IP Library Granted Patent US 10,897,850
Granted Patent B2
US 10,897,850 · App. 16/701,037 · Granted Jan 26, 2021

System and method for automating transfer of plants within an agricultural facility

Inventors: Brandon Ace Alexander (San Francisco, CA); Jonathan Binney (San Carlos, CA)
Assignee: Iron Ox, Inc.
A01G7/00A01G9/02A01G9/0299A01G9/143B25J9/1679B25J9/1697B25J11/00G05D1/0287A01B69/008G05D2201/0216G06K9/58G06K2209/01
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,897,850
App. No.
16/701,037
Granted
Jan 26, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

One variation of a method for automating transfer of plants within an agricultural facility includes: dispatching a loader to autonomously deliver a first module—defining a first array of plant slots at a first density and loaded with a first set of plants at a first growth stage—from a first grow location within an agricultural facility to a transfer station within the agricultural facility; dispatching the loader to autonomously deliver a second module—defining a second array of plant slots at a second density less than the first density and empty of plants—to the transfer station; recording a module-level optical scan of the first module; extracting a viability parameter of the first set of plants from features detected in the module-level optical scan; and if the viability parameter falls outside of a target viability range, rejecting transfer of the first set of plants from the first module.

Claims (8)

1. A method for automating transfer of plants within an agricultural facility, the method comprising:

receiving, at a transfer station within the agricultural facility:

a first module defining a first array of plant slots at a first density and loaded with a first set of plants at a first growth stage;

a second module defining a second array of plant slots at a second density less than the first density;

for a plant in the first set of plants:

recording a scan of the plant;

calculating a viability parameter of the plant based on features detected in the scan; and

in response to the viability parameter falling within a target viability range, triggering a robotic manipulator at the transfer station to transfer the plant from the first module into a plant slot in the second array of plant slots in the second module.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 23, 2024
From: INEVITABLE TECH INC.
To: INEVITABLE TECHNOLOGY INC.
Reel/Frame 066219/0770 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 23, 2024
From: IRON OX, INC.
To: INEVITABLE TECH INC.
Reel/Frame 066365/0146 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 25, 2022
From: IRON OX, INC.
To: SILICON VALLEY BANK, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 059689/0838 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 22, 2020
From: ALEXANDER, BRANDON ACE; BINNEY, JONATHAN
To: IRON OX, INC.
Reel/Frame 053004/0865 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 16456401 · Jun 28, 2019
Continuation 16260042 · Jan 28, 2019
Continuation 15852749 · Dec 22, 2017
Provisional Application 62437822 · Dec 22, 2016
Related Publication 20200187425A1 · Jun 18, 2020