A method and system for cultivating angiosperms in a limited space in natural or artificial light by a dynamic growth constraint apparatus that limits vertical growth during the vegetation phase but allows vertical growth during the flowering phase, such that the flower or fruit may be optimally harvested. In various embodiments, the apparatus includes a mesh to constrain vertical growth of the cultivated plant and a mechanism for raising, lowering and rotating the plant or constraining mesh with respect to the other. In various embodiments, the mesh is moved with respect to the plant during the vegetation phase of the plant and immobile during the flowering phase of the plant. Plant phase and thus the mesh/plant motion may be controlled by artificial light timing, the detection of natural light, or by digitized image analysis of the plant during its growth phases.

A planting system for use with a vertical hydroponic tower. The planting system includes a payload transport system and a planter. The payload transport system, which is configured to be positioned at a location adjacent to the hydroponic tower, includes a base and a lift tower, the lift tower including a motorized lift system configured to move the planter upward and downward. The planter is configured to insert plant containers containing seedlings into the hydroponic tower as the motorized payload lift system moves the planter upwards along the face of the tower.

A vertical pole (2) holds plant growing containers (3, 50, 54), at multiple heights. Some containers may be mounted at a given height (H1-H9) in a circular array around the pole. Each container may occupy a V-shaped region about the pole in a top view. The pole may be moveable by a conveyor system (4, 5). The pole may have a fluid reservoir (30), and a fluid distribution system (31-35) extending from the fluid reservoir to plant growing containers at different vertical locations on the pole. Each plant growing container may integrate a soil containment portion (51), a bottom drain portion (61) that collects fluid draining through the soil, and a bypass drain portion (64, 70, 72, 75, 79), that interconnects with higher and lower like containers on the pole and bypasses the soil in the containers for rinsing the soils individually.

A plant transportation system is disclosed. At a high level, the system includes specially-designed pots which include lift-fixtures, such as eyebolts, which are specially-oriented and aligned to receive poles or tines from a lifting mechanism. In this way, each of at least two tines of a lifting attachment can pass through two lift-fixtures on the pot. In this way, when the lifting attachment rises, the plant in the container remains stable and vertical. Moreover, it also allows the lifting attachment to potentially pass through and hold multiple pots. A vehicle having such a lifting attachment may then transport the plants to a planting site, or to another transportation vehicle such as a flat-bed truck.

A method is proposed for remotely growing plants in a planting zone that is divided into multiple planting areas. Via an electronic device that communicates with a remote automated planting sub-system in the planting zone, a user may select desired planting area(s) and desired type(s) of plant precursors on the electronic device, and remotely cause the remote automated planting sub-system to plant the selected type(s) of plant precursors into the selected planting area(s).

Provided are systems, methods, and devices for storing and transporting articles with a multi-shelf storage unit. A system for article handling includes a multi-shelf storage unit and a robotic unit. The multi-shelf storage unit includes a plurality of shelves disposed on a frame, the plurality of shelves including at least one vertically moveable shelf configured to move in first and second vertical directions relative to the frame, and a lift mechanism configured to automatically drive, in response to receiving a drive input, the at least one vertically moveable shelf in the first or second vertical direction. The robotic unit includes an end effector disposed on a robotic manipulator for engaging an article and a lift mechanism actuator that is connectable to the lift mechanism and configured to provide the drive input to actuate the lift mechanism.

A conveyor system (4, 5) moves vertical poles (2) in an agricultural facility between a growing area (20) and a workstation (W). Each pole carries plant growing containers (3) at multiple levels (H1-H9). An irrigation reservoir (30) may be mounted atop each pole. Irrigation lines (31-33) from the reservoir may be individually metered (35) at each level to compensate for differing water pressure with height. Sensors (40) in the reservoir and at each level of the poles may provide a controller (36) with data input. The controller may impose different growing conditions in different areas of the facility, including vertically different grow areas (20A, 20B), and controls pole movements and locations selectively to provide a sequence of poles at the workstation ready to harvest on a demand schedule. The workstation may have multiple heights (W1, W2, W3) for tall poles that increase plant density per facility footprint.

Provided are systems, methods, and devices for storing and transporting articles with a multi-shelf storage unit. A system for article handling includes a multi-shelf storage unit and a robotic unit. The multi-shelf storage unit includes a plurality of shelves disposed on a frame, the plurality of shelves including at least one vertically moveable shelf configured to move in first and second vertical directions relative to the frame, and a lift mechanism configured to automatically drive, in response to receiving a drive input, the at least one vertically moveable shelf in the first or second vertical direction. The robotic unit includes an end effector disposed on a robotic manipulator for engaging an article and a lift mechanism actuator that is connectable to the lift mechanism and configured to provide the drive input to actuate the lift mechanism.

The present invention relates to a pot device having an external frame for holding a pot inside the frame. The frame has a lower end constituting a support base. The pot device includes connection means arranged for connecting the frame to the pot. The connection means has locking means arranged for locking the pot in an upright position. According to the invention, the extension of the frame in a horizontal plane is adjustable. The diameter of the frame in a horizontal plane is variably adjustable and the frame includes a plurality of circumferentially distributed sections. These sections are telescopically connected to each other in the circumferential direction. The invention further relates to the use of said pot device in a method for transporting a plurality of pots devices on a conveyor system wherein each pot device houses at least one plant, Moreover, the invention also relates to a method for transporting a plurality said pots devices on a conveyor system wherein each pot device houses at least one plant.

A selective transplanter is provided for transplanting seedlings from a tray to seedling planting apparatus. The tray includes a plurality of cells for holding plugs of growing medium containing seedlings. The transplanter is arranged to eject plugs from the cells of the tray to a conveyor which conveys the plugs to the seedling planting apparatus. The transplanter is arranged to remove plugs that do not contain germinated seedlings from the conveyor at a removal position before they are transferred to the seedling planting apparatus. A seedling retention roller engages with plant material of the seedlings projecting from the plugs at the removal position before the plugs are transferred to the seedling planting apparatus, preventing removal of plugs containing seedlings with projecting plant material. The transplanter provides the advantage that the plugs containing seedlings can be planted in rows in a field without dud plugs being planted, leaving the rows substantially gap free.