Technical Details

Most existing climbing plant growth assistance devices on the market rely on slant climbing frames or horizontal rails, which is a waste of valuable space. By developing a functioning vertical climbing device, we can better accommodate the phototropism of climbing plants and make better use of space.

To reach this goal, our product design revolves around three main aspects: creating desirable spatiotemporal and nutritional conditions for climbing plants; building a cohesive system to monitor growth conditions and make case-sensitive adjustments; and connecting all these devices to an online platform with remote monitoring and adjusting ability.

  • To accommodate four climbing plants in one device, the device consists of four iron vertical climbing rails with a main supportive iron cane in the center. These are then surrounded by an external wood cylinder that lends structural support to the device. In addition, four wheels are attached to the bottom, enabling convenient transportation. The structure and pot size are designed to fit most of the species of climbing plants, but further adjustments in the height and area of the base are also available.

  • The irrigation system is designed to act as “point” irrigation, which refers to watering the plant at a certain point of the surface soil at a certain rate. To help climbing plant growers control the quantity of water irrigated, a moisture-detecting probe is placed right above each of the soil plots to detect the air moisture near the root of the climbing plants, which will be displayed on the online platform as one of the values that can be remotely monitored and adjusted.

  • The light adjustment system consists of two parts: light intensity and light color. Through experimental testing, we have determined the optimal light color provided for the climbing plant growth. We have also tested and confirmed other hypotheses on the effect of other factors on climbing plant growth, such as the direction of the light source, the light intensity level, and whether the plant is in the light-independent phase or the light-dependent phase. Thus, in our regulation system, both the color and the intensity can be adjusted remotely. Moreover, a piece of thick black cloth covers the whole product to insulate it from the environmental lighting.

  • The temperature regulation system aims to provide the optimal temperature for the climbing plant in all seasons. This system is divided into temperature detection and adjustment. For detection, a temperature-sensitive probe is installed at the center of the cross-sectional area of the cylindrical structure. For adjustment, the user may remotely control a mini heat generator installed within the growth chamber via the user interface.

  • Studies have shown that carbon dioxide levels may facilitate or inhibit the growth rate of climbing plants depending on the shade and environment. In particular, most climbing plants tend to prefer higher carbon dioxide concentrations up to a saturation point. Thus, Noah’s Ark implemented a detection mechanism that would allow the user to monitor real-time changes in carbon dioxide concentration.

  • Noah’s Ark includes an online platform that displays real-time images of the climate plant along with a set of growth-related variables. To capture and upload images, a mini-camera is fastened to the top of the structure that is focused on the plant. It monitors the leaves and stems of the climbing plant for visual cues of growth defects, possible infections, or insect attacks.

  • The online platform displays the temperature, moisture level, carbon dioxide concentration, light intensity, light color, and other growth-related factors in one place for the user. These variables are collected by detectors and probes that are wired up to the internet through the home Wi-Fi. Moreover, to visualize changes in data over time, line charts are automatically generated that display trends over hours, days, or weeks.

  • The online platform also contains an interactive interface that enables the user to make micro-adjustments from afar. This feature includes an on-off switch for the irrigation system, the heating system, and sliders for light intensity and color, all of which are integrated into the overall platform design. The color control in particular is linked up to a 360-degree LED light strip with small increments in terms of color and intensity, accommodating the needs of a wide range of climbing plants.