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Grow Guardian Capsule: Sustained Biocontrols for Soilless Farming

Company: Bywater BioSolutions

Major(s):
Primary: MATSE
Secondary: ME
Optional: BME

Non-Disclosure Agreement: NO

Intellectual Property: NO

I want to design a slow-release, multi-chamber dissolving capsule designed to introduce a powdered product (~10-50g) into hydroponic nutrient reservoirs containing approximately 20–50 gallons of water. The design should use food-safe materials compatible with vegetable crop production and should not cause meaningful deviations in pH or electrical conductivity beyond typical operational ranges for hydroponic systems (pH: ~5.5-8; EC: ~1-3). Each capsule should contain multiple sequential chambers, with outer layers dissolving first and inner layers dissolving over time to create a controlled, extended-release profile. The chamber should allow water to slowly enter, rehydrate the powdered material, and release it into the reservoir at a predictable rate. Ideally, the device would be comparable in size to a standard tennis ball. The system should also include a built-in indicator to convey dissolution progress to the user. One option is a color-coded layering system, where each dissolvable chamber is manufactured in a different color, making it easy to visually identify how much capsule life remains. Alternatively, the design may incorporate a passive biochemical or material-based signal, such as a dye, inert marker, or structural change, that becomes visible as specific layers dissolve. The indicator should not depend on the powdered product inside, ensuring compatibility with multiple powdered product types. Overall, this capsule aims to create a reliable, intuitive, and low-maintenance delivery system for hydroponic applications.