Project background
A client targeting urban growers, schools, and research labs needed a compact, modular indoor hydroponics unit that could be assembled into larger arrays without re-engineering. The design had to be low-cost yet reliable enough for daily use.
Challenge
Fitting a full grow environment — lighting, reservoir, pumps, sensors, and controller — into a space-efficient module while maintaining even light distribution, stable root-zone temperature, and tool-free assembly. The product also needed to be quiet enough for residential settings.
Approach & solution
We designed a stackable chassis with standardized power and data interfaces between modules. Airflow and thermal behavior were validated through simulation before prototyping. Electronics were consolidated onto a single controller board per module, with a master node managing the stack. A mobile app provided setup, scheduling, and alerts.
Results & benefits
The product successfully passed pilot trials with installations in homes and research facilities. Time-to-first-harvest for new users dropped significantly thanks to preloaded recipes, and the modular layout allowed owners to scale capacity without downtime.
