A Deployable Modular Agricultural System: From Optical Efficiency to Logistical Conversion
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: This paper presents a deployable modular agricultural system designed for supply-constrained environments including space stations, submarines, forward operating bases, polar stations, disaster zones, and pastoral areas. The core geometric innovation lies in planting on the inner wall of an enclosed cavity with plants growing inward toward the center. Light sources are configured at the center, radiating outward. Water and nutrient solutions are supplied through external injection ports and distributed to the root zone via capillary action. This combination of inner-wall planting, central lighting, and external water supply has not appeared in previous agricultural designs. The essential distinction from existing spherical agricultural designs: existing spherical designs aim for sightseeing, display, or decoration, with plants on the exterior or bottom and light entering from outside. The proposed system aims for logistical conversion, food production, and disaster resilience, with plants on the inner wall and light radiating from the center. Despite similar external form, the internal design and application are fundamentally different. The system consists of multiple square or hexagonal modules that can be assembled into cubic or spherical structures. Irrigation employs gravity-fed drip systems combined with passive uniform water distribution through capillary action and evaporation. Syringes enable precision fertilization and root health diagnosis. Modules can be flattened for transport, rapidly assembled, individually replaced, and equipped with casters and cushioning corner protectors for single-person rolling transport. The system can grow both leafy greens and root vegetables (beetroot, potatoes, etc.), providing vitamins and basal calories. The core positioning: this is not a farm but a logistical converter that transforms seeds, water, and nutrients into fresh food and energy.
Author: Yin, Li-Kuang
Language: English
Subfield: Aquatic Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7166661201
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