Automated gravimetric screening platform system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9675012-B2
Application number	US-201414540695-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 13, 2014
Priority date	Apr 15, 2011
Publication date	Jun 13, 2017
Grant date	Jun 13, 2017

Abstract

A method for controlling soil moisture to perform water deficit experiments on a plurality of plants located in soil contained within a plurality of pots supported in a plurality of openings of a stationary platform includes lifting the plurality of pots with a plurality of load cell modules and weighing each of the plurality of pots with the load cell modules. The method also includes determining whether each pot needs to be watered based on the weight of the pot and the water deficit experiment, watering the pots through the load cell modules, if necessary, and lowering the plurality of load cell modules so that the plurality of pots are supported by the platform.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for controlling soil moisture to perform water deficit experiments on a plurality of plants located in soil contained within a plurality of pots supported in a plurality of openings of a stationary platform, the method comprising:
lifting the plurality of pots with a plurality of load cell modules;
weighing each of the plurality of pots with the load cell modules;
determining whether each pot needs to be watered based on the weight of the pot and the water deficit experiment;
watering the pots through the load cell modules, if necessary, based on the determining step; and
lowering the plurality of load cell modules so that the plurality of pots are supported by the platform wherein each load cell module includes a load cell having a support movable from a retracted position spaced apart from a bottom surface of an associated pot to an extended position in which the support of the load cell lifts the associated pot upwardly to support the weight of the pot thereon, the load cell weighing the lifted pot, and wherein each support is formed to include an aperture aligned with a fill opening in the bottom surface of the associated pot and a connector in fluid communication with the aperture, wherein watering the pots through the load cell modules includes supplying water from a water supply through the connector and the aperture of each load cell module support to the associated pot.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each load cell module includes a cylinder and a piston located in the cylinder, the piston being coupled to the load cell and movable between a retracted position and an extended position to move the load cell and a support from the retracted position spaced apart from a bottom surface of a pot to the extended position in which the support of the load cell lifts the pot upwardly to support the weight of the pot thereon.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein each pot includes a cylindrically shaped body portion and a flange located at top end of the pot, the flange being configured to engage the platform when the body portion of the pot is inserted into an opening in the platform to support the pot on the platform.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of openings in the platform are located in a plurality of rows, and further comprising the step of moving the plurality of load cell modules under the platform to align the load cell modules with a row of pots, and wherein the lifting the plurality of pots with the plurality of load cell modules lifts the entire row of pots with the plurality of load cell modules simultaneously.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising moving the load cell modules to a next row of pots and performing the lifting, weighing, determining, watering, and lowering steps for the next row of pots.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising moving at least one sensor over the plurality of pots to collect data related to the plants.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the at least one sensor includes a camera to take images of the plants in the plurality of pots.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the at least one sensor includes a temperature sensor.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the temperature sensor is an infrared camera.

Assignees

• Dow Agrosciences Llc

Inventors

• Golgotiu Kirsti A
• Herve Philippe
• Keller Douglas
• Swartwood Troy M
• Donaldson Jeffrey D

Classifications

• A01G9/02

  Receptacles, e.g. flower-pots or boxes (self-acting watering devices A01G27/00; hanging flower baskets, holders or containers for flower-pots A47G7/00); Glasses for cultivating flowers · CPC title

• A01G9/247

  Watering arrangements · CPC title

• A01G27/003 Primary

  Control of self-acting watering devices (Hydroponic system controls A01G31/008) · CPC title

• A01G7/00

  Botany in general · CPC title

• A01G9/143

  Equipment for handling produce in greenhouses · CPC title