One variation of a method for monitoring growth of plants within a facility includes: aggregating global ambient data recorded by a suite of fixed sensors, arranged proximal a grow area within the facility, at a first frequency during a grow period; extracting intermediate outcomes of a set of plants, occupying a module in the grow area, from module-level images recorded by a mover at a second frequency less than the first frequency while interfacing with the module during the period of time; dispatching the mover to autonomously deliver the module to a transfer station; extracting intermediate outcomes of the set of plants from plant-level images recorded by the transfer station while sequentially transferring plants out of the module at the conclusion of the grow period; and deriving relationships between ambient conditions, intermediate outcomes, and final outcomes from a corpus of plant records associated with plants grown in the facility.

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.

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.

A guiding chain carrier system (1) is configured for an installation (2), for deploying and for storing without folding said guiding chain and flexible supply cables and/or pipelines. Said guiding chain carrier system comprises a mobile workstation (6) movable over a work surface (3) and connected to the said cables and/or pipelines, at least one guiding chain (20), connected to a static connection area (7) on one end and to the mobile workstation (6) on the other end thereof, for supporting said cables and/or pipelines; characterized by at least one compensation trolley (8), comprising a compensation system. Said compensation trolley (8) is movable and the compensation system is able to generate a resistance force in order to maintain the guiding chain (20) straight while the mobile workstation (6) moves from an operation location nearest the static connection area (7) until an operation location furthest from the static connection area (7).

A me.sub.thod for determining output data from crop plant characteristics for a crop plan comprising, in a data processing system providing measurement data detected for a crop plant; determining model data representing a three dimensional model of the crop plant from the measurement data; segmenting the three dimensional model determining first crop plant characteristics for a first subpart of the crop plant provided in a first three dimensional segment segments; and providing output data at an output device. The output data comprise at least one of the following: media data and operation control data indicative of operation control signals for controlling operating of an agricultural machine working on the crop plant, the operation control signals comprising first operation control signals determined from the first crop plant characteristics and configured to control operation of the agricultural machine for applying an agricultural treatment to the first subpart of the crop plant.

A produce growing and harvesting system is provided for use with at least one motor, the system comprising: a plurality of vertical grow towers, each grow tower defining a bore and including a plurality of apertures extending to the bore from an ambient environment, and a cylindrical upper end; a tower gear at the cylindrical upper end, the tower gear in motive communication with the grow tower; and a grip and rotate system, the grip and rotate system including a body, an external gear for engaging the tower gear, a strut extending between the body and the external gear and in rotational communication with the external gear, a pair of arms attached to the body; a first grip jaw and a second grip jaw defining an opening sized to accept the cylindrical upper end of each grow tower, each grip jaw attached to one of the pair of arms, and including a plurality of rollers disposed in the opening.

A system for the fertigation of a plant vessel and method of use for the same is disclosed. The system comprises a grow module containing a plurality of growing trays additionally containing plants, and/or shoots of plants in various stages of development. The growing trays are individually extracted from the grow module via a tray movement system and tray elevator controlled by a control system and precisely placed in a fertigation system, wherein they are aligned over and lowered onto an at least one nozzle which penetrate the plant vessels containing the plants and fertigate them with a combination of water, nutrients, and/or pressurized air. The individual growing tray is then replaced in the grow module and the process is repeated for all growing trays and plant vessels in the grow module.

A method for the automated operation of a greenhouse which has at least one first plant growth room which is operated without artificial lighting and which has at least one second plant growth room which is different from the first plant growth room and which is equipped with artificial light sources for generating artificial light. An associated supply device and an associated greenhouse can be operated automatically.

A hood and a growing tray for a farming system growing floor are disclosed. The hood is positioned substantially above a support for receiving a growing tray, the hood including: a lighting source; a fluid outlet for providing irrigation to a growing tray, wherein the fluid outlet can be raised and lowered with a mechanism; and a fluid inlet for receiving re-circulated fluid from a growing tray, wherein the fluid inlet can be raised and lowered with a mechanism. The growing tray can include a header pool for receiving fluid ingress from a hood; and a sump pool from which a pump may egress fluid to a hood.