at 70% or more for heat-ray is woven or knitted as a warp or a weft.

A system is provided to discharge heat from a reservoir of water inside an unventilated greenhouse. Heat is transferred from the greenhouse air to the reservoir during the day by a droplet system. During the cool hours of the night and morning, the same droplet system transfers reservoir heat back into the air within a restricted volume above the reservoir while the air is simultaneously circulated through an air-to-air heat exchanger outside the building.

The invention discloses a regulating system and method for multilayer shading film of plastic greenhouse with adjustable shading rate. The upper film of the sunshade is a fully transparent film, while the middle film and the lower film are printed with dots, which are interlaced. Through the measurement and comparison of the warm light in the greenhouse, the combined control of the sunshade film is realized. Not only can it adjust its light blocking rate, but it also has a heat insulating effect when there is a certain amount of air in the film.

A multi-level vertical farm comprises a lift apparatus configured to carry growth trays from a bottom to a top position adjacent to a conveyor. The conveyor is configured to transport trays downwardly to near the bottom position and normally is fully loaded with adjacent trays along the entire conveyor. A growth tray in the lowest, bottom position is discharged out of that position to an irrigation or harvesting station. The discharge of a tray from the bottom position causes preceding trays to move downward, thereby opening a space in the top position for another tray, which may be lifted there. A computer system may be connected to the apparatus and programmed to start a motor of the lift apparatus to move the growth trays. The apparatus enables simulating a day-night plant growth cycle, and using thermal convection to apply more warmth to higher positions, in a compact vertical arrangement.

A vertical farming system includes a storage structure having racks of storage shelves for housing plant-carrying containers. Mobile robots travel around the racks to transfer containers of plants to and from the storage shelves. Under direction of a central control system, one or more mobile robots may transport a container from a storage location to a workstation. Once there, care may be provided for the plant, including water and/or other nutrients, and data may be gathered on the plant. This may be done by an owner of the plant, or by an automated service robot positioned at the workstation. Data gathered on the plant, including for example photographs, may be sent by email or other communications schemes to an owner of the plant.

The present disclosure provides a film for enhancing the growth of plants in the Cannabaceae family, the film being capable of blocking solar spectrum in the range 430-550 nm. The present disclosure also provides a single- or multi-layer plastic greenhouse film for enhancing cannabis plant growth, where the single- or multi-layer plastic greenhouse film (a) has at least one blue light blocking layer for blocking solar spectrum in the range of 430-500 nm; (b) has a high transmittance for red light in the solar spectrum in the range of 600-750 nm.

A multi-source ground-to-air heat transfer system is configured to store thermal energy during a cooling/dehumidifcation mode of operation for future use during a heating mode of operation. The multi-source ground-to-air heat transfer system utilizes a ground loop that is configured under an enclosure, such as a greenhouse, and is in thermal communication with a thermal reservoir medium to conduct and store heat. A thermal exchange fluid is pumped through the ground loop and ground heat exchanger and may receive heat from a condenser during a cooling/dehumidification mode of operation and may liberate heat to the evaporator during a heating mode. The enclosure air may receive heat from the heat pump during a heating mode and may liberate heat to the evaporator during a cooling/dehumidification mode. The heat exchange system may employ a heat pump having a reversing valve to change the mode of operation.