Systems and methods for determining seed levels in a grow pod

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10842085-B2
Application number	US-201815983279-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 18, 2018
Priority date	Jun 14, 2017
Publication date	Nov 24, 2020
Grant date	Nov 24, 2020

Abstract

A seed level managing system includes a seed tank configured to contain seeds, a plurality of seed level sensors placed on a sidewall of the seed tank, a surface detecting sensor, and a controller. The controller includes one or more processors, one or more memory modules, and machine readable instructions stored in the one or more memory modules that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the controller to receive first information from the plurality of seed level sensors; receive second information from the surface detecting sensor and determine a number of the seeds in the seed tank based on the first information and the second information.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A seed level managing system comprising:
a seed tank that contains seeds;
a plurality of seed level sensors placed on a sidewall of the seed tank;
a surface detecting sensor; and
a controller comprising:
one or more processors;
one or more memory modules; and
machine readable instructions stored in the one or more memory modules that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the controller to:
receive first information from the plurality of seed level sensors;
receive second information from the surface detecting sensor;
determine a number of the seeds in the seed tank based on the first information and the second information;
receive a rate of seeds being provided in an assembly line grow pod; and
determine a time for supplementing seeds in the seed tank based on the number of seeds in the seed tank and the rate of seeds being provided in the assembly line grow pod.

2. The seed level managing system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of seed level sensors are proximity sensors, and
each of the plurality of seed level sensors transmits a binary code to the controller based on a detection of seeds proximate to corresponding seed level sensor.

3. The seed level managing system of claim 2 , wherein the machine readable instructions stored in the one or more memory modules, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the controller to:
determine a reduction rate of seeds in the seed tank based on the binary code received from the plurality of seed level sensors over a period of time.

4. The seed level managing system of claim 1 , wherein the machine readable instructions stored in the one or more memory modules, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the controller to:
simulate a three-dimensional shape of seeds in the seed tank based on the first information and the second information; and
determine the number of the seeds based on the three-dimensional shape.

5. The seed level managing system of claim 1 , wherein the surface detecting sensor is a LIDAR sensor, and is positioned on a top of the seed tank.

6. The seed level managing system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of seed level sensors are configured to move on the sidewall in a vertical direction.

7. The seed level managing system of claim 1 , wherein one seed level sensor of the plurality of seed level sensors performs at least the following:
detect seeds proximate to the seed level sensor; and
move upward on the sidewall in response to detecting the seeds until the seed level sensor detects no seeds proximate to the seed level sensor.

8. The seed level managing system of claim 1 , wherein one seed level sensor of the plurality of seed level sensors performs at least the following:
detect seeds proximate to the seed level sensor; and
move downward on the sidewall in response to detecting no seeds proximate to the seed level sensor until the seed level sensor detects seeds proximate to the seed level sensor.

9. A controller for managing a seed level in a seed tank, the controller comprising:
one or more processors;
one or more memory modules; and
machine readable instructions stored in the one or more memory modules that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the controller to:
receive first information from a plurality of seed level sensors;
receive second information from a surface detecting sensor;
determine a number of the seeds in the seed tank based on the first information and the second information;
receive a rate of seeds being provided in an assembly line grow pod; and
determine a time for supplementing seeds in the seed tank based on the number of seeds in the seed tank and the rate of seeds being provided in the assembly line grow pod.

10. The controller of claim 9 , wherein the machine readable instructions stored in the one or more memory modules, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the controller to:
simulate a three-dimensional shape of seeds in the seed tank based on the first information and the second information; and
determine the number of the seeds based on a volume of the three-dimensional shape.

11. The controller of claim 9 , wherein the surface detecting sensor is a LIDAR sensor, and is positioned on a top of the seed tank.

12. The controller of claim 9 , wherein the machine readable instructions stored in the one or more memory modules, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the controller to:
receive binary codes from the plurality of seed level sensors; and
determine a reduction rate of seeds in the seed tank based on the binary codes received from the plurality of seed level sensors over a period of time.

13. The controller of claim 9 , wherein the machine readable instructions stored in the one or more memory modules, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the controller to:
receive indication that one seed level sensor of the plurality of seed level sensors detects seeds proximate to the seed level sensor; and
instruct the seed level sensor to move upward on a sidewall of the seed tank until the seed level sensor detects no seeds proximate to the seed level sensor in response to receiving the indication.

14. The controller of claim 9 , wherein the machine readable instructions stored in the one or more memory modules, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the controller to:
receive indication that one seed level sensor of the plurality of seed level sensors detects no seeds proximate to the seed level sensor; and
instruct the seed level sensor to move downward on a sidewall of the seed tank until the seed level sensor detects seeds proximate to the seed level sensor in response to receiving the indication.

15. A method for managing a seed level in a seed tank, the method comprising:
receiving, by a controller of a grow pod system, first information from a plurality of seed level sensors;
receiving, by the controller of the grow pod system, second information from a surface detecting sensor;
determining, by the controller of the grow pod system, a number of the seeds in the seed tank based on the first information and the second information;
receiving, by the controller of the grow pod system, a rate of seeds being provided in an assembly line grow pod; and
determining, by the controller of the grow pod system, a time for supplementing the seeds in the seed tank based on the number of seeds in the seed tank and the rate of seeds being provided in the assembly line grow pod.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
simulating a three-dimensional shape of seeds in the seed tank based on the first information and the second information; and
determine the number of the seeds based on a volume of the three-dimensional shape.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
receiving indication that one seed level sensor of the plurality of seed level sensors detects seeds proximate to the seed level sensor; and
instructing the seed level sensor to move upward on a sidewall of the seed tank until the seed level sensor detects no seeds proximate to the seed level sensor in response to receiving the indication.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
receiving indication that one seed level sensor of the plurality of seed level sensors detects no seeds proximate to the seed level sensor; and
instructing the seed level sensor to move downward on a sidewall of the seed tank until the seed level sensor detects seeds proximate to the seed level sensor in response to recei

Assignees

• Grow Solutions Tech Llc

Inventors

• Millar Gary Bret

Classifications

• G01F23/80

  Arrangements for signal processing · CPC title

• Y02P60/21

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• A01G31/042

  with containers travelling on a belt or the like, or conveyed by chains · CPC title

• A01G9/085

  Devices for setting seeds in pots · CPC title

• A01G9/083 Primary

  Devices for setting plants in pots · CPC title