Apparatus and method for controlling a system, such as nutrient control system for feeding plants, based on actual and projected data and according to predefined rules

A nutrient control system for nourishing plants, the system comprising:

• means for providing a quantity of nourishment having individual concentrations of specific nutrients;
• means for distributing the quantity of nourishment to the plants;
• first storage means for storing initial data relating to the plants being nourished;
• and
• computer control means including:
• means for selecting the amounts of specific nutrients and for selecting the quantity of nourishment to be applied to the plants based on the initial data in the first storage means;
• and
• means, responsive to the selecting means, for controlling the providing means to adjust the individual concentrations of the specific nutrients as a function of the initial data and the quantity of nourishment to be supplied to the plants as a function of the selected amounts of the specific nutrients and the selected quantity of nourishment.

A nutrient control system for nourishing plants, the system comprising:

• means for providing a quantity of nourishment having individual concentrations of specific nutrients;
• means for distributing the quantity of nourishment to the plants;
• first storage means for storing initial data relating to the plants to be nourished;
• computer control means including:
• means for calculating, based on the initial data in the first storage means, the probability that various amounts of specific nutrients and various quantities of nourishment will produce a desired result in the plants;
• means, responsive to the calculating means, for selecting the amounts of specific nutrients with the highest probability and for selecting the quantity of nourishment with the highest probability;
• means, responsive to the selecting means, for controlling the providing means to adjust the individual concentrations of the specific nutrients and the quantity of nourishment to be supplied to the plants as a function of the selected amounts of specific nutrients and the selected quantity of nourishment.

A nutrient control system for nourishing plants through their roots as the plants grow, the system comprising:

• conduit means for delivering liquid nourishment to the plants;
• injector means for introducing into said conduit means a quantity of liquid nourishment having individual quantities of specific nutrients, said injector means being adjustable for varying the quantity of liquid nourishment and the individual quantities of each nutrient introduced into said conduit means;
• means for collecting liquid leachate from the roots;
• means for measuring the concentrations of specific nutrients in the liquid leachate;
• and
• computer control means, responsive to the measuring means, for controlling the injector means to adjust the quantity of liquid nourishment as a function of the measured concentrations of the specific nutrients and/or the individual quantities of the specific nutrients in the quantity of liquid nourishment as a function of the measured concentrations of the specific nutrients in the liquid leachate whereby the individual concentrations of the specific nutrients in the quantity of liquid nourishment is controlled in response to the concentrations of specific nutrients in the liquid leachate.

A method of controlling, during a given period of time, component quantities of a system affected by stochastic variables and by measured variables to direct the system toward a desired status, said method comprising the steps of:

• controlling the component quantities of the system;
• determining the stochastic variables and the measured variables preceding the given period of time;
• storing initial data corresponding to the stochastic variables and the measured variables determined by said determining step;
• estimating projected stochastic variables for the given period of time based on the initial data;
• calculating projected component quantities having the highest probability of producing the desired status of the system based on the initial data and based on the projected stochastic variables;
• and
• controlling, in response to said calculating step, the controlling step to adjust, during the given period of time, the component quantities as a function of the projected component quantities.

A nutrient control method for nourishing plants comprising the steps of:

• providing a quantity of nourishment having individual concentrations of specific nutrients;
• distributing the quantity of nourishment to the plants;
• storing initial data relating to the plants being nourished;
• and
• selecting the amounts of specific nutrients and selecting the quantity of nourishment to be applied to the plants based on the initial data;
• and
• controlling, in response to the selecting step, the providing step to adjust the quantity of the liquid nourishment as a function of the initial data the individual concentrations of the specific nutrients and the quantity of nourishment to be supplied to the plants as a function of the selected amounts of the specific nutrients and the selected quantity of nourishment.

A nutrient control method for nourishing plants comprising the steps of:

• providing a quantity of nourishment having individual concentrations of specific nutrients;
• distributing the quantity of nourishment to the plants;
• storing initial data relating to the plants to be nourished;
• calculating, based on the initial data, the probability that various amounts of sPecific nutrients and various quantities of nourishment will Produce a desired result in the plants;
• selecting, in response to the calculating step, the amounts of specific nutrients with the highest probability of occurrence and for selecting the quantity of nourishment with the highest probability of occurrence;
• controlling, in response to the selecting step, the providing step to adjust the individual concentrations of the specific nutrients and the quantity of nourishment to be supplied to the plants as a function of the selected amounts of specific nutrients and the selected quantity of nourishment.

A nutrient control method for nourishing plants through their roots as the plants grow, comprising the steps of:

• delivering liquid nourishment to the plants;
• introducing into the liquid nourishment individual quantities of specific nutrients;
• collecting liquid leachate from the roots;
• measuring the concentrations of specific nutrients in the liquid leachate;
• and
• controlling, in response to the measuring step, the introducing step to adjust the quantity of the liquid nourishment as a function of the measured concentrations of the specific nutrients and the individual quantities of the specific nutrients in the quantity of liquid nourishment as a function of the measured concentrations of the specific nutrients in the liquid leachate whereby the individual concentrations of the specific nutrients in the quantity of liquid nourishment is controlled in response to the concentrations of specific nutrients in the liquid leachate.

A nutrient control system for nourishing plants, the system comprising:

• conduit means for delivering liquid nourishment to the plants;
• injector means for introducing into said conduit means a quantity of liquid nourishment having individual quantities of specific nutrients, said injector means being adjustable for varying the quantity of liquid nourishment and the individual quantities of each nutrient introduced into said conduit means;
• and
• computer control means for controlling the injector means to adjust the quantity of liquid nourishment as a function of the measured concentrations of the specific nutrients and the individual quantities of the specific nutrients in the quantity of liquid nourishment whereby the amount of specific nutrients and the quantity of liquid nourishment delivered to the plants for nourishing the plants is controlled.