Project Details

[Return to Previous Page]

Autonomous Vertical Farming system

Company: PSU Huck Plant Institute and Indoor Plant Physiology Lab

Major(s):
Primary: ME
Secondary: CMPSC
Optional: CMPEN, EE, IE

Non-Disclosure Agreement: NO

Intellectual Property: NO

One of the biggest challenge of the 21st century is how to grow food with limited inputs while maximizing outputs. Hydroponic vertical farms have demonstrated their capacity to target some of these pressing issues but can sometimes be limited by over engineering or lack of innovation. This project, is building up on the very successful Spring 2026 Capstone project on Sustainable Plant Factory system, to improve or create an autonomous robot capable of sensing its environment, report data on plant growth, autonomously able to move around the farm and recharge itself. The proof of concept used a small 10 inch by 10 inch tray motorized. We will modify this robot and add a series of sensors, RFID and other detection system, so it can interact with its environment and communication with the farm operator. The final goal would be to have a finish product and grow plants to present the entire project at the Showcase.