ILLUMINATION CONTROL SYSTEM AND
METHODS FOR MODULATING PLANT BEHAVIOR
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims the benefit of, and priority to, United States provisional patent application no. 63/083,778 filed on September 25, 2020. The entire contents of United States provisional patent application no. 63/083,778 are incorporated by reference herein.
FIELD
This disclosure relates generally to controlling illumination of one or more plants to modulate plant behavior, for example by modifying a gene expression of the one or more plants.
RELATED ART
Illuminating plants may be desirable, but some methods of and systems for illuminating plants may not achieve desired plant behavior.
SUMMARY
According to at least one embodiment, there is disclosed a method of modulating at least one behavior of at least one plant by controlling at least one illumination apparatus illuminating the at least one plant, the method comprising controlling a progression of a progressive transition of illumination of the at least one plant by the at least one illumination apparatus from a first type of illumination to a second type of illumination different from the first type of illumination.
In some embodiments, controlling the progression of the progressive transition of the illumination from the first type of illumination to the second type of illumination comprises controlling the progression of the progressive transition of the illumination from a first intensity of illumination to a second intensity of illumination different from the first intensity of illumination.
In some embodiments, controlling the progression of the progressive transition of the illumination from the first type of illumination to the second type of illumination comprises controlling the progression of the progressive transition of the illumination from a first illumination spectrum to a second illumination spectrum different from the first illumination spectrum.
In some embodiments, controlling the progression of the progressive transition of the illumination from the first type of illumination to the second type of illumination comprises controlling the progression of the progressive transition of the illumination from the first type of illumination to the second type of illumination according to at least one transition function.
In some embodiments, the at least one transition function comprises a sigmoidal function over time.
In some embodiments, the at least one transition function comprises a linear function over time.
In some embodiments, the at least one transition function comprises a non-monotonic function over time.
In some embodiments, the at least one transition function simulates at least natural solar illumination.
In some embodiments, the at least one transition function simulates at least dawn.
In some embodiments, the at least one transition function simulates at least dusk.
In some embodiments, the at least one transition function simulates at least sunrise.
In some embodiments, the at least one transition function simulates at least sunset.
In some embodiments, the at least one transition function simulates at least illumination variance due to passing cloud cover.
In some embodiments, the at least one transition function simulates at least daily illumination variance due to the Earth’s rotation about its axis.
In some embodiments, the at least one transition function simulates at least natural solar illumination at a set of particular geographical locations.
In some embodiments, the set of particular geographical locations comprises a particular latitude.
In some embodiments, the set of particular geographical locations comprises a particular altitude.
In some embodiments: controlling the progression of the progressive transition of the illumination from the first type of illumination to the second type of illumination according to the at least one transition function comprises controlling the progression of the progressive transition of the illumination from the first type of illumination to the second type of illumination on a first day according to a first at least one transition function; and the method further comprises controlling a progression of a progressive transition of the illumination from a third type of illumination to a fourth type of illumination different from the third type of illumination on a second day different from the first day according to a second at least one transition function different from the first at least one transition function.
In some embodiments, a difference between the first at least one transition function and the second at least one transition function simulates at least annual illumination variance due to the Earth’s orbit around the Sun.
In some embodiments, the method further comprises identifying the at least one transition function.
In some embodiments, identifying the at least one transition function comprises identifying the at least one transition function in response to at least some plant characteristic data representing at least one plant characteristic of the at least one plant.
In some embodiments: the method further comprises, for each plant of a plurality of plants, controlling a progression of a progressive transition of illumination of the plant by a respective at least one illumination apparatus from a respective first type of illumination to a respective second type of illumination different from the respective first type of illumination according to a respective different at least one transition function of a plurality of transition functions; the plant characteristic data represent a respective at least one plant characteristic of each plant of the plurality of plants; and identifying the at least one transition function comprises identifying the at least one transition function in response to the respective at least one plant characteristic of each plant of the plurality of plants.
In some embodiments, identifying the at least one transition function comprises identifying an identified one of the plurality of transition functions according to which a plant, having at least one most desired plant characteristic value, of the plurality of plants was exposed to illumination by the respective at least one illumination apparatus. In some embodiments, the method further comprises receiving plant characteristic data from at least one sensor, the plant characteristic data representing at least one plant characteristic of the at least one plant.
In some embodiments, the method further comprises receiving the plant characteristic data from at least one sensor.
In some embodiments, the at least one sensor comprises at least one light sensor.
In some embodiments, the at least one light sensor comprises at least one camera.
In some embodiments, the at least one camera comprises at least one two-dimensional camera.
In some embodiments, the at least one camera comprises at least one three-dimensional camera.
In some embodiments, the at least one light sensor comprises at least one photodiode.
In some embodiments, the at least one light sensor is capable of detecting different wavelengths of light.
In some embodiments, the at least one light sensor comprises at least one hyperspectral camera.
In some embodiments, the at least one light sensor comprises at least one camera with at least one external spectral filter.
In some embodiments, the at least one light sensor comprises at least one camera with at least one external neutral density filter.
In some embodiments, the at least one light sensor comprises at least one camera with at least one Bayer filter.
In some embodiments, the at least one light sensor comprises at least one single-pixel photodetector.
In some embodiments, the at least one light sensor comprises at least one three-channel system.
In some embodiments, the at least one sensor comprises at least one human observer.
In some embodiments, the at least one plant characteristic comprises leaf shape.
In some embodiments, the at least one plant characteristic comprises leaf area.
In some embodiments, the at least one plant characteristic comprises leaf color. In some embodiments, the at least one plant characteristic comprises leaf reflectance.
In some embodiments, the at least one plant characteristic comprises leaf transmission.
In some embodiments, the at least one plant characteristic comprises leaf count.
In some embodiments, the at least one plant characteristic comprises leaf-to-stem ratio.
In some embodiments, the at least one plant characteristic comprises stem color.
In some embodiments, the at least one plant characteristic comprises stock size-to-stem size ratio.
In some embodiments, the at least one plant characteristic comprises node spacing.
In some embodiments, the at least one plant characteristic comprises number of branches per node.
In some embodiments, the at least one plant characteristic comprises daily plant movement.
In some embodiments, the at least one plant characteristic comprises at least one spectrally detectable characteristic.
In some embodiments, the at least one spectrally detectable characteristic is characterizable by a reflectance spectrum.
In some embodiments, the reflectance spectrum is above about 200 nanometers (nm).
In some embodiments, the reflectance spectrum is above about 400 nm.
In some embodiments, the reflectance spectrum is below about 900 nm.
In some embodiments, the reflectance spectrum is below about 1100 nm.
In some embodiments, the reflectance spectrum is below about 2000 nm.
In some embodiments, the at least one spectrally detectable characteristic is detectable using red-green-blue (RGB) video.
In some embodiments, controlling the progression of the progressive transition of the illumination of the at least one plant comprises upregulating at least one gene that controls a plant behavior of the at least one plant.
In some embodiments, controlling the progression of the progressive transition of the illumination of the at least one plant comprises downregulating at least one gene that controls a plant behavior of the at least one plant.
In some embodiments, the at least one gene comprises CCA1. In some embodiments, the at least one gene comprises LHY.
In some embodiments, the at least one gene comprises NR1.
In some embodiments, the at least one gene comprises RBCL.
In some embodiments, the at least one gene comprises NPQ2.
In some embodiments, the at least one gene comprises PALI.
In some embodiments, the at least one gene comprises CESA1.
In some embodiments, the at least one gene comprises TIP.
In some embodiments, the at least one gene comprises TIPI.
In some embodiments, the at least one gene comprises TIP2.
In some embodiments, the at least one gene comprises TPS1.
In some embodiments, controlling the progression of the progressive transition of the illumination of the at least one plant comprises modulating at least growth rate of the at least one plant.
In some embodiments, controlling the progression of the progressive transition of the illumination of the at least one plant comprises modulating at least flowering of the at least one plant.
In some embodiments, controlling the progression of the progressive transition of the illumination of the at least one plant comprises modulating at least branch number of the at least one plant.
In some embodiments, controlling the progression of the progressive transition of the illumination of the at least one plant comprises modulating at least inter-nodal spacing of the at least one plant.
In some embodiments, controlling the progression of the progressive transition of the illumination of the at least one plant comprises modulating at least chemical composition of the at least one plant.
In some embodiments, controlling the progression of the progressive transition of the illumination of the at least one plant comprises modulating at least biomass of the at least one plant. In some embodiments, controlling the progression of the progressive transition of the illumination of the at least one plant comprises modulating starch accumulation of the at least one plant.
In some embodiments, the at least one plant comprises a Brassicaceae plant
In some embodiments, the at least one plant comprises a. Brassica plant.
In some embodiments, controlling the progression of the progressive transition of the illumination from the first type of illumination to the second type of illumination comprises controlling the progression of the progressive transition of the illumination from the first type of illumination to the second type of illumination over a transition time of at least about 1 minute.
In some embodiments, the transition time is at least about 15 minutes.
In some embodiments, the transition time is at least about 20 minutes.
In some embodiments, the transition time is less than about 40 minutes.
In some embodiments, the transition time is less than about 60 minutes.
In some embodiments, the transition time is less than about 120 minutes.
In some embodiments, the transition time is about 30 minutes.
In some embodiments, the at least one illumination apparatus comprises at least one light-emitting diode (LED).
In some embodiments, the at least one LED comprises a plurality of individually controllable LEDs.
According to at least one embodiment, there is disclosed at least one computer- readable medium storing thereon program codes that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to implement the method.
According to at least one embodiment, there is disclosed a system programmed to implement the method.
Other aspects and features will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of illustrative embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying figures. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. l is a perspective view of an illumination control system for modulating plant behavior according to one embodiment.
FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a processor circuit of a computer of the system of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 schematically illustrates general examples of transition functions.
FIG. 4 schematically illustrates examples of transition functions that simulate dawn.
FIG. 5 illustrates the effect of dawn-dusk time on starch accumulation in a plant.
FIG. 6 schematically illustrates transition function identification program codes of a program memory of the processor circuit of FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to FIG. 1, an illumination control system for modulating plant behavior according to one embodiment is shown generally at 100 and includes a computer 102. The computer 102 in the embodiment shown is a laptop computer including a keyboard 104, a mouse 106, and a display screen 108. The computer 102 is an example only, and computers of alternative embodiments may differ. For example, computers of alternative embodiments may include one or more personal computers, one or more tablet computers, one or more server computers, or one or more different computing devices, and computers of alternative embodiments may include one or more different input devices and may include one or more different output devices.
The system 100 also includes four illumination apparatuses 110, 112, 114, and 116, each positioned and operable to illuminate a respective one of plants 118, 120, 122, and 124. Specifically, the illumination apparatus 110 is positioned and operable to illuminate the plant 118, the illumination apparatus 112 is positioned and operable to illuminate the plant 120, the illumination apparatus 114 is positioned and operable to illuminate the plant 122, and the illumination apparatus 116 is positioned and operable to illuminate the plant 124. The plants 118, 120, 122, and 124 may be, for example, Brassicaceae plants, and even more specifically, may be Brassica plants. Herein, plants may include algae or other plants. In the embodiment shown, each of the illumination apparatuses 110, 112, 114, and 116 includes one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs). For example, each illumination apparatus may include a plurality of individually controllable LEDs. Although in the embodiment shown the illumination apparatuses 110, 112, 114, and 116 each include one or more LEDs, in alternative embodiments the illumination apparatuses may include other sources of illumination. Further, although the embodiment shown includes illumination apparatuses that are positioned and operable to illuminate respective different individual plants, alternative embodiments may differ and, for example, one illumination apparatus may be positioned and operable to illuminate two or more different plants, and two or more different illumination apparatuses may be positioned and operable to illuminate one or more plants.
The system 100 also includes sensors 126, 128, 130, and 132. In some embodiments, the sensors 126, 128, 130, and 132 may be referred to as a “vision system”. Each of the sensors 126, 128, 130, and 132 is positioned and operable to measure one or more plant characteristics of a respective one of the plants 118, 120, 122, and 124. Specifically, the sensor 126 is positioned and operable to measure one or more plant characteristics of the plant 118, the sensor 128 is positioned and operable to measure one or more plant characteristics of the plant 120, the sensor 130 is positioned and operable to measure one or more plant characteristics of the plant 122, and sensor 132 is positioned and operable to measure one or more plant characteristics of the plant 124. In the embodiment shown, each of the sensors 126, 128, 130, and 132 is a light sensor, such as, for example, a camera, a photodiode, a singlepixel photodetector, or a three-channel system. More specifically, each of the sensors 126, 128, 130, and 132 may be a two-dimensional camera or a three-dimensional camera. More specifically, each of the sensors 126, 128, 130, and 132 may be a camera or photodiode capable of detecting different wavelengths of light, such as hyperspectral cameras, cameras with external spectral filters, cameras with external neutral density filters, or cameras integrating filters such as a Bayer filter. Although in the embodiment shown the sensors 126, 128, 130, and 132 are light sensors, in alternative embodiments other types of sensors may be used to measure the one or more plant characteristics, such as, for example, human observers. Further, although the embodiment shown includes sensors that are positioned and operable to measure one or more plant characteristics of respective different individual plants, alternative embodiments may differ and, for example, one sensor may be positioned and operable to measure one or more plant characteristics of two or more different plants, and two or more different sensors may be positioned and operable to measure one or more plant characteristics of one or more plants.
The system 100 further includes a computer network 134. The computer network 134 is in communication with the computer 102 and is also in communication with each of the illumination apparatuses 110, 112, 114, and 116 and with each of the sensors 126, 128, 130, and 132. Each of the illumination apparatuses 110, 112, 114, and 116 is operable to receive one or more signals from the computer 102 through the computer network 134, and each of the sensors 126, 128, 130, and 132 is operable to send one or more signals to the computer 102 through the computer network 134.
Referring to FIG. 2, the computer 102 includes a processor circuit shown generally at 150. The processor circuit 150 includes a central processing unit (“CPU”) or microprocessor 152. The processor circuit 150 also includes a program memory 154, a storage memory 156, and an input/output (“VO”) module 158 all in communication with the microprocessor 152. In general, the program memory 154 stores program codes that, when executed by the microprocessor 152, cause the processor circuit 150 to implement functions of the computer 102 such as those described herein, for example. Further, in general, the storage memory 156 includes stores for storing storage codes as described herein, for example. The program memory 154 and the storage memory 156 may be implemented in one or more of the same or different computer-readable storage media, which in various embodiments may include one or more of a read-only memory (“ROM”), random access memory (“RAM”), a hard disc drive (“HDD”), a solid-state drive (“SSD”), and other computer-readable and/or computer- writable storage media.
The VO module 158 may include various signal interfaces, analog-to-digital converters (“ADCs”), digital-to-analog converters (“DACs”), receivers, transmitters, and/or other circuitry to receive, produce, and transmit signals as described herein, for example. In the embodiment shown, the VO module 158 includes a keyboard input signal interface 160 for receiving input signals from the keyboard 104, and a mouse input signal interface 162 for receiving input signals from the mouse 106.
The VO module 158 also includes a display screen output signal interface 164 for producing and transmitting signals for causing the display screen 108 to produce visible outputs. The I/O module 158 also includes a network interface 166 to transmit signals to, receive signals from, or transmit signals to and receive signals from the computer network 134.
The I/O module 158 is an example only and may differ in alternative embodiments. For example, alternative embodiments may include more, fewer, or different interfaces. More generally, the processor circuit 150 is an example only, and alternative embodiments may differ. For example, in alternative embodiments, the computer 102 may include different hardware, different software, or both. Such different hardware may include more than one microprocessor, one or more central processing units (“CPUs”), one or more machine learning chips, one or more cloud server computers, one or more other alternatives to the microprocessor 152, discrete logic circuits, or an application-specific integrated circuit (“ASIC”), or combinations of one or more thereof, for example.
The program memory 154 includes operating system program codes 172 of an operating system such as Microsoft Windows™, for example. The program memory 154 also includes user interface program codes 174 that, when executed by the microprocessor 152, cause the processor circuit 150 to control an interactive user interface of the user computing device 102. Users may use such an interactive user interface to, for example, initiate or adjust plant illumination control.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the program memory 154 further includes plant illumination control program codes 176 that, when executed by the microprocessor 152, cause the processor circuit 150 to send one or more control signals through the computer network to the illumination apparatuses 110, 112, 114, and 116. In response to the one or more control signals received from the processor circuit 150 of the computer 102, each of the illumination apparatuses 110, 112, 114, and 116 is operable to adjust a respective illumination that it produces. Therefore, the computer 102 is configured to control an illumination that the illumination apparatuses 110, 112, 114, and 116 provide to the plants 118, 120, 122, and 124, respectively. That is, the computer 102 is configured to control the illumination that the plants 118, 120, 122, and 124 receive from the illumination apparatuses 110, 112, 114, and 116, respectively. As such, the computer 102 may control a progression of a progressive transition of the illumination received by the plants 118, 120, 122, and 124 from a first type of illumination to a second type of illumination that is different from the first type of illumination. The first type of illumination may have a first intensity of illumination and the second type of illumination may have a second intensity of illumination that is different from the first intensity of illumination. The first type of illumination may have a first illumination spectrum and the second type of illumination may have a second illumination spectrum that is different from the first illumination spectrum. Herein, “illumination spectrum” refers generally to the frequency or frequencies of light emitted by an illumination apparatus any may include a single frequency or a set of two or more frequencies. In some embodiments, the progression of the progressive transition of illumination may be referred to as “time-varying illumination”.
A transition time over which the progression of the progressive transition of the illumination is controlled by the computer 102 may be, for example, about 30 minutes. Of course, alternative transition times may be used. For example, the transition time may be at least about 1 minute, at least about 15 minutes, or at least about 20 minutes. The transition time may also be less than about 40 minutes, less than about 60 minutes, or less than about 120 minutes.
Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the program memory 154 may further include transition function definition program codes 178 that, when executed by the microprocessor 152, cause the processor circuit 150 to define a transition function, for example based on user input to the computer 102. The computer 102 may use the transition function to govern the plant illumination control program codes 176 when controlling the illumination apparatuses 110, 112, 114, and 116, and may thus control the progression of the progressive transition of the illumination received by the plants 118, 120, 122, and 124 according to the transition function. For example, the transition function may govern the progression of the progressive transition of the illumination received by the plants 118, 120, 122, and 124 from a first intensity of illumination 136 at a first time 140 to a second intensity of illumination 138 at a second time 142. In this example, the transition time is the difference between the first time 140 and the second time 142. The transition function may be a sigmoidal function over time, such as transition function 144, a linear function over time, such as transition function 146, or a non- monotonic function over time, such as transition function 148. Of course, transition functions 144, 146, and 148 are examples only, and alternative transition functions may be used. For example, alternative transition functions may include combinations of one or more sigmoidal functions, one or more linear functions, one or more non-monotonic functions, or a combination of two or more thereof. Storage codes representing defined transition functions may be stored in a transition function store 168 in the storage memory 156.
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the transition function may simulate one or more natural illumination transitions such as natural solar illumination transitions, for example. For example, the transition function may simulate dawn, dusk, sunrise, sunset, illumination variance due to passing cloud cover, daily illumination variance due to the Earth’s rotation about its axis, or a combination of two or more thereof. In this respect, simulating a natural illumination transition means mimicking changes that occur in intensity of illumination and in illumination spectrum over time during the natural illumination transition. Of course, the transition function may also simulate a modified natural illumination transition, wherein the transition time, the changes in intensity of illumination, the changes in illumination spectrum, or two or more thereof are varied from the respective natural illumination transition. For example, the transition function may simulate dawn transitions having a range of different transition times, as shown in FIG. 4. In general, transition functions (such as a transition function that simulates a natural illumination transition or a modified natural illumination transition, for example) may simulate an illumination transition at a particular geographical location or set of particular geographical locations, such as a particular latitude, a particular altitude, another particular geographical location or set of particular geographical locations, or a combination of two or more thereof.
Although in the embodiment described a single transition function governs the progression of the progressive transition of the illumination received by the plants 118, 120, 122, and 124, in alternative embodiments the progression of the progressive transition of the illumination may instead be governed by multiple transition functions. Such multiple transition functions may differ from each other. For example, in some embodiments, progression of a progressive transition of illumination may be governed by transition functions including a first transition function simulating dawn over a duration of 30 minutes followed by a second transition function simulating dusk over a duration of 45 minutes.
Multiple transition functions may also be combined to simulate more complex and long-term natural illumination transitions. For example, the computer 102 may use multiple transition functions to simulate annual illumination variance due to the Earth’s orbit around the Sun. Specifically, on a first day, the computer 102 may control the progression of the progressive transition of the illumination from the first type of illumination to the second type of illumination according to a first transition function. On a second day different from the first day, the computer 102 may control a progression of a progressive transition of the illumination from a third type of illumination to a fourth type of illumination different from the third type of illumination according to a second transition function different from the first transition function. In this example, a difference between the first transition function and the second transition function may simulate the annual illumination variance due to the Earth’s orbit around the Sun.
By controlling the progression of the progressive transition of the illumination received by the plants 118, 120, 122, and 124, the system 100 may modify a gene expression of plants 118, 120, 122, and 124. Specifically, controlling the progression of the progressive transition of the illumination may upregulate, downregulate, or upregulate and downregulate one or more genes that control a plant behavior of the plants 118, 120, 122, and 124. For example, controlling the progression of the progressive transition of the illumination may upregulate, downregulate, or upregulate and downregulate a circadian clock associated 1 gene (CCA1), a late elongated hypocotyl gene (LHY), a nitrate reductase 1 gene (NR1), a RuBisCO large subunit gene (RBCL), a non-photochemical quenching 2 gene (NPQ2), a phenylalanine ammonia-lyase 1 gene (PALI), a cellulose synthase 1 gene (CESA1), a TCV-interacting protein gene (TIP), a tip growth defective 1 gene (TIPI), a tonoplast intrinsic protein 2 gene (TIP2), a trehalose-6-phosphate synthase gene (TPS1), or a combination of two or more thereof.
Accordingly, controlling the progression of the progressive transition of the illumination received by the plants 118, 120, 122, and 124 may modulate one or more behaviors of the plants 118, 120, 122, and 124. For example, controlling the progression of the progressive transition of the illumination may modulate growth rate, flowering, branch number, inter-nodal spacing, chemical composition, biomass, starch accumulation, or two or more thereof of the plants 118, 120, 122, and 124. An example of such modulation is shown in FIG. 5, which demonstrates that varying a dawn-dusk time of a transition function simulating a dawn-dusk transition may result in different levels of starch accumulation.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, each of the sensors 126, 128, 130, and 132 is operable to send plant characteristic data representing the one or more plant characteristics of the plants 118, 120, 122, and 124 through the computer network 134 to the computer 102. Storage codes representing the plant characteristic data may be stored in a plant characteristic data store 170 in the storage memory 156. The one or more plant characteristics measured by the sensors 126, 128, 130, and 132 may include leaf shape, leaf area, leaf color, leaf reflectance, leaf transmission, leaf count, leaf-to-stem ratio, stem color, stock size-to-stem size ratio, node spacing, number of branches per node, daily plant movement, or two or more thereof. The one or more plant characteristics measured by the sensors 126, 128, 130, and 132 may include one or more optically detectable characteristics, or spectrally detectable characteristics that may be characterizable, for example, by a reflectance spectrum. The reflectance spectrum may be, for example, above about 200 nanometers (nm) or above about 400 nm. The reflectance spectrum may also be below about 900 nm, below about 1100 nm, or below about 2000 nm. The one or more spectrally detectable characteristics may be detectable, for example, using red-green- blue (RGB) video or other component video. Changes in the one or more plant characteristics may indicate whether genes modulating any of the one or more behaviors of the plants 118, 120, 122, and 124 have been expressed in the plants 118, 120, 122, and 124.
The program memory 154 may further include transition function identification program codes 180 that, when executed by the microprocessor 152, cause the processor circuit 150 to identify one or more desired transition functions of a plurality of transition functions. The identification of the one or more desired transition functions may be based on at least some of the plant characteristic data received from the sensors 126, 128, 130, and 132. For example, the one or more desired transition functions may be identified as those that yield one or more most desired plant characteristic values in one or more of the plants 118, 120, 122, and 124. The one or more most desired plant characteristic values may include specific, maximum, or minimum values of one or more of leaf shape, leaf area, leaf color, leaf reflectance, leaf transmission, leaf count, leaf-to-stem ratio, stem color, stock size-to-stem size ratio, node spacing, number of branches per node, daily plant movement, or two or more thereof.
Referring to FIG. 6, the transition function identification program codes 180 are illustrated schematically for an exemplary identification of a single desired transition function of four selected transition functions that yields a single most desired plant characteristic value of a selected plant characteristic in one or more of the plants 118, 120, 122, and 124. Of course, as mentioned above, the transition function identification program codes 180 may be used to identify multiple desired transition functions, and the identification may be based on multiple most desired plant characteristic values.
The transition function identification program codes 180 may begin at blocks 182, 184, and 186 in response to a user selection of the plurality of transition functions to consider, a user definition of the most desired plant characteristic, and a user definition of a time limit for identification, respectively. One or more of the selected plurality of transition functions may be selected from the transition function store 168, for example. The time limit for identification represents the maximum time allocated for the identification.
The transition function identification program codes 180 may then continue at block 188, which may include program codes that, when executed by the microprocessor 152, cause the processor circuit 150 to assign each of a respective one of the four selected transition functions to each of a respective one of the plants 118, 120, 122, and 124.
After block 188, the transition function identification program codes 180 may then continue at block 190, which may include program codes that, when executed by the microprocessor 152, cause the processor circuit 150 to control each of the illumination apparatuses 110, 112, 114, and 116 to progressively transition illumination of each of the plants 118, 120, 122, and 124, respectively, according to each plant’s assigned transition function.
After block 190, the transition function identification program codes 180 may then continue at block 192, which may include program codes that, when executed by the microprocessor 152, cause the processor circuit 150 to receive plant characteristic data corresponding to each plant’s progressive transition of illumination governed by each plant’s assigned transition function and representing at least the selected plant characteristic from the sensors 126, 128, 130, and 132.
After block 192, the transition function identification program codes 180 may then continue at block 194, which may include program codes that, when executed by the microprocessor 152, cause the processor circuit 150 to store the received plant characteristic data in the plant characteristic data store 170.
After block 194, the transition function identification program codes 180 may then continue at block 196, which may include program codes that, when executed by the microprocessor 152, cause the processor circuit 150 to determine whether the time limit for identification has been reached. If at block 196 the time limit for identification has not been reached, then the transition function identification program codes 180 may return to block 190.
However, if at block 196 the time limit for identification has been reached, then the transition function identification program codes 180 may continue at block 198, which may include program codes that, when executed by the microprocessor 152, cause the processor circuit 150 to analyze the received plant characteristic data stored in the plant characteristic data store 170 in order to identify which of the four selected transition functions yields the single most desired plant characteristic value. The transition function so identified is the desired transition function. Once the desired transition function has been identified, it may be displayed on the display screen 108.
Referring back to Figure 2, the storage memory 156 may further include a link data store 200 that stores storage codes representing link data identifying links between two or more of plant chemistry, plant genetics, plant morphology, plant behavior, and one or more transition functions governing plant illumination. For example, the link data may identify a particular transition function that, when used in the system 100 to govern a progression of a progressive transition of an illumination received by a plant of a particular species, maximizes a particular plant behavior of a plant of a particular plant species. The link data may be obtained, for example, from experimentation, from existing scientific literature, or from consulting subject matter experts. The link data may be used by a user to guide and inform the user when defining a transition function.
Of course, the embodiments described above are examples only, and alternative embodiments may vary. For example, the system 100 may not include the computer network 134 and instead the illumination apparatuses 110, 112, 114, and 116 and the sensors 126, 128,
130, and 132 may be in direct communication with the computer 102. Further, alternative embodiments may include a different number of illumination apparatuses, including only a single illumination apparatus, and may be configured such that each plant is illuminated by multiple illumination apparatuses or such that each illumination apparatus illuminates multiple plants. Still other alternative embodiments may include a different number of sensors, including only a single sensor, and may be configured such that each plant is measured by multiple sensors or such that each sensor measures multiple plants.
Although specific embodiments have been described and illustrated, such embodiments should be considered illustrative only and not as limiting the invention as construed according to the accompanying claims.