Published Technical Disclosure Archive

Advanced Automated Vertical Farming System Design

Publication ID: 24-11856902_0008_PTD
Published: October 26, 2025
Category:Synergistic Combinations

Legal Citation

pr1or.art Inc., “Advanced Automated Vertical Farming System Design,” Published Technical Disclosure No. 24-11856902_0008_PTD, Published October 26, 2025, available at https://archive.pr1or.art/24-11856902_0008_PTD
This technical disclosure describes improvements that would be readily apparent to a Person Having Ordinary Skill In The Art (PHOSITA) when considered in combination with the foundational architecture disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 11,856,902.

Background and Problem Solved

The original patent, 'Production facility layouts for automated controlled environment agriculture', presented a fundamental design for controlled environment crop production systems. However, this invention addresses the limitations of the original design by incorporating advanced technologies to optimize crop yields, reduce energy consumption, and enhance the overall production process.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The invention's novelty lies in the synergistic integration of AI, IoT, blockchain, and novel materials to create a more powerful and efficient controlled environment agriculture system. The inventive step is the combination of these technologies to achieve optimized crop yields, reduced energy consumption, and enhanced production process.

Alternative Embodiments and Variations

Alternative embodiments may include variations in the AI-powered crop monitoring system, such as using computer vision or machine learning algorithms to detect crop stress. Other variations may include different IoT sensor configurations or blockchain-based tracking systems. Additionally, the invention could be adapted for use in different types of controlled environment agriculture facilities, such as greenhouses or indoor farms.

Potential Commercial Applications and Market

The invention has significant commercial potential in the controlled environment agriculture industry, particularly in the areas of vertical farming, indoor agriculture, and precision agriculture. The target market includes large-scale commercial growers, urban agriculture initiatives, and research institutions.

CPC Classifications

SectionClassGroup
A A01 A01G31/06
A A01 A01G31/045

Field of Art

Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) with focus on automated production facility design, crop monitoring systems, and advanced agricultural technology integration

Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile

An engineer or agricultural technologist with expertise in facility design, automation systems, sensor technologies, and crop production optimization, typically holding a bachelor's or master's degree in agricultural engineering, plant sciences, or related technical disciplines

Obviousness Rationale

A PHOSITA would recognize that the PTD's proposed variations represent predictable technological extensions of the source patent's controlled environment agriculture framework. The integration of AI, IoT, and blockchain technologies into existing facility layouts represents incremental improvements using known techniques in agricultural automation. These modifications would be considered routine design choices for someone skilled in optimizing controlled environment agricultural systems.

Obvious Combinations & Variations

Source Patent Element
Crop production facility with nutrient and thermal corridor and array of grow rooms
PTD Variation
AI-powered crop monitoring system integrated into facility layout to adjust environmental conditions
Obviousness Reasoning
Predictable application of machine learning techniques to existing facility monitoring systems, representing a known method of enhancing agricultural production efficiency
Source Patent Element
Automated harvesting and processing configurations
PTD Variation
IoT sensor integration for real-time temperature, humidity, and light level monitoring
Obviousness Reasoning
Routine enhancement of existing automated systems using standard sensor technologies and data collection methods
Source Patent Element
Modular grow room design with environmental control capabilities
PTD Variation
Vertically-stacked grow room design with advanced LED lighting and AI-powered predictive analytics
Obviousness Reasoning
Logical optimization of spatial and technological configurations using known vertical farming and lighting technologies
Source Patent Element
Nutrient delivery and processing systems
PTD Variation
Graphene-based hydroponic nutrient delivery system with IoT sensor monitoring
Obviousness Reasoning
Incremental materials and sensor technology improvement representing a predictable evolution of existing nutrient delivery methods
Source Patent Element
Controlled environment agricultural facility layout
PTD Variation
Blockchain-based marketplace for input sourcing and crop tracking
Obviousness Reasoning
Application of distributed ledger technologies to agricultural supply chain management, representing a standard technological integration approach
35 U.S.C. § 103 Summary: Based on the teachings of US Patent 11856902 and the disclosed technological variations, a person having ordinary skill in the art would find the proposed controlled environment agriculture system modifications to be obvious and lacking inventive step. The combination of known automation, sensor, AI, and blockchain technologies represents routine engineering design choices that would be apparent to a skilled practitioner in the field of agricultural systems design.

Original Patent Information

Patent NumberUS 11,856,902
TitleProduction facility layouts for automated controlled environment agriculture
Assignee(s)MJNN LLC