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Design and Experiment of Automatic Transport System for Planting Plate in Plant Factory

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  • Dongdong Jia

    (College of Mechanical & Energy Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
    Research Center of Intelligent Equipment, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China)

  • Wenzhong Guo

    (Research Center of Intelligent Equipment, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China)

  • Lichun Wang

    (Research Center of Intelligent Equipment, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China)

  • Wengang Zheng

    (Research Center of Intelligent Equipment, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China)

  • Guohua Gao

    (College of Mechanical & Energy Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China)

Abstract

In the plant factories using stereoscopic cultivation systems, the cultivation plate transport equipment is an essential component of production. However, there are problems, such as high labor intensity, low levels of automation, and poor versatility of existing solutions, that can affect the efficiency of cultivation plate transport processes. To address these issues, this study designed a cultivation plate transport system that can automatically input and output cultivation plates, and can flexibly adjust its structure to accommodate different cultivation frame heights. We elucidated the working principles of the transport system and carried out structural design and parameter calculation for the lift cart, input actuator, and output actuator. In the input process, we used dynamic simulation technology to obtain an optimum propulsion speed of 0.3 m·s −1 . In the output process, we used finite element numerical simulation technology to verify that the deformation of the cultivation plate and the maximum stress suffered by it could meet the operational requirements. Finally, operation and performance experiments showed that, under the condition of satisfying the allowable amount of positioning error in the horizontal and vertical directions, the horizontal operation speed was 0.2 m·s −1 , the maximum positioning error was 2.87 mm, the vertical operation speed was 0.3 m·s −1 , and the maximum positioning error was 1.34 mm. Accordingly, the success rate of the transport system was 92.5–96.0%, and the operational efficiency was 176–317 plates/h. These results proved that the transport system could meet the operational requirements and provide feasible solutions for the automation of plant factory transport equipment.

Suggested Citation

  • Dongdong Jia & Wenzhong Guo & Lichun Wang & Wengang Zheng & Guohua Gao, 2024. "Design and Experiment of Automatic Transport System for Planting Plate in Plant Factory," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-26, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:14:y:2024:i:3:p:488-:d:1358704
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Dimitra I. Pomoni & Maria K. Koukou & Michail Gr. Vrachopoulos & Labros Vasiliadis, 2023. "A Review of Hydroponics and Conventional Agriculture Based on Energy and Water Consumption, Environmental Impact, and Land Use," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-26, February.
    2. James Eaves & Stephen Eaves, 2018. "Comparing the Profitability of a Greenhouse to a Vertical Farm in Quebec," Canadian Journal of Agricultural Economics/Revue canadienne d'agroeconomie, Canadian Agricultural Economics Society/Societe canadienne d'agroeconomie, vol. 66(1), pages 43-54, March.
    3. Kaikang Chen & Bo Zhao & Liming Zhou & Yongjun Zheng, 2023. "Artificial Neural Network-Based Seedling Phenotypic Information Acquisition of Plant Factory," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-17, April.
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