Patent Publication Number: US-2023157221-A1

Title: Growing systems and methods

Description:
The present invention relates to growing systems and methods. More specifically but not exclusively, it relates to lighting for a mechanized plant growing system. 
     The present application claims priority from UK Patent Application No. GB 1615751.3 filed on 15 th  September 2016, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     Additionally, the subject matter of UK Patent Application Numbers GB1606678.9, GB1606684.7 and GB1606679.7 is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     Conventional systems and methods for growing certain crops are well known. Most require large areas of land and need to be positioned in appropriate locations for the conditions required for the crops to be grown. 
     More recently, advanced farming techniques such as hydroponics have led to the ability to grow high quality crops indoors with very high utilization of lighting, water and fertilizer. These systems have however been less efficient in terms of land use, capital and labor. The present invention describes a method for dramatically improving these efficiencies. 
     Some commercial and industrial activities require systems that enable the storage and retrieval of a large number of different products. One known type of system for the storage and retrieval of items in multiple product lines involves arranging storage containers or containers in stacks on top of one another, the stacks being arranged in rows. The storage containers or containers are accessed from above, removing the need for aisles between the rows and allowing more containers to be stored in a given space. 
     Methods of handling containers stacked in rows have been well known for decades. In some such systems, for example as described in US 2,701,065, to Bertel comprise free-standing stacks of containers arranged in rows in order to reduce the storage volume associated with storing such containers but yet still providing access to a specific container if required. Access to a given container is made possible by providing relatively complicated hoisting mechanisms which can be used to stack and remove given containers from stacks. The cost of such systems are, however, impractical in many situations and they have mainly been commercialized for the storage and handling of large shipping containers. 
     The concept of using freestanding stacks of containers and providing a mechanism to retrieve and store specific containers has been developed further, for example as described in EP 0 767 113 B to Cimcorp. ‘113 discloses a mechanism for removing a plurality of stacked containers, using a robotic load handler in the form of a rectangular tube which is lowered around the stack of containers, and which is configured to be able to grip a container at any level in the stack. In this way, several containers can be lifted at once from a stack. The movable tube can be used to move several containers from the top of one stack to the top of another stack, or to move containers from a stack to an external location and vice versa. Such systems can be particularly useful where all of the containers in a single stack contain the same product (known as a single-product stack). 
     In the system described in ‘113, the height of the tube has to be as least as high as the height of the largest stack of containers, so that that the highest stack of containers can be extracted in a single operation. Accordingly, when used in an enclosed space such as a warehouse, the maximum height of the stacks is restricted by the need to accommodate the tube of the load handler. 
     EP 1037828 B1 (Autostore) the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, describes a system in which stacks of containers are arranged within a frame structure. A system of this type is illustrated schematically in  FIGS.  1  to  4    of the accompanying drawings. Robotic load handling devices can be controllably moved around the stack on a system of tracks on the upper most surface of the stack. 
     Other forms of robotic load handling device are further described in, for example, Norwegian patent number 317366, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.  FIGS.  3   a  and  3   b    are schematic perspective views of a load handling device from the rear and front, respectively, and  FIG.  3   c    is a schematic front perspective view of a load handling device lifting a container. 
     A further development of load handling device is described in UK Patent Application No 1314313.6 (Ocado) where each robotic load handler only covers one grid space, thus allowing higher density of load handlers and thus higher throughput of a given size system. 
     In such known storage systems a large number of containers are stacked densely. The containers are conventionally used to store goods to supply online grocery orders picked by robots. 
     Such a system may be used to grow plants and, indeed, other living organisms. Such a system is described in UK Patent Application No GB 1606678.9(Ocado Innovation Limited). 
     The system therein discloses a storage-type vertical farming system that may be used to grow plants in individual containers, the sheer number of containers enabling such crops to be mass produced in a much smaller area of land than would be required using conventional growing techniques. 
     The above-mentioned application also discloses the ability to provide services to the containers, either individually or via the framework of the system. Depending on the services provided in individual containers, the contents may be monitored for data relating to the contents of the container to be relayed to a central processing system. The data transmitted may provide information on the condition of the container, the contents of the container or may provide information on adjacent containers to condition monitor the entire storage system. Furthermore, in this way, the containers may be lit, heated or cooled as required by the specific contents of the container. 
     Furthermore, the application discloses individual containers within the storage system being provided with services in addition to goods. Furthermore, individual containers within the storage system may not contain goods but may contain services for provision to other containers or to monitor the condition of the system. 
     In order to use such a system for effectively growing crops or other living organisms, it may be necessary for the crops or organisms within the containers to be lit via suitable wavelength lighting. 
     In known vertical farming systems, the crops being grown are typically grown in large trays with large lighting arrays mounted thereabove. In the densely packed system described above, the presence of the crops in a series of stacked containers prevents use of such large area lighting solutions. 
     In a system utilizing vertically stacked bins, it is highly beneficial to be able to mount the lights adjacent to the bins and shine the light inside. The challenge is achieving uniform light distribution. By utilizing the walls of the growing bin and the bottom surface of the bin above, it is possible to achieve reasonable uniformity of light allowing consistent delivery of light to plants growing inside the bin. A cover, top or lid comprising lighting means may be provided for the topmost bin to reflect light back down onto the crop placed by the robots. 
     According to the invention there is provided a growing system comprising: a first set of substantially parallel rails or tracks and a second set of substantially parallel rails or tracks extending transverse to the first set in a substantially horizontal plane to form a grid pattern comprising a plurality of grid spaces; a plurality of storage containers arranged in stacks, located beneath the grid spaces and within a series of uprights forming a framework; at least one load handling device disposed on the tracks, arranged to move laterally above the stacks, the or each load handling device comprising a lifting device arranged to lift at least one container, or part thereof, from a stack; in which the system comprises a series of lighting means, the lighting means being deployable from a first position adjacent a container in the stacks to a second position above the container, such that the light emitted by the lighting means is evenly distributed across the growing volume of the container. 
     According to the invention there is further provided a growing system comprising: a first set of substantially parallel rails or tracks and a second set of substantially parallel rails or tracks extending transverse to the first set in a substantially horizontal plane to form a grid pattern comprising a plurality of grid spaces; a plurality of storage containers arranged in stacks, located beneath the grid spaces and within a series of uprights forming a framework; at least one load handling device disposed on the tracks, arranged to move laterally above the stacks, the or each load handling device comprising a lifting device arranged to lift at least one container, or part thereof, from a stack; in which each container comprises a plastics portion, said plastics portion comprising translucent material for transmitting light incident thereon to the growing volume of the container in an even distribution across the container. 
     According to the invention there is further provided a method of growing organisms within a growing system according to any preceding claim comprising the steps of: providing growing means within a storage container  110 ; positioning the container  110  within a storage system; providing required light, water and nutrients; moving the containers  110  using at least one robotic load handling device  30  operable on a grid system above the containers  110 ; wherein the light is provided via lighting means deployable from a first position adjacent the sides of the containers  110  to a second position above the containers  110 . 
     In this way, the present invention overcomes the problems of the prior art lighting systems in stacking system vertical farms and provides a solution that ensures uniform light distribution in a stacked container system, ensuring increased yield of crops, increased efficiency in terms of lighting costs and producing crops unaffected by lighting directionality. 
    
    
     
       The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic perspective view of a frame structure for housing a plurality of stacks of containers in a storage system; 
         FIG.  2    is a schematic plan view of part of the frame structure of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIGS.  3   a  and  3   b    are schematic perspective views, from the rear and front respectively, of one form of robotic load handling device for use with the frame structure of  FIGS.  1  and  2   , and  FIG.  3   c    is a schematic perspective view of the known load handler device in use lifting a container; 
         FIG.  4    is a schematic perspective view of a known storage system comprising a plurality of load handler devices of the type shown in  FIGS.  3   a ,  3   b  and  3   c   , installed on the frame structure of  FIGS.  1  and  2   , together with a robotic service device in accordance with one form of the invention. 
         FIG.  5    is a schematic perspective view of one form of growing system, the system comprising a series of stacks of containers located within a framework, individual containers being removable from the stacks by load handlers (not shown), the system further comprising robotic picking means for picking plants growing in the containers stored in the growing system; 
         FIGS.  6   a ,  6   b ,  6   c    are schematic perspective views of one form of container for use in the growing system of  FIG.  5   , the container comprising lighting means 
         FIG.  7    is a schematic perspective view of a portion of the system of  FIG.  5    showing the uprights of the framework of the storage system, the uprights carrying a plurality of sliding panels moveably mounted on the uprights, the panels being moveable from a first inoperative position within the framework to a second operative position, wherein when in the second position the panels are located within individual containers; 
         FIG.  8    is a schematic perspective view of a portion of the system of  FIG.  5    showing the uprights of the framework of the storage system with the containers stacked within the uprights, the panels of  FIG.  7    being in the second, operative position within the containers; 
         FIG.  9    is a schematic, perspective, close-up view of one form of mechanism for moving the panels from the first position within the uprights to the second position within the container, the mechanism comprising a worm gear mechanism; and 
         FIG.  10    is a schematic front view of a further form of the invention showing lighting means capable of achieving uniform light distribution across each container within a stack within the system. 
     
    
    
     As shown in  FIGS.  1  and  2   , stackable containers, known as containers  10 , are stacked on top of one another to form stacks  12 . The stacks  12  are arranged in a frame structure  14  in a warehousing or manufacturing environment.  FIG.  1    is a schematic perspective view of the frame structure  14 , and  FIG.  2    is a top-down view showing a single stack  12  of containers  10  arranged within the frame structure  14 . Each container  10  typically holds a plurality of product items (not shown), and the product items within a container  10  may be identical, or may be of different product types depending on the application. 
     The frame structure  14  comprises a plurality of upright members  16  that support horizontal members  18 ,  20 . A first set of parallel horizontal members  18  is arranged perpendicularly to a second set of parallel horizontal members  20  to form a plurality of horizontal grid structures supported by the upright members  16 . The members  16 ,  18 ,  20  are typically manufactured from metal. The containers  10  are stacked between the members  16 ,  18 ,  20  of the frame structure  14 , so that the frame structure  14  guards against horizontal movement of the stacks  12  of containers  10 , and guides vertical movement of the containers  10 . 
     The top level of the frame structure  14  includes rails  22  arranged in a grid pattern across the top of the stacks  12 . Referring additionally to  FIGS.  3   a ,  3   b  and  3   c  and  4   , the rails  22  support a plurality of robotic load handling devices  30 . A first set  22   a  of parallel rails  22  guide movement of the load handling devices  30  in a first direction (X) across the top of the frame structure  14 , and a second set  22   b  of parallel rails  22 , arranged perpendicular to the first set  22   a , guide movement of the load handling devices  30  in a second direction (Y), perpendicular to the first direction. In this way, the rails  22  allow movement of the load handling devices  30  in two dimensions in the X-Y plane, so that a load handling device  30  can be moved into position above any of the stacks  12 . 
     Each load handling device  30  comprises a vehicle  32  which is arranged to travel in the X and Y directions on the rails  22  of the frame structure  14 , above the stacks  12 . A first set of wheels  34 , consisting of a pair of wheels  34  on the front of the vehicle  32  and a pair of wheels  34  on the back of the vehicle  32 , are arranged to engage with two adjacent rails of the first set  22   a  of rails  22 . Similarly, a second set of wheels  36 , consisting of a pair of wheels  36  on each side of the vehicle  32 , are arranged to engage with two adjacent rails of the second set  22   b  of rails  22 . Each set of wheels  34 ,  36  can be lifted and lowered, so that either the first set of wheels  34  or the second set of wheels  36  is engaged with the respective set of rails  22   a ,  22   b  at any one time. 
     When the first set of wheels  34  is engaged with the first set of rails  22   a  and the second set of wheels  36  are lifted clear from the rails  22 , the wheels  34  can be driven, by way of a drive mechanism (not shown) housed in the vehicle  32 , to move the load handling device  30  in the X direction. To move the load handling device  30  in the Y direction, the first set of wheels  34  are lifted clear of the rails  22 , and the second set of wheels  36  are lowered into engagement with the second set of rails 22a. The drive mechanism can then be used to drive the second set of wheels  36  to achieve movement in the Y direction. 
     In this way, one or more robotic load handling devices  30  can move around the top surface of the stacks  12  on the frame structure  14  under the control of a central picking system (not shown). Each robotic load handling device  30  is provided with means for lifting out one or more containers or containers from the stack to access the required products. In this way, multiple products can be accessed from multiple locations in the grid and stacks at any one time. 
       FIG.  4    shows a typical storage system as described above, the system having a plurality of load handling devices  30  active on the stacks  12 . 
       FIGS.  1  and  4    show the containers  10  in stacks  12  within a storage system. It will be appreciated that there may be a large number of containers in any given storage system. 
       FIG.  5    shows a growing system based on the prior art storage system depicted in  FIGS.  1  to  4   . In the growing system, growing containers  110  are adapted to be suitable for growing plants or other living organisms. For example, each growing container  110  may comprise a growing medium. 
       FIG.  5    shows a portion of the growing system described above. For clarity only a portion of the frame structure is shown with a representative number of containers  110  shown in a stack  12  within the frame structure  14 . A portion of the containers  110  located within the system comprise growing means only in preparation for use. A portion of the containers  110  in the system comprise plants that have become too large for the spacing regime in which they were originally planted. 
     A robotic picking device  100  may be provided to fully automate this task. However, it will be appreciated that the task may be performed manually by operatives at the service area of the growing system. 
     Each growing container  110  may comprise a container  10  as shown in  FIGS.  1  to  5    or alternatively may comprise a tray-like base with a supporting framework disposed above to enable the growing containers  110  to stack. Such growing containers  110  enable the growing canopy of the plant to be accessible through the sides of the container structure. 
     As the containers are stacked, it is the corner uprights of the container that carry the load of any containers stacked above any given container. Therefore, it is not necessary for the containers to have fixed or rigid sides. It will be appreciated that the growing containers  110  may comprise sides or partial sides to prevent crops from growing out of the growing container  110  volume. 
       FIGS.  6   a ,  6   b  and  6   c    show one form of a growing container  110  adapted to be suitable for growing plants. The plants are grown on growing means  13  such as matting or soil located in the containers  110 . Beneath the matting  13  the container may comprise a reservoir  54  (not shown) the reservoir containing water and/or plant food suitable for the plant being grown in the container. 
     The containers  110  are held in stacks by co-operating surfaces on adjacent containers  110 . The containers  110  additionally comprise connection means  40  positioned at the intended co-operating surfaces of the containers  110 . The connection means  40  may comprise electrically conductive layers deposited on the co-operating surfaces of the containers  10  or may comprise sprung-loaded contacts or springs as contacts or any other connection means capable of carrying power between two or more containers  10 . Furthermore, the connection means  40  may comprise carbon loaded rubber contacts capable of carrying signals between two or more co-operating containers  10  in a stack. 
     The connecting means  40  shown comprise releasably latching connectors capable of carrying power, fluids (such as water and fertilizers) and other services or utilities required in the plant growing system 
     Individual containers  110  may comprise power supply means for supplying power to, for example, heating means, cooling means, data logging means, communication means and/or lighting means  60 . Each individual container  110  may further comprise power control means for controlling the power to the or each service and controlling the power to other containers  10  in the stack  12  if power is to be transmitted to adjacent containers  10  in the stack  12 . It will be appreciated that containers  10  comprising power control and control means are not limited to powering heaters, coolers or lights. Anything requiring power may utilize the power supply means. The power supply means may comprise batteries or may comprise means for transmitting power from an external power source through connection means  40  on the containers  10  or via the upright members  16  of the frame structure. Non-contacting methods of power transmission may also be used, for example magnetic induction or RF induction and optical methods. 
       FIGS.  6   a ,  6   b  and  6   c    show in detail a container  10  suitable for growing plant means. The container  10  comprises lighting means  60  which may radiate light of a predetermined wavelength suitable for growing a desired crop. Furthermore, the container  110  comprises fluid supply means  52  which when activated, may sprinkle a predetermined amount of water on the crops growing in the container  110 . The power to the lighting means  60  and the fluid supply to the sprinkling means  52  are routed through the container  10  via routing means  17  that run along one side of the container  10 . The container  110  is further provided with connecting means  40  to enable services to be routed up a stack  12  of containers  10  when the containers  10  are located in the growing system. 
     It will be appreciated that although in  FIGS.  6   a ,  6   b  and  6   c    the routing means are shown as mounted on the container  10 , it is possible to form a container  10  such that the container comprises mouldings suitable to act as routing means  17 . 
       FIGS.  6   a  to  6   c    show a further forms of container  110  from the stack  12 , the container  10  comprising various configurations of lighting means  60 . As shown in  FIGS.  6   a  and  6   b   , the lighting means  60  may comprise a lid containing suitable bulbs, LEDs or any other suitable form of lighting  60 . The lid may be removably attached to the container  10  and fold away during removal of the container  10  from the stack  12 . 
     Alternatively, as shown in  FIG.  6   c    the lighting means  60  may be provided in the base of a container  110  to light the container  110  below in the stack  12 . 
       FIG.  7    shows an alternative form of lighting arrangement in accordance with the invention.  FIG.  7    shows a portion of the growing system comprising uprights of the frame structure  14 . Located within the frame structure  14  are stacks  12  of growing containers  110 . The growing containers  110  are of the type comprising a tray-like base and a box-type supporting framework mounted above to form a support for the growing container  110  in the stack  12 . 
     It will be appreciated that the box-type framework of the growing container  110  may comprise a separate structure fixedly mounted on to the tray or may comprise an integrally formed structure with the tray-like base. 
     The growing container  110  further comprises a guide portion  114  on the upright members  16  positioned along two of the short sides of the growing container  110  at the top of the box-type support structure. The upright members  16  of the growing system frame structure  14  further comprise a guide portion  114 ′ on the growing container  110  running substantially parallel to the upright members  16 . The guide portion  114  and the guide portion  114 ′ are positioned such that when a growing container  110  is located within a stack  12  within the frame structure  14 , the two guide portions  114 ,  114 ′ align. The two guide portions  114 ,  114 ′ are joined by a radius portion of guide formed or mounted on the guide portion  114  on the uprights. 
     A plurality of panel members  113  are disposed within the guide portions  114 ,  114 ′ and are moveable along the guide portions  114  on the uprights and into the guide portions  114 ′ within the container  110 . The panel members  113  comprise lighting means  60  that may emit light of suitable wavelengths for the crop or plant in the growing container  110 . 
       FIG.  7    shows the panel members  113  comprising lighting means  60  located within the guide portion  114  on the uprights. The panel members  113  in  FIG.  7    are positioned in a first position in which the surface of each of the panel members  113  comprising the lighting means  60  is substantially parallel to a long side of a growing container  110 . The lighting means  60  may be inoperative when in this position. Alternatively, if the lighting means  60  are operative in this position, the growing containers  110  may be lit from the side in the case where the growing containers  110  do not comprise fixed or opaque sides. 
     The uprights further comprise a driven mechanism  115  such as, for example only, a worm gear mechanism. The worm gear mechanism comprises a threaded rod  116  mounted on the uprights and engaging means for engaging the panel members when located in the guides  114  on the upright. The engaging means is moved via the worm gear to move the panels  113  comprising the lighting means  60  from the first position within the guide portion  114 , substantially parallel to the uprights, to the second position within the container  110  where the panel means  113  comprising the lighting means  60  are substantially perpendicular to the uprights of the frame structure  14 . The mechanism  115  is shown in greater detail in  FIG.  9   . 
     In use, the panel members  113  comprising the lighting means  60  are moved from the position shown in  FIG.  7    to the position shown in  FIG.  8    by driving the worm gear mechanism. The mechanism  115  engages ribbon means (not shown) located within the guide portions  114 ,  114 ′ on which the panels  113  are mounted and acts so as to move the panels upwardly in the guide  114  on the uprights, round the radius and along the guide  114 ′ located within the growing container  110 . When the panel members  113  are located in the guides  114 ′ within the growing container  110  as shown in  FIG.  8   , the emitting surfaces of the lighting means  60  are disposed towards the growing volume  122  of the container  110 . In this second position, the lighting means  60  are activated and act to light the plants or crops contained within the container volume in an even manner. 
     The mechanism  115  may be operable in response to a signal received from a load handling device (not shown) positioning itself above a given stack  12  of growing containers  110 . Alternatively, the mechanism may be driven by the load handling device  30  via suitable locating and driving means  118  located on the top of the uprights. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the mechanism  115  may be operable under remote control from a control center (not shown). 
     In this way, the growing containers  110  may be lit from above to facilitate uniform distribution of light and to enable the crops and plants to grow in a substantially upright manner, thereby eliminating the problem of crops and plants growing unevenly or at an angle to the upright caused by the directionality of the lighting. Additionally, the lighting means  60  are deployable when needed and may be returned to a storage position within the guides  114  on the uprights when not required. More particularly, the lights may be returned to this storage position when a growing container  110  is to be removed from a stack by a load handling device  30  operating on the tracks positioned above the frame structure  14 . 
     It will be appreciated that whilst the above example and the Figures are described with the panel members  113  and lighting means  60  being positioned adjacent the long edge of the container  110 , the system will work in a similar manner with the lighting means  60  positioned along the short edge of the container  110 . Indeed the system will work if the containers  110  have a square cross section and the panel members and lighting means are positioned on either edge. 
     It will further be appreciated that the lighting means  60  need not comprise discrete lighting means on a series of panels  113 , but may comprise a single light means on a flexible plate-type structure. 
     In an alternative embodiment of the invention, as shown in  FIG.  10    the growing container  110  comprises a tray like base having a box-type support structure mounted thereon. The box-type structure together with the tray-like base defines a growing volume  122  in which the plant canopy forms. Each growing container  110  comprises a top or lid structure  120  comprising plastics material capable of internal reflection or refraction of light therein. For example, the top or lid structure  120  may comprise PMMA, Polycarbonate or Polystyrene or any other suitable material. The top or lid structure  120  may be positioned on top of each growing container or alternatively may form the base of each growing container  110  thereby being capable of lighting the growing container  110  below. It will be appreciated that a top or lid structure  120  may be independently removable from the top container  110  by the load handling device  30 , particularly in the example where the base of the containers  110  comprises the lighting means  60 . In this example, the top most container  110  would require an individual top or lid structure  120  to perform the lighting function. 
     It will be appreciated that the top or lid structure  120  may be independently removable from the top most container  110  by a first load handling device  30 , a second load handling device  30  being subsequently used to lift the top most growing container  110  from the stack. However, individual load handling devices  30  may be provided with lifting means suitable for first lifting a top or lid structure  120  thereby disconnecting the lid and light array from any power supply, the lifting means subsequently lifting the growing container  110 . Additionally, it will be appreciated that individual load handling devices  30  may be provided with lifting means suitable for lifting the container  110  with the top or lid structure  120  in situ, in this example, the load handling device  30  being provided with means for powering the lighting array in the top or lid structure  120  to maintain continuity of lighting if required. 
     Whilst the example shown in  FIG.  10    shows a top or lid structure  120  of rectangular cross section, it will be appreciated that a shaped structure may improve the reflection properties and enable more light to be reflected and less to be scattered out with the structure. Advantageously, the provision of a transparent top or lid structure  120  enables the content of the growing volume  122  to be inspected either visually by an operator or via camera on a load handling device or within the growing system. 
     It will be appreciated that the top or lid structure  120  may comprise a mirrored surface (not shown) such that all the radiation incident thereon is reflected back towards the growing volume  122 . 
     Lighting means  60  such as LEDs emitting light of a predetermined wavelength or a plurality of predetermined wavelengths are mounted aside the lid or base structures such that the radiation emitted is incident on the plastics top or lid structure  120  and lights the edges of the material, the light being refracted and reflected and emitted in a uniform manner over the growing canopy of the plants or crops. 
     In this way, uniform lighting distribution is achieved whilst maintaining a fixed lighting position on the side of the growing container  110 . 
     In combination with the lighting mechanisms described above, individual containers  110  may further comprise other services, for example data logging means and communication means  207  for transmitting data recorded to a remote central data logging device  201 . The data logging means  203  comprises sensors  205  suitable for monitoring the conditions in the container  10 , for example the temperature, any gas emission, for example as a result of decomposing fruit, and humidity. The data logging means  203  and communicating means  207  enable the content and condition of individual containers  10  to be monitored. Furthermore, knowing information about specific containers  10  in the stacks  12  in the system enables the condition of the storage system as a whole to be monitored. It will be appreciated that the type and method of communication may be but need not be limited to WiFi. Any suitable form of communication protocol or method may be used. 
     Individual containers  110  in the stack  12 , may further comprise heating and/or cooling means  211  and temperature monitoring means  213  for monitoring the temperature in the container  10 . The heating means may comprise flow of hot fluid via direct means, for example hot air, or indirect means, for example radiator means or may further comprise electrical heaters or electromagnetic induction heaters. 
     The cooling means may comprise Peltier coolers or may comprise flow of cold fluid via direct means, for example cold air or via indirect means, for example radiator means, including ice slurry compressor driven. 
     In this way, the temperatures of individual containers  110  may be controlled and varied depending on the content of the individual container  110 . If the contents of the container need to be chilled, then the individual container can have a temperature of 5° C. maintained rather than requiring a portion of the stacks  12  in the storage system to be maintained at a predetermined temperature by space heaters and coolers. It will be appreciated that these are examples only and any suitable form of heater or chiller may be used to achieve the desired effect. 
     It may be preferable for air to be blown across the containers  10  within the stacks  12  of the plant growing system. This may be achieved by generating an airflow throughout the system either utilizing fans or other airflow means. 
     It will be appreciated that the upright members  16  of the grid of the growing system may carry any of the services referred to herein or alternative services for onward transmission to the containers  10  by wires, cables or pipes or any other suitable means. 
     UK Patent Application Numbers GB1606678.9, GB1606684.7 and GB1606679.7 detail systems and methods of routing services through containers  10  and frame structure  14 , and are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     Given the highly automated and controlled nature of the system a large number of uses are envisaged. Some of these are described below but should not be considered limiting. 
     The system may be used for development of new variants of plants, for example, or if optimal growing conditions for given variants are being established then the use of the system will require continual monitoring and all conditions within each container will require separate parameters to be checked and the contents regularly inspected. The amount of water, nutrients and light will need to be closely monitored and varied accordingly. This will require many containers to be removed, inspected and replaced at intervals. Advantageously, this can be achieved in the present system as the process of sensing, monitoring and removal of containers  10  from the system is highly automated. 
     If the system is to be used for mass production of given plants or crops, the cost of production needs to be minimized and therefore the required parameters for optimum growth will have previously been established. Therefore, the lighting, water, nutrients and temperature required for each plant or crop variety will be fixed at the beginning of the growth cycle. The containers will only be removed from the storage system every 3 to 10 days for the seedlings to be re-spaced and then ultimately harvested and the containers  10  re-seeded. 
     Advantageously, it is possible for both types of uses to be accommodated in a single storage system. A portion of the containers  10  may contain crops for mass production, a portion of the containers may contain products under development or new variants being monitored and optimal growth protocols being established. 
     It will be appreciated that a portion of the system may be partitioned by suitable partition means 
     In the examples described herein, it will be appreciated that not all containers  110  comprise all the services described. Furthermore, some containers, particularly if used for mass production, may not require any services other than the appropriate levels of light, water and nutrients. Conversely, for containers  110  being utilized in research and development or trials, more of the sensing and monitoring means may be required in each container. 
     In the case of a research and development container, at regular intervals the container or containers  10  are removed from the stacks  12  by the load handling device  30  and taken to an inspection port within the system. The condition of the plants is checked and nutrients or water added to the container as required. If the plants within the container still require time to achieve maturity, the container  10  is returned to the stacks  12 . If the plant has grown sufficiently and the crop is ripe, the plants or crops are removed and the container  10  is cleaned and replanted and then returned to the stacks  12 . 
     In the case of mass production, the relevant containers  10  may not be removed for inspection, but may only be removed when the crop is expected to have reached maturity. 
     The sensor means provided within the containers  10 , monitor the condition of the plants growing therein. Whilst a schedule of maintenance of the plants in the containers  10  may be used, it will be appreciated that the sensors may trigger a container  10  being removed from the stacks  12  outside of the maintenance schedule. For example, if a container  10  contains growing mushrooms but the mushrooms are over ripe a sensor may detect a gas associated with food ripening and the container  10  may be removed outside of the maintenance schedule for inspection. 
     Certain greenhouses operate in an atmosphere with elevated levels of CO2. It will be appreciated that in these situations, suitable gas sensing means would be able to monitor and control the levels of CO2 accordingly. 
     It will be appreciated that many crops may be grown in such mechanized greenhouses. These include but are not limited to mushrooms, chillies, herbs, and lettuce. In some places, where energy is abundant but water scare this kind of system could also be used to grow cereal crops and other living things. Whilst the embodiments described here refer mainly to plant growth either for mass production or research and development purposes, it will be appreciated that any living organism, plant, animal or fungi could be grown in such a storage system. For example, the storage system could be used for the growth of fish, chickens, oysters, and lobsters. Additionally, the system could be used for GM trials, pharmaceutical trials, the storage of wine that needs specific maturing conditions, or cheese that need careful temperature and humidity control. 
     It is an advantage of this system of growing crops, that multiple crops may be grown in a single location, as different containers  10  may contain different crops. Furthermore, growing the plants in containers  10  prevents the spread of disease through a large crop as disease, blight, fungus or other plant related problems will be confined to individual containers  10 . Whilst it should be possible to limit the infestation from the outside environment through filters in the system warehouse, any breach of this could be contained in individual containers, such that “plant related problems” could be minimized. 
     It will be appreciated that the growing system comprises a large number of containers  10  arranged in stacks  12 . In one embodiment of the invention, the storage system comprises containers  10  of different categories dispersed within the system. For example, there may be empty containers  10 , containers  10  growing plants, containers  10  containing goods to be stored, containers containing services such as power supplies or communications means, containers  10  comprising heating means, containers  10  comprising cooling means, containers  10  comprising goods requiring liquids and/or light. 
     It will be appreciated that some containers  10  may contain one or more of the services or devices referred to above. For example a container  10  with a reservoir  54  may also be provided with lighting means  60 . 
     The lighting means  60  may take the form of LED lights or fluorescent tubes or any other suitable form of lighting. 
     The provision of data logging and condition monitoring means in containers  10  within the stacks  12  enables a map of the condition and topography of the system to be generated that would not otherwise be possible unless specific containers  10  were removed and examined. 
     Furthermore, providing services to specific individual containers  10  either via the upright members  16  or via container-to-container contacts, enables goods having different requirements to be stored within the same storage system without resorting to portioning the system and separating goods with different requirements in to separate sections of the grid. 
     Additionally, connections between containers  10  and communications between containers  10  and stacks  12  will generate a knowledge base of the storage system in real time that will assist in the event of a power outage for example, that will aid in possible disaster recovery. The alternative would be to empty all the containers and rebuild the stack which would be inefficient and costly. 
     It will be appreciated that all containers  10  may be removed from the stacks  12  by the load handling devices  30 . No container  10  is fixed in a position and all contacts are makeable and breakable between the containers  10 . Furthermore, containers  10  requiring services being passed through the upright members  16  are not fixed to the upright members  16  in any way. Any suitable make and break connection may be used. 
     It will further be appreciated that individual containers may be provided with one service, a selection of services or all service described. Furthermore, the services listed should not be regarded as limiting. Any form of service that is capable of being carried or transmitted to a container  10  may be envisaged. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, given for example only, the containers  110  comprise trays on which the plants are grown. The trays are approximately 1000×1400 mm. The trays comprise a frame, tall enough to allow the plants to grow to their natural harvesting height. In the specific embodiment, trays are stacked up to 20 m tall or more. Each tray is lit, either from lights attached to the top frame of the tray, from the base of the tray above or from lights in the grid as shown in example form only in  FIGS.  6   a  to  6   c    above. All processing (planting, harvesting, pruning, spraying and potentially watering) is undertaken at specialized work stations with good ergonomics and potentially robots or other automation. 
     It will be appreciated that a plurality of different lighting arrays may be used. For example different arrays may be used during the early part of the plant’s growth than to the end of plant growth. In the beginning stages, focusing all light on the plant and reducing the waste of lighting the surrounding soil would be preferable. Separate arrays may be utilized or a portion of lights may be switched off. Therefore, the lighting means  60  may be moveable with reference to the crop growing in the container  10 . For example, should the crop grow in height, the level of the lighting means  60  may be raisable and lowerable relative to the height of the crop in the container  110 . Furthermore, the growing containers  110  may be provided with spacer collars to enable the growing volume of the growing container  110  to be increased. It will be appreciated that the top or lid structure  120  may be suitable formed to co-operate with such spacer collars or vice versa, the lighting means being separable from the spacer collars and replaced on growing containers  110  if required. It will be appreciated that spacer collars may stack on growing containers  110  and vice versa and that top or lid structure  120  may fit containers  110  or spacer collars. 
     It will also be appreciated that multiple wavelengths of light may be used at any one time or discrete wavelengths maybe used in a predetermined sequence. In both of the examples above, the lighting means  60  may comprise multiple individual light sources in an array or may comprise lighting means that are interchangeable during use. 
     In a further embodiment, the plants may be grown upside down and lit from below. Advantageously, this would reduce the energy expended by the plant to move water and nutrients against gravity and may make some species grow faster. 
     Many variations and modifications not explicitly described above are also possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.