A system for storing and cultivating plants and enhancing usable area, space or volume is provided. One or more racks are provided for housing plants, such as potted plants, in arrays extending in at least a vertical direction. Lighting is provided to provide ultraviolet and infrared radiation in the system. At least one rack is selectively moveable with respect to at least one lighting element, such that proximity between plants and at least one lighting element may be selectively varied.

A terminal device is provided and is configured to display, on a first screen, a first number of one or more fields where one or more defective plants are detected, change a displayed screen from the first screen to a second screen, in a case where an instruction to change a screen is received, wherein one or more pictures of plants in a first field is displayed on the second screen, display, on a second screen, a second number of a field where one or more defective plants are detected, wherein the second number is less than the first number; and display, on the second screen, an user interface to instruct to change a displayed screen from the second screen to a third screen, wherein one or more pictures of plants in a second field is displayed on the second screen.

A horticulture apparatus and method for planting, growing, and harvesting plants may include a platform having a width axis and a length axis, a gantry sized to straddle and move across at least one of the platform's width and length axes, and a controller. The gantry may comprise a frame, a motor mounted to the frame, a container bin operatively connected to the frame, and a modular tool operatively connected to the frame. The controller may engage the motor of the gantry to move the gantry across the platform, thereby providing the modular tool with access to different locations on the platform.

A stackable plant grow rack and watering system that includes a watering loop and a plurality of support loops stackable thereupon in a vertical direction. A plurality of stackable grow racks can be provided and spaced from one another and connected in series via connectable water hoses to thereby form a plant support and watering daisy-chain.

A modular assembly is disclosed to support, feed, and water live vegetative growth on an inclined or vertical surface, using a series of horizontally mounted troughs affixed to an impervious backing panel.

Device for driving vertical units which are suspended from a guide rail for growing plants, wherein each unit comprises a first engagement element. Drive means cause the displacement members, each of which comprise a row of second engagement elements, to alternatively perform a first, outward movement and a second, inward movement. The first and second engagement elements are configured such that they engage with each other in such a way during this first movement that the units are displaced and are not displaced during the second movement. The second engagement elements are provided across the entire operating area of the one or more displacement members in such a way that the mutual distance increases. In this way, the units are guided through a growing space, with the mutual distance automatically being increased in order to give the plants more space as the growing process progresses.

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.

An exemplary robotic parking device of the present disclosure includes a number of stacks of containers. The stacks being positioned within a frame structure including uprights and a horizontal grid disposed above the stacks. The grid having substantially perpendicular rails on which load handling devices can run. Cars or vehicles are positioned in containers and are moved into and out of the stacks by the robotic handling devices running on the grid. The cars are put into the grid at entry points that may be positioned at points under the stacks.

An indoor gardening appliance includes a liner positioned within a cabinet that defines a front display opening and an enclosed back portion. A grow module is rotatably mounted within the liner and include a central hub and a plurality of partitions defining a plurality of grow chambers. The grow module is selectively rotated to index the plurality of grow chambers between a sealed position between the grow module and the enclosed back portion of the liner and a display position aligned with the front display opening. An environmental control system regulates a temperature within the chamber when the chamber is in the sealed position.

A vehicle for use with an object handling system, the object handling system including two substantially perpendicular sets of rails forming a first grid, a plurality of first uprights supporting the first grid, a plurality of containers arranged in stacks, each stack being located underneath the first grid, one or more robotic load handling devices configured to drive on top of the rails of the first grid, the one or more load handling devices including means for removing or replacing at least one container from the stacks. The vehicle includes two substantially perpendicular sets of rails forming a second grid substantially at the top of the vehicle above a storage space for carrying containers. The second grid interfaces with the first grid to allow the one or more load handling devices to drive from the rails of the first grid onto the rails of the second grid.