DESC:FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to aeroponic growth structures for cultivation of vegetables, leafy greens, fruits, veins, flowers, herbs, plants and crops. More specifically, the present invention is a vertical modular automated structure for growing plants in high density vertical configuration.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Rapid industrialization and urbanization have led to considerable drop in availability of arable land for cultivation which has further widened demand and supply gap in meeting nation’s food demand. To counter such challenges, agricultural industry witnessed development of advanced technologies to grow more and more plants in lesser space in multiple vertical layers, using both horizontal and vertical structures. These techniques, though broadly classified under Vertical Farming, uses either principles of Aeroponic, or Hydroponic or Aquaponic and are well known and established.

Existing design of devices and systems prior to present invention for vertically positioned plant cultivation using aeroponic techniques generally rely on common methods of using a reservoir for storage and delivery of nutrient solution, using an air-pump for aeration of nutrient solution, using a timer for timing of nutrient delivery cycle, using power back-up for ensuring continuous operation, and such designs are well known.

Some of the known designs of Vertical Aeroponic growth structures rely on artificial grow lights to ensure that all plants within a grow structure get proper exposure to light. This is a highly developed and well known practice. This is a good practice for indoor set-up where natural light is not available or for countries that do not receive sufficient sun-light. However, given that India is a tropical country with sufficient access to sun-light such grow lights may not be required for outdoor set-ups in India. Still the problem of un-equal access to light will result in differentiated growth of plants using prior designs without using grow light in Indian context.

The US patent application (US7055282 B2) is one of the examples disclosing a hydroponic plant cultivating apparatus. It comprises plurality of modules stacked on top of each other forming a planting column, wherein each of the modules is a hollow cylindrical structure having drain holes in the bottom wall and filled with planting medium. Planting ports are located around the planting column for allowing plant roots to be inserted into the planting medium of the column. A conduit integrally formed within and carried by said planting column extending axially through said hollow interior and said planting medium for channeling fluid from a bottom a reservoir for holding fluid to a top portion of said column. The drain holes of each of the modules are required to be cleaned on a regular basis to avoid blockage and therefore it requires regular maintenance. The design doesn’t provide checks for reducing loss of nutrient solution being circulated, seedlings has to be directly inserted inside the planting ports without breaking the roots which requires skill.

However, most of these techniques have witnessed limited success or implementation, especially in Indian context, due to very high initial set-up cost and multiple inherent limitations in areas like ease of operation, need for frequent manual intervention in operating the growth structures, non-uniform availability of sunlight to plants on different sides, constant and frequent leaking of nutrient solution, erratic electricity supply/long power cuts and complex manual effort in heavy lifting and maintenance of growth structures. Further, most of these structures are big, complex and needing sufficient space and labour efforts thereby making them unusable for standalone/ household implementation.

Wherefore, there is a need for a plant cultivating apparatus for growing plants in high density vertical configuration which is easy to use, automated, requiring least maintenance, modular- for easy assembly, effectively solving the power cut problem, having minimal water/solution loss and cost-wise affordable to common people.

OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

It is an object of current invention to provide a grow structure that substantially reduces the initial set-up cost and provides very high density of plant growth in minimal land area to ensure that standalone installations become cost effective and productive for household use. Further, multiple of such grow structures can be pooled together to create a modular and large scale commercial set-up.

A further object of the invention is to increase ease of operation and reduce manual effort thereby reducing associated labour and cost.

Another object of the invention is to use innovative and cost-effective design to eliminate the need of costly air-pump for aeration of nutrient solution thereby reducing overall cost.

Another object of the invention is to prevent leaking of nutrient solution through plant openings in growth structure which is one of the most persistent problem with all prior designs and is well documented and well-known issue.

Yet another object of the invention is to address the well-known limitation of vertical aeroponic structures where the roots are hanging in air. The power cuts result in cutting off of the nutrient supply as a result of that plant roots begin to dry up and plants end up dying fairly quickly in a matter of couple of hours. In a geography like India where power cuts are frequent, this one limitation makes vertical aeroponic towers unsuitable for wide-spread domestic use.

Another object is to ensure that all vertical plant layers and sides get fairly equal access to sunlight/light.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a vertical modular automated structure for growing plants in high density vertical configuration.

In one of the embodiments of the present invention, the modular automated structure for growing plants vertically includes a hollow growth tower mounted in center of a storage tank holding nutrient solution, a nutrient solution pump for replenishing the nutrient solution in the storage tank, a pH regulation module, a sensing module including plurality of sensors for identifying pH level, EC level and TDS level of the nutrient solution, sensors for temperature, humidity, and water level indicator, and an IoT device for controlling programmable devices part of the modular automated structure. The hollow growth tower which forms the main visible part has it walls perforated with plurality of holes, having bottom edge of the holes protruding slightly outward to receive net pots. A cap is affixed top for closing opening of the hollow growth tower. A submersible pump fitted at bottom end of the hollow growth tower to circulate the nutrient solution. A pipe, connected to the submersible pump and passing through a first perforated tray, a second perforated tray and a third perforated tray, being centrally housed inside the hollow growth tower circulating the nutrient solution to the top end of the hollow growth tower. Arrangement and configuration of the trays: the first perforated tray, having size smaller than the hollow growth tower and, being placed below the cap, the second perforated tray, placed below the first tray, having its edges sealed to inside of the hollow growth tower for having size same as the hollow growth tower, the third perforated tray acting as filter, being placed slightly below the lowest hole. Base of the hollow growth tower having a plurality of holes to allow easy passage of nutrient solution between the storage tank and the hollow growth tower. The storage tank being covered by a lid, having a flat base sitting on an axially rotating base structure fitted with wheels for mobility of the modular automated structure, wherein axial rotation of the rotating base structure is powered by programmable electric motor.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the modular automated structure for growing plants vertically further includes a wicking system formed by loosely suspending several absorbent fiber threads through the plurality of perforations on the second perforated tray the third perforated tray.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the modular automated structure for growing plants vertically further includes a plurality of LED indicators on outside of the storage tank indicating various parameters to be monitored.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The aforementioned aspects and other features of the present invention will be explained in the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a line drawing illustrating configuration and arrangement of various parts of the modular automated structure for growing plants vertically, in an aspect of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a line drawing illustrating view of net-pot, grow medium and sapling in the configuration intended to be used in the present invention.

The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments. The present invention can be modified in various forms. Thus, the embodiments of the present invention are only provided to explain more clearly the present invention to the ordinarily skilled in the art of the present invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference numerals are used to indicate like components.
The specification may refer to “an”, “one” or “some” embodiment(s) in several locations. This does not necessarily imply that each such reference is to the same embodiment(s), or that the feature only applies to a single embodiment. Single features of different embodiments may also be combined to provide other embodiments.

As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless expressly stated otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes”, “comprises”, “including” and/or “comprising” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations and arrangements of one or more of the associated listed items.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

The present invention discloses a modular automated structure for growing plants in high density vertical configuration. By achieving the aforementioned objectives, the modular automated structure solves the problems existing in the presently available plant cultivating apparatus. The modular automated structure for growing plants in high density vertical configuration is based on principles of aeroponic technology and allows for cultivation of plants in high density in a relatively smaller area. The present invention is automated, light weight, modular in design, easily operable and brings in several innovations to reduce cost (in terms of fabrication cost as well as maintenance cost) and increase ease of use. The present invention is capable of increasing yields while reducing costs and making a small and modular unit available that can be used in minimal space by households for domestic use as compared to other known plant growing apparatus/devices which are costly, difficult to maintain, need uninterrupted power supply to ensure safety of the plant, prone to leakages, dependent upon artificial grow lights and cost effective only for large scale implementation.

The modular automated structure broadly comprises a hollow growth tower 17 designed to hold net pots 2 bearing one or more plant saplings, a system for circulating the nutrient solution; a storage tank 11; a sensing module; a nutrient solution pump 23; a pH regulation module; and an IoT device 4, connected with a back-end server and communication device of the user(s), for controlling programmable devices of the modular automated structure.

Figure 1 illustrates configuration and arrangement of various parts of the modular automated structure for growing plants vertically, accordingly an embodiment of the present invention. The modular automated structure includes the hollow cylindrical growth tower 17 which is mounted in center of the bucket shaped storage tank 11 holding nutrient solution and the whole structure sits on a circular shaped rotating base 35.

Wall of the hollow cylindrical growth tower 17 is perforated with multiple holes 3 which are positioned at desired distances from each other so as to maintain appropriate distance between the plants being grown. The holes 3 could be equidistantly made or as per the requirement of the plants being grown. The net pots 2 bearing one or more plant saplings are inserted through each of the holes 3. The bottom edge of the bottom end of each of the holes 3 protrudes slightly outwards to ensure that the net-pot 2 do not fall inside the hollow grow tower 17 due to weight increase resulted due to plant growth or any other reason which is another well-known problem of previously known designs. The outward protrusion of bottom edge of hole 3 also reduces spillage of nutrient solution as any solution that falls on the inside edge of outward protrusion drains back into the growth tower 17.

The upper end of circular grow tower 17 is covered through a removable cap 1 which allows for easy cleaning and inspection of inside of grow tower 17 if required.

The lower end of the growth tower 17 passes through a central opening 6 in lid 8 covering the storage tank 11 and rests on the base of the storage tank 11. Further, the hollow growth tower 17 has a plurality of holes 12 at its base to allow easy passage of nutrient solution between the storage tank 11 and the hollow growth tower 17.

The nutrient circulation system includes a submersible pump 13 fitted inside at bottom end of the hollow growth tower 17 to circulate the nutrient solution contained in the storage tank 11 through a connected narrow pipe 16. The pipe being centrally housed inside the hollow growth tower 17 circulates the nutrient solution to the top end of the hollow growth tower 17. Further, the pipe 16 passes through central holes of a third perforated tray 24, a second perforated tray 26 and a first perforated tray 28 while reaching to the top end of the hollow growth tower 17. All the three perforated trays are circular/disc shaped in the present embodiment. Based on a programmable timer 14, the submersible pump 11 switches on and off at pre-determined intervals and pumps nutrient solution up through the smaller radius pipe 16. The speed of flow of nutrient solution is maintained through a regulator knob 15 fitted towards top end of the pipe 16. The regulator knob 15 becomes accessible after removing the cap 1 covering top opening of the hollow growth tower 17 thereby a user can easily regulate the speed without disturbing the whole structure. These features add to the automation and ease of operation.

Once the nutrient solution comes out through top end of the pipe 16 it spills onto the first perforated tray 28 which is of smaller radius than the growth tower 17 and has a plurality of holes 27 to allow for seepage of nutrient solution. Once nutrient solution falls onto the first perforated tray 28, it seeps through the plurality of the holes 27 and through the outer edges of the first perforated tray 28 onto the second perforated tray 26 having same radius as inner radius of the growth tower 17 and its edges are sealed with the growth tower to prevent seepage of nutrient solution through edges. This leads to steady accumulation of nutrient solution in space above third perforated tray 28 and below second perforated tray 26. The timer 14 coupled to the submersible pump 13 is programmed to ensure that it’s on and off timings allow for smooth collection and disbursal of nutrient solution between second perforated tray 26 and first perforated tray 28. The nutrient solution getting collected over second perforated tray 26 passes slowly through the plurality of holes 27 onto the first perforated tray 24 which is also having plurality of holes to allow further seepage of nutrient solution back to the storage tank 11. This ensures that power requirements in running and recirculating nutrient solution is minimized and a larger amount of nutrient solution is available for plant growth per cycle as against previous designs where large amount of nutrient solution would fall through quickly without being available for plant growth.

It is to be noted that all the holes 3 are distributed between the second perforated tray 26 and third perforated tray 24.

Placement of the third perforated tray 24 is slightly below the lowest hole 3 to ensure ease of operation by acting as a filter by catching any unwanted objects that may fall into the growth tower 17 which may include outside objects, roots, plant material etc. Such unwanted objects then can be easily removed/cleaned through the opening 37 which is slightly above third perforated tray 24.

There is considerable distance between the third perforated tray 28 and the second perforated tray 26. When nutrient solution falls through plurality of holes and edges of first perforated tray 28 onto the second perforated tray 26, it has sufficient potential energy due to its height and falls some distance into nutrient solution accumulated above the second perforated tray 26 thereby leading to formation of air bubbles in nutrient solution above the second perforated tray 26 and resulting into aeration of nutrient solution without use of any costly aeration device (such as air-pump) thereby bringing down overall cost of the modular automated structure.

The top of storage tank 11 is covered by the lid 8 having plurality of multi-purpose holes 7 and one central opening 6 to receive the growth tower 17. The storage tank 11 has a flat base and sits on an axially rotating base structure 35 fitted with wheels 36 for mobility of the modular automated structure, wherein axial rotation of the rotating base structure 35 is powered by a programmable electric motor. The wheels also add ease of maneuverability in shifting the modular automated structure from one place to another. The base structure 35 can rotate both in clock-wise and anti-clock-wise direction and can turn a pre-defined unit of degrees in either direction determined by the programmable timer 14 based instruction. Such instructions can be programmed and stored manually or sent electronically or wirelessly by a user via his hand-held device through a master controller IoT device 4. This feature ensures that all the sides of the vertical plant layers get fairly equal access to sunlight. This further adds to the automation and ease of operation. Prior designs of vertical aeroponic growth structures rely on artificial grow lights to ensure that all plants within a grow structure get proper exposure to light. This has been a highly developed and well known practice which works for indoor set-ups where natural light is not available or for countries that do not receive sufficient sun-light. However, given that India is a tropical country with sufficient access to sun-light such grow lights may not be required for outdoor set-ups in India. Still the problem of un-equal access to light will result in differentiated growth of plants using prior designs without using grow light in Indian context. The present invention overcome the drawback by using automation to ensure that all vertical plant layers get fairly equal access to sunlight while further improving the ease of operation

Another feature that reduces spillage of the nutrient solution is provision of the plurality of multi-purpose holes 7 on the circular lid 8. Any nutrient solution that still spills out through plurality of holes 3 or trickle down through outer edge of grow tower 17 drains back into the storage tank 11 through the plurality of multi-purpose holes 7 on top of the circular lid 8 thereby further minimizing the leakage of the nutrient solution.
The sensing module comprises plurality of sensors deployed in the modular automated structure. These sensors are connected (via wire or wireless means of communication) to the IoT device 4 adding to the features of automation and making the use of the growth structure user friendly. The following types of sensors are included:
(a) a submersible sensor 5 which remains suspended in the nutrient solution through hole 7 and calculates pH level, EC level and TDS level of the nutrient solution;
(b) a temperature sensor (for sensing temperature of the nutrient solution);
(c) a humidity sensor; and
(d) a water level indicator 9 protruding out through one of the holes 7 on the lid 8. Bottom of the water level indicator 9 floats on the nutrient solution and which makes the indicator move up and down through the hole 7 according to level of nutrient solution in the storage tank 11 thereby indicating the need for refilling of solution in storage tank 11.

The storage tank 11 is furthermore connected with several modular electronic devices such as a pH up pump 21, a pH down pump 22, a nutrient solution pump 23 and the rotating base 35 with a view of increasing automation, reducing manual and operational effort and improving crop yield by ensuring optimum growth conditions for plants. Unlike the previously known hydroponic plant cultivating apparatus, the present invention adds condensed nutrients with help of the nutrient solution pump 23 to regular water filled in the storage tank 11 as and when the level of nutrient goes down in the water. This makes it easy to use, since the user has to fill normal water in the storage tank 11 and need not to worry about the mixing proportions. Moreover, the condensed nutrient solution occupies small space and is kept separately.

In one of the embodiments, all the modular electronic devices are connected to storage tank 11 through removable stand 20.

The IoT device which controls and coordinates all other devices based on information gathered from the sensing module and user’s input. Based on collected readings, the IoT device 4 sends instructions to pH up pump 21, pH down pump 22, nutrient solution pump 23 and the rotating base 35 to ensure automated intervention that maintains ideal condition for plant growth. The pH up pump 21, the pH down pump 22 and the nutrient solution pump 23 transfers the required dose of respective solutions to storage tank 11 through connected tubes 19 that passes through the plurality of holes 7 in the lid 8 covering the storage tank 11 and goes inside the storage tank 11. The pH up pump 21, the pH down pump 22 use the chemicals known in the art for performing the function.

Moreover, the IoT device 4 is enabled to receive instructions/input from the user(s) via hand held communication devices and execute the same. The IoT device 4 is also enabled to send the information, via various modes of known wireless communication, associated with condition of the modular automated structure to the user for monitoring purposes. This feature is really useful for users who stay away for long times from home or place(s) where the modular automated structure(s) are positioned. Thereby, even from a distance the user can monitor and send necessary instructions to the modular automated structure.

In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the timer 14 coupled to the submersible pump 11 can be set or reset as pet input received by the IoT from the user(s).
Therefore, it is evident that arrangement and configuration of sensors, the modular electronic devices, programmable electric motor for rotating base structure 35, and timer etc. of the modular automated structure significantly reduces extent of manual intervention and labour required as compared to previous designs and also ensure that the modular automated structure can run automatically for weeks altogether without any need of user’s/operator’s intervention and can be operated by common skilled people who are not technically inclined.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the modular automated structure also includes a wicking system formed by loosely suspending several absorbent replaceable fiber threads 25 through the plurality of perforations on the second perforated tray 26 till above top of the third perforated tray 24. The nutrient solution that comes out of plurality of holes 27 in the second perforated tray 26 finds its path through plurality of threads 25 due to surface tension thereby further minimizing the nutrient solution spillage probability due to falling of same on walls of the net-pot 2 and scattering thereafter. Further, since the absorbent fibers 25 are loosely suspended, as roots grow, they anchor the root and provide nutrient solution directly to them through wicking action in addition to that available through aeroponic principles.

The various aforementioned measures employed in the modular automated structure for minimizing nutrient solution spillage ensures a virtually zero leakage system.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, comprising a plurality of LED indicators 18 on outside of the storage tank 11 indicating various parameters or various components of the modular automated structure. The arrangement of LED indicators makes it very easy for the user to just have a glance and understand the current condition of the modular automated structure and make any changes, if required.

In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the growth tower 17 may be having cuboidal or triangular prism or hexagonal prism shape, and corresponding to the shape of the growth tower 17 inside or outside components like first perforated tray 28, the second perforated tray 26, the third perforated tray 24, and central hole 6 in the storage tank lid 8 are also modified to fit correctly and in synchrony with other shapes (not shown in Figure1). Furthermore, the shape of storage tank 11 is may also be designed other than the bucket shape as per the requirement.

Another very important aspect of the present invention are the net-pots 2 and configuration of the same has been depicted in Figure 2. Generally, in hydroponic or aeroponic growth structures instead of soil some other well-known grow mediums are used such as coco peat, clay pellets, rock wool, clay soil, pumice, gravel etc. However, a limitation with using these material is that these tend to dry out fast and thereby needing constant supply of nutrient solution and electricity supply to keep the plant alive. To counter this problem, present invention uses treated sponge 33, having high fluid absorption and retention properties, to stuff the net pots 2. The treated sponge 33 is further surrounded by heated clay pellets 31 having high fluid retention capabilities. The clay pellets 31 also helps in providing support to stem 34 of growing sapling 29. This on the one hand ensures that in case of power failure or any mechanical failure in operation of the submersible pump 13, the saplings 29 survive for sufficient time to allow for rectification of problem and on the other hand this ensures that saplings do not go through transplantation shock while being transplanted from one grow medium to another for housing them in growth tower 17 thereby solving another well-known problem impacting crop yield. The net pot 2 has an opening in its base allowing the roots of the saplings 29 to dangle freely inside the hollow growth tower 17 and able to receive sufficient nutrient, fluids and air through the flowing aerated nutrient solution. Seedlings are germinated within the treated sponge 33 and once germinated they are transplanted directly into vertical grow tower 17. In a geography like India or other countries where temperature is high coupled with frequent power cuts, the disclosed configuration of the net pots-2 makes the present modular automated vertical structure suitable for wide-spread domestic use.

The present modular automated vertical structure including its components are powered by one or more rechargeable/detachable batteries or electric source or combination of both.

The minimal use of land area ensures that standalone installations of the modular automated vertical structures become cost effective and productive for household use. Further, multiple of such grow structures can be pooled together to create a modular and large scale commercial set-up.

,CLAIMS:We Claim:

1. A modular automated structure for growing plants in high density vertical configuration, comprising:

a hollow growth tower 17 mounted in center of a storage tank 11, wherein

wall of the hollow growth tower 17 is perforated with plurality of holes 3 to receive net pots 2 bearing one or more plant saplings, wherein bottom edge of the holes 3 protrudes slightly outward,

a cap 1 closing top opening of the hollow growth tower 17,

a submersible pump 13 being coupled with a programmable timer 14 and fitted at bottom end of the hollow growth tower 17 to circulate nutrient solution stored in the storage tank 11,

a pipe 16, connected to the submersible pump 13 and passing through a first perforated tray 24, a second perforated tray 26 and a third perforated tray 28, being centrally housed inside the hollow growth tower 17 circulating the nutrient solution to the top end of the hollow growth tower 17,

the first perforated tray 28, having size smaller than the hollow growth tower 17, being placed below the cap 1,

the second perforated tray 26, placed below the first tray 28, having its edges sealed to inside of the hollow growth tower 17 for having size same as the hollow growth tower 17,

the third perforated tray 24 acting as filter, being placed slightly below the lowest hole 3, and

base of the hollow growth tower 17, having a plurality of holes 12 to allow easy passage of nutrient solution between the storage tank 11 and the hollow growth tower 17, passes through a central opening 6 in lid 8 covering the storage tank 11 and rests on the base of the storage tank 11;

the storage tank 11 holding the nutrient solution is covered by the lid 8 perforated with a plurality of holes 7, wherein storage tank 11 has a flat base sitting on an axially rotating base structure 35 fitted with wheels 36 for mobility of the modular automated structure;

a sensing module, being attached on the storage tank 11 at one or more predefined positions, including at least one of
a submersible sensor 5 to calculate pH level, EC level and TDS level of nutrient solution,
a temperature sensor,
a humidity sensor, and
a water level indicator 9 protruding out through the hole 7;
a nutrient solution pump 23, being attached to the storage tank 11, for replenishing the nutrient solution in the storage tank 11;
a pH regulation module, being attached to the storage tank 11, including up and down pH pumps for regulating pH level of nutrient solution; and
an IoT device 4, being attached to the storage tank 11, for controlling the programmable electric powered motor, the submersible pump 13, the sensing module, the pH regulation module, the nutrient solution pump, and programmable timer 14.

2. The modular automated structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the modular automated vertical structure including its components are powered by one or more rechargeable/detachable batteries or electric source or combination of both.

3. The modular automated structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the programmable electric powered motor is programmed to perform at least one of rotating the modular automated structure both clock-wise and anti-clock wise, rotating the modular automated structure as per predefined degrees in either of both clock-wise or anti-clock wise direction, rotating the modular automated structure as per preset timer.

4. The modular automated structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein a regulator knob 15 fitted towards top end of the pipe 16 regulates speed of flow of the nutrient solution.

5. The modular automated structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first perforated tray 28 receives the nutrient solution coming out of pipe 16 and allows slow seepage of the nutrient solution through plurality of perforations 27 and outer edges of the perforated tray 28 on to the second perforated tray 26, thereby forming air bubbles and resulting in aeration of the nutrient solution.

6. The modular automated structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slow seepage of the nutrient solution leads to steady accumulation of the nutrient solution over the second perforated tray 26 preventing the sudden fall of the nutrient solution which passes slowly through plurality of perforations 27 present in the second perforated tray 26 to plants in the net pots 2.

7. The modular automated structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holes 3 are distributed between the second perforated tray 26 and third perforated tray 24.

8. The modular automated structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third perforated tray 24 prevents unwanted objects from falling inside the storage tank 11.

9. The modular automated structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein axial rotation of the rotating base structure 35 is powered by a programmable electric motor and duration of axial rotation is regulated by the programmable timer 14.

10. The modular automated structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein direction of the axial rotation of the rotating base structure 35 is one of a clock-wise, anti-clock-wise, and pre-defined degrees in either direction.

11. The modular automated structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the IoT device 4 is adapted to receive one or more instructions from one or more users and send information associated with various parameters of the modular automated structure to the user.

12. The modular automated structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the IoT device 4 is adapted to receive sensed data from the sensing module.

13. The modular automated structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the IoT device 4 controls the programmable electric powered motor, the submersible pump 13, the pH regulation module, the nutrient solution pump, and the timer 14 based on at least one of the received sensed data from the sensing module and the user’s instructions.

14. The modular automated structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein holes 7 on the lid 8 allows the nutrient solution spilled outside through the hole 3 to drain back into the storage tank 11, thereby minimizing spillage of the nutrient solution.

15. The modular automated structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the net pot 2 is stuffed with treated sponge 33 forming base for growing one or more saplings and filled with heated clay pellets 31 having high fluid retention property.

16. The modular automated structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the net pot 2 has an opening in its base allowing the roots of the saplings to dangle freely inside the hollow growth tower 17.

17. The modular automated structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein an opening 37 is provided slightly above the first perforated tray 24 on the wall of the hollow growth tower 17 for ease of removing unwanted objects.

18. The modular automated structure as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a wicking system formed by loosely suspending several replaceable absorbent fiber threads 25 through the plurality of perforations on the second perforated tray 26 to the third perforated tray 24.

19. The modular automated structure as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of LED indicators 18 on outside of the storage tank 11 indicating various parameters of the modular automated structure.