Project LightSaver AI in progress

Computomics is working with Fraunhofer UMSICHT and Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences on the development of an AI-based, energy-optimized lighting system for urban indoor plant cultivation. Last week, the parties met for a project meeting at the indoor farm of Hochschule Osnabrück.

The central goal of Project LightSaverAI is to create the basis for an intelligent production system for indoor farms in urban areas. This system measures the chlorophyll fluorescence (ChlFl) as a measure of the photosynthesis rate as well as various environmental parameters online and evaluates them using AI approaches. 

The need for such systems is of particular interest in the global indoor farming sector - to produce high quality plants in a resource-efficient manner. The goal is to achieve the maximum photosynthetic rate with minimal energy consumption. To achieve this goal, the model plant lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. capitata) is exposed to different light scenarios. 

Rupashree Dass, Christian Dreischer and Matthias Preusche at the indoor farm

Project meeting at Hochschule Osnabrück

Last week, the project partners met at the indoor farm in Osnabrück, where the experiments are carried out. After conversing online for several months, the in-person meeting was invaluable for the project. Rupashree Dass and Christian Dreischer were thrilled to finally meet Matthias Preusche, who carries out the experiments for the University of Applied Sciences Osnabrück. Together, they defined next steps, such as which experiments should be done, particularly with regard to benefits for machine learning. 

Matthias also showed Rupa and Christian around the impressive facility. The indoor farm grows a multitude of plants - from salad to vanilla, black pepper, sweet potato and cannabis. The greenhouse enables climate-independent cultivation of foodstuffs that could not previously be produced regionally in urban areas.

Project progress

Project LightSaver AI is scheduled until March 2025; the project partners are currently in the data collection phase. At the moment, Computomics carries out data quality checks and basic analyses based on the experiments decided on jointly with Osnabrück.

More about Project LightSaver AI

Contact:

Dr. Rupashree Dass
Research Manager
rupashree.dass@computomics.com