Advanced Sensor Feedback for Adaptive Control
ElecSys Lab continues to explore deeper integration between environmental sensing, plant physiological monitoring, and system-level control. The goal is to build truly responsive growing environments that adapt in real-time — not just based on environmental conditions, but based on how the plant itself is reacting.
These parameters are currently under active evaluation for integration into our next-generation controller platforms.
- Leaf temperature gives insight into stomatal activity and transpiration
- Sap flow tracks real-time water movement and internal plant demand
- Potential applications:
- Adjusting irrigation timing and volume based on actual plant uptake
- Triggering alerts when plant stress is detected before visible symptoms
- VPD (Vapor Pressure Deficit) reflects the drying power of the air
- High VPD = increased transpiration; Low VPD = possible stomatal closure
- Controllers could:
- Automatically reduce irrigation under high VPD to prevent nutrient overload
- Delay misting or nutrient dosing when VPD indicates low transpiration activity
¶ 3. Adaptive Lighting and Climate Control
- Sensors detect environmental or plant stress signals (e.g., rising leaf temperature, sharp drops in RH, sudden light shifts)
- System could:
- Lower light intensity or spectrum to reduce heat load
- Trigger localized cooling or airflow changes
- Modify photoperiod or spectral balance dynamically
- Move beyond static schedules or sensor thresholds
- Enable closed-loop feedback between plant behavior and system response
- Support multi-parameter logic (e.g., EC + GDD + sap flow = adjust dose rate)
- Reduce manual intervention and improve energy/nutrient use efficiency
We are currently:
- Prototyping modular firmware extensions to handle new inputs (analog + digital)
- Validating sensor accuracy and reliability under different CEA conditions
- Developing data models that correlate multi-sensor inputs to actionable outcomes
These innovations aim to make ElecSys Lab systems not just reactive, but predictive and intelligent, adjusting proactively based on what the plant is telling us — not just the air or substrate.