Grow tower drive mechanism for agriculture production systems

A drive unit in a controlled agricultural environment, the drive unit comprising:

• (a) an alignment element;
• (b) a drive element;
• and
• (c) an actuator for adjusting a distance between the alignment element and the drive element,
• wherein the actuator is operable to increase the distance to enable reception of a plant support structure, and to decrease the distance to cause the alignment element and the drive element to contact opposing sides of the plant support structure.

A system for controlling the conveyance of a plant support structure, the system comprising:

• a drive mechanism, comprising an actuator configured to move the plant support structure along a direction of conveyance;
• one or more sensors configured to detect position or motion of the plant support structure;
• one or more memories storing instructions;
• and
• one or more processors, coupled to the one or more memories, that execute the instructions to cause performance of:
• commanding the actuator to achieve a desired position or motion of the plant support structure along the direction of conveyance;
• determining a measured position or motion of the plant support structure, wherein the measured position or motion is based at least in part upon a signal from the one or more sensors;
• and
• generating a slippage detection signal based at least in part upon comparing the measured position or motion with the desired position or motion.