Devices, systems, and methods for providing and using one or more valves in an assembly line grow pod

Abstract

Devices, systems, and methods for providing and operating a valve control module and valves in an assembly line grow pod are provided herein. Some embodiments include an assembly line grow pod having a plurality of fluid lines fluidly coupled between a fluid source and a fluid destination within the assembly line grow pod, a plurality of valves, each coupled to a fluid line such that fluid movement through the fluid lines is selectively controlled by the valves, and a master controller communicatively coupled to the valves. The master controller is programmed to receive information relating to fluid delivery within the assembly line grow pod, determine one or more valves to direct the fluid, determine valve parameters for each of the valves that achieve the fluid direction, and transmit one or more control signals to the valves for directing the fluid within the assembly line grow pod.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of installing a plurality of valves in an assembly line grow pod, the method comprising:
 providing the assembly line grow pod comprising a fluid source and at least one fluid destination;   disposing the plurality of valves in the assembly line grow pod between the fluid source and the at least one fluid destination and fluidly coupling the plurality of valves to a first fluid line fluidly coupled to the fluid source and at least one second fluid line fluidly coupled to the at least one fluid destination such that the plurality of valves, when operated, selectively controls movement of a fluid flow in the first fluid line and the at least one second fluid line from the fluid source to the at least one fluid destination; and   communicatively coupling the plurality of valves to a master controller within the assembly line grow pod, wherein the master controller is programmed to receive a recipe relating to a predetermined amount of fluid to be delivered to a particular plant at a predetermined location within the assembly line grow pod, determine one or more valves of the plurality of valves to direct the predetermined amount of fluid to the predetermined location, determine valve parameters for each of the one or more valves that achieve the fluid direction, and transmit one or more control signals to the one or more valves for directing the predetermined amount of fluid within the assembly line grow pod according to the recipe.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 providing the master controller in the assembly line grow pod.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein communicatively coupling the plurality of valves comprises communicatively coupling the plurality of valves to a valve control module installable within the master controller. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising installing the valve control module within the master controller. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein installing the valve control module within the master controller comprises inserting the valve control module into an open bay of the master controller. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein installing the valve control module within the master controller comprises fixing the valve control module within a first bay of a plurality of bays of the master controller such that the valve control module is not removable from the master controller. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 providing one or more pumps within the assembly line grow pod; and   fluidly coupling the one or more pumps to one or more fluid lines of the assembly line grow pod.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the first fluid line or the at least one second fluid line comprise one or more water lines. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the first fluid line or the at least one second fluid line comprise one or more airflow lines. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein communicatively coupling the plurality of valves to the master controller within the assembly line grow pod comprises communicatively coupling an actuator of each of the plurality of valves to the master controller such that the actuator receives control signals from the master controller. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein communicatively coupling the plurality of valves to the master controller within the assembly line grow pod comprises communicatively coupling the plurality of valves to the master controller via a communications network. 
     
     
         32 . The assembly line grow pod of  claim 21 , wherein the fluid source is a fluid holding tank containing one or more of the following: water, a mixture of water and nutrients, nutrients, or gasses. 
     
     
         33 . The assembly line grow pod of  claim 21 , wherein the fluid source is a watering component that supplies one or more of the following: water and nutrients to plants that are grown in the assembly line grow pod. 
     
     
         34 . The assembly line grow pod of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one fluid destination includes a watering manifold that supplies water to one or more seed trays supported on a cart within the assembly line grow pod. 
     
     
         35 . A method of operating an assembly line grow pod, the method comprising:
 receiving, by a master controller comprising a valve control module, a recipe relating to a predetermined amount of fluid to be delivered to a particular plant at a predetermined location within the assembly line grow pod;   determining, by the master controller, an action to be completed based on the recipe, wherein the action comprises operation of one or more valves in the assembly line grow pod to direct the predetermined amount of fluid to the predetermined location and valve parameters for each of the one or more valves that achieve the fluid direction; and   transmitting, by the master controller, one or more control signals to the one or more valves for directing the predetermined amount of fluid within the assembly line grow pod according to the recipe.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 determining, by the master controller, that one or more additional modules are needed for completing actions in the assembly line grow pod in addition to the valve control module; and   providing instructions to the one or more additional modules for carrying out the actions.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the one or more additional modules comprises a pump control module for controlling one or more pumps in the assembly line grow pod. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising monitoring the assembly line grow pod to ensure the actions are completed. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein monitoring the assembly line grow pod comprises receiving signals and/or data from one or more sensors disposed within the assembly line grow pod. 
     
     
         40 . A method, comprising:
 providing an assembly line grow pod comprising a fluid source and at least one fluid destination;   providing a master controller in the assembly line grow pod, the master controller comprising a valve control module;   disposing a plurality of valves, each comprising an actuator, in the assembly line grow pod between the fluid source and the at least one fluid destination and fluidly coupling the plurality of valves to a first fluid line fluidly coupled to the fluid source and at least one second fluid line fluidly coupled to the at least one fluid destination such that the plurality of valves, when operated, selectively controls movement of a fluid flow in the first fluid line and the at least one second fluid line from the fluid source to the at least one fluid destination; and   communicatively coupling the actuator of each of the plurality of valves to the valve control module of the master controller, wherein the valve control module is programmed to receive a recipe relating to a predetermined amount of fluid to be delivered to a particular plant at a predetermined location within the assembly line grow pod, determine one or more valves of the plurality of valves to direct the predetermined amount of fluid to the predetermined location, determine valve parameters for each of the one or more valves that achieve the fluid direction, and transmit one or more control signals to the actuator of each of the one or more valves for directing the predetermined amount of fluid within the assembly line grow pod according to the recipe.