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Vertical Farming
Documents Vertical Farming Design Challenge | Challenger List
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Engagement
  • Author Author: patkelly
  • Date Created: 28 Jul 2015 9:02 AM Date Created
  • Last Updated Last Updated: 4 Aug 2015 3:11 PM
  • Views 5311 views
  • Likes 8 likes
  • Comments 69 comments
Related
Recommended

Vertical Farming Design Challenge | Challenger List

Many thanks to all who applied for the Vertical Farming Design Challenge - there were a great many imaginative ideas on how best to build an energy efficient, small footprint,  vertical "layered" farm that is a true IoT solution. .
However, we could only have 15 sponsored competitors - and in this instance we've selected:
Ognyan Chikov | Keith Earns | John Henderson | Calla Klafas | Erik Lau | Jose Marques | James O'Donnell | Kowshik Patel | Michael Ratcliffe | Rick Reynoldsôa | Clem Martins | Ajit Singh | Shane Sissons | Joshua Tsai | Srinivasan Kanni Udaiyar |

imageOgnyan Chikov
Bulgaria
Project: Automated Farm
Synopsis:
My technical solution is made of few elements that in collaboration with each other will lead to build a complete system for operating vertical farming. The Solution is not only including software and hardware for automation and monitoring, but a new type of growing surface that will be used rather than overall footprint of the build.
Read Ogynyan's project blogs (tag automated_farm)

imageKeith Earns
United States
Project: Project EDEN
Synopsis:
EDEN uses aeroponic nutrient misting systems to grow indoors, without the need for soil. All self- contained, so no runoff. Vertical farming allows use of lateral space. With fresh produce less can be imported and thrown into the trash. Photosynthetically Active LED spectrum, CO2/pH automation, and humidity control will be active to ensure plants grow in near- optimal conditions.
Read Keith's project blogs (tag project_EDEN)

imageJohn Henderson
United States
Project: Ambient Growth
Synopsis:
The prototype shall incorporate a small scale environmental control module that shall be capable of modulating the ambient growth temperature of the plant growing area such that the plants will successfully grow.  Furthermore, the prototype shall utilize LEDs as grow lights such that the grow period can be extended significantly to optimize growth of the plants. It is also possible that a high voltage generator and grid lattice may be incorporated in the grow chamber to provide for ionization and additional plant growth stimulation.
Read John's project blogs (tag ambient_growth)

imageCalla Klafas
Australia
Project: Aquaponic Salad Garden
Synopsis:
This project aims to develop a design of a small form factor vertical garden that is setup as an easy picking shelf for fresh ingredients for the kitchen of an urban apartment in Sydney.
Read Calla's project blogs (tag aquaponic_salad_garden)

imageErik Lau
United States
Project: The Plant
Synopsis:
The proposed automation system will include methods to regulate pH temperature, water level, power usage, and feed for the fish. We will be able to regulate the system, either through the internet web page or on site computer connection.
Read Erik's project blogs (tag the_plant)

imageJose Marques
Portugal
Project: Modular Farm
Synopsis:
My goal is to develop a simple modular automated system to support indoor plant growing of fruits and vegetables. Simple means anyone with a minimum technological or botanic background should be able to install and operate it. Because it is fully automated, the human factor is minimized and we make sure the plants will have what they need when they need it. The modular approach is very important for scalability. In this way the system will be flexible enough to be used either as a domestic growing system or as an industrial production facility.
Read Jose's project blogs (tag modular_farm)

imageJames O'Donnell
United States
Project: Vertical Hyperponic Farm
Synopsis:
To demonstrate a vertical hydroponic farm, I will create a scale version that will demonstrate many of the required features. This will consist of four sections: water treatment, germination, seedling/microgreens, and nft channels. I will focus on measuring energy, water, nutrient, and other material use while controlling the nutrient solution, temperature, and lighting.
Read James' project blogs (tag vertical_hydroponic_farm)

imageKowshik Patel
India
Project: Cylindrical Farm
Synopsis:
Combining a cylindrical bottom for greater surface area, mystifying nozzle and automation controls. This build will use IoT applications to help increase biomass production in India.
Read Kowshik's project blogs (tag cylindrical_farm)

imageMichael Ratcliffe
United Kingdom
Project: Adapted Greenhouse
Synopsis:
This project will adapt the challenge of connectivity and power efficiency to an already established greenhouse.
Read Michael's project blogs (tag handheld_sensor)

imageRick Reynolds
United States
Project:Vertically Oriented Modular System
Synopsis:
My proposal consists of the design and implementation of a modular hydroponics based, vertically stackable, growing unit and wireless control and monitoring system. The concept of smaller stackable units will allow for small, home-based, installations as well as the ability for unlimited expansion to fully commercial installations. My proposal for this challenge is to build one complete stackable growing unit, a localized wireless control module and a remote wireless master control and monitoring module.
Read Rick's project blogs (tag modular_hydroponics)

imageClem Martins
United States
Project: Hydroponics Using Water Bottles & Control
Synopsis:
This build will be using recyclable materials like waterbottles and egg cartons to grow leafy vegitables. It will also document daily progress of this hydroponic, closed system using grpahs and pictures published on the cloud.
Read Clem's project blogs (tag hydroponic_water_bottles)

imageAjit Singh
India
Project: New Delhi Vertical Farm
Synopsis:
We are building a fully automated, low energy footprint, indoor vertical farm in New Delhi, India. Natural environment in Delhi is characterized by extreme temperatures not conducive for traditional techniques employed in vertical farming - hydroponics and aquaponics. The space we have at our disposal is 1,000 sqaure feet. The space will have artificial smart lighting and air conditioning - through water based coolers, misters, foggers and exhaust fans.
Read Ajit's project blogs (tag new_delhi_farm)

imageShane Sissons
United Kingdom
Project: Ferris Farm
Synopsis:
This project will use a motorized system which will provide light, water, food and air movement. The mechanical design will include a rotating platform with an integrated feeding system.
Read Shane's project blogs (tag mechanical_farm)

imageJoshua Tsai
United States
Project: Solar Farm
Synopsis:
This project integrates solar power technology into a sensor-rich, fully automated hydroponic vertical farming application.
Read Joshua's project blogs (tag solar_farm)

imageSrinivasan Kanni Udaiyar
India
Project:Simple IoT Based Plant, Soil and Water Management System 
Synopsis:
Each of the plant species (vegetable,fruit,herb) chosen will be arrayed up on a wall mountable tray / container(eco-friendly) with soil and necessary manure.The material chosen for the tray/container will be eco friendly or reusable.The supporting material will contain the plant seed, soil and manure.The containers will be mounted on a pipe in order to support DRIP IRRIGATION(efficient water utilisation).Nutrients will be passed on along with the drip irrigation.
Read Srinivasan's project blogs (tag simple_iot)
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Top Comments

  • shabaz
    shabaz over 10 years ago +6
    Good luck everyone! Many projects here look extremely interesting. Don't forget the rule that weekly blog content is needed, and of good quality, to stay in the game! It would be a shame for any of these…
  • ravi_butani
    ravi_butani over 10 years ago in reply to shabaz +5
    I have not participated due to lack of time in coming months... But i have hands on experience with EFM32 Giant Gecko Kit as we have EFM32 donated lab by silicon labs in my institute... So Will be happy…
  • sleuz
    sleuz over 10 years ago +4
    I want to welcome all contestants to our Vertical Farming Design Challenge! It was pretty tough to only pick 15 applications among all the great ideas. We at Würth Elektronik are very excited of what the…
  • shanesissons
    shanesissons over 10 years ago in reply to RWReynolds

    yea its good when your passionate about your work makes working alot more fun and happier

    im a product designer mainly working on furniture but will work on any project i feel capable to do so and i really enjoy what i do

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  • RWReynolds
    RWReynolds over 10 years ago in reply to Former Member

    Wow... Lord of the Flies. Now that was a while back.

     

    "I don't care what they call me, so long as they don't call me what they used to call me at school...They used to call me Piggy."

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  • RWReynolds
    RWReynolds over 10 years ago in reply to shanesissons

    Hey, it's not a terrible habit.

     

    I'm an embedded software developer and do a fair amount R&D in the hardware world as well. Everything takes two weeks. Nah.. Not really but that's our story and we're sticking to it.

    You just never know what the bumps in the road will be when you're constantly working with new technologies you know nothing about. lol...

     

    It's my passion though. image

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  • Former Member
    Former Member over 10 years ago in reply to shanesissons

    Lol. Lord of the flies, just the piggy survives(the piggy guy was the smart one or was it samuel something) Come to a deserted island in the middle of the pacific oh wait there's a skyscraper filled with...palm trees?!?!

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  • shanesissons
    shanesissons over 10 years ago in reply to RWReynolds

    I'm afraid I am it must be my work that causes it as I have to design and finalise a product for clients normally in under a week and I have to find solutions to problems on the spot

     

    Which is also the reason why I have already completed my housing for for the farm I'm so used to working with such a small amount of time

     

    On the plus side it does make interesting conversations on the comments

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  • RWReynolds
    RWReynolds over 10 years ago in reply to shanesissons

    You're just thinking all the time aren't ya buddy!

     

    I think that's an excellent idea! Why does this make me think of Gilligan's Island and the professor? image

     

    Ben Heck. Where ya at?

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  • shanesissons
    shanesissons over 10 years ago in reply to Former Member

    Haha we should finish out builds then make a tc show 15 community members 1 desert island and adapt all of our designs to farm coconuts to survive

     

    Thinking about it a solar powered microcontroller and a box full of sensors and parts could make island survival really interesting this would make a fun TV show or a future episode of the Ben heck show showing how a simple setup could monitor the bare nesesities like water quality, water quantity,sun uv levels, solar charger,way to send out distress signals,and just for fun a retro game emulator

    benheck

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  • Former Member
    Former Member over 10 years ago in reply to shanesissons

    Lol. 30 foot tall vertical farm. I have a ladder and a helicopter xD

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  • shanesissons
    shanesissons over 10 years ago in reply to RWReynolds

    coconuts?

    can you get bonsai palm trees?

    otherwise i don't think my vertical farm will be sufficient image

     

    i do hope that the brief is somewhat open to personal preference

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  • RWReynolds
    RWReynolds over 10 years ago in reply to clem57

    I agree, I think this is about edible crops. Although, possibly livestock feed would also be considered. If it was practical.

     

    Frankly, since it seems somewhat open, I'm going to do some research for my area to find out what is seasonal, with the best yield and is most dense. Sounds like yield weight is going to be the goal on the harvest. Coconuts maybe? image

     

    Now I hope I'm correct about the open part? image

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