035 - Automation for CEA Facilities with Cale Winters of Rhythm CSS

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• Introduction & Guest Overview:
• Michael Williamson and Anders Peterson host Cultivation Elevated, discussing innovations in vertical farming and cannabis production. They welcome Cale Winters, owner of Rhythm Cultivation Solutions and Services (Rhythm CSS), which specializes in horticultural automation and controls.
• Background of Rhythm CSS:
• Winters explains his journey from industrial engineering to founding Rhythm CSS, driven by the goal of developing automation solutions for complex cultivation environments like cannabis.
• Rhythm CSS offers fully integrated control systems for managing lighting, irrigation, fertigation, and environmental parameters in grow facilities.
• Early Challenges in Cannabis Cultivation:
• Cultivation previously relied heavily on manual processes, which were labor-intensive and inconsistent.
• Winters highlights the lack of accessible, cannabis-specific automation and control systems, which led to inefficiencies in commercial grows.
• Fertigation and Environmental Control:
• Rhythm CSS designs customized fertigation systems with options for batch and direct injection setups to suit different grow operations.
• Cale Winters emphasizes the importance of day storage for managing water supply and irrigation needs, particularly in high-frequency watering programs used in crop steering.
• User-Friendly Interface and Training:
• Rhythm CSS's platform is tailored for cultivators, making it intuitive and easy to learn compared to traditional industrial control systems.
• The system allows for cross-training and quick on-boarding, reducing dependency on specialized staff and mitigating risks if key employees leave.
• Data Collection and Automation:
• The importance of data in cultivation is stressed, especially for maintaining consistency and identifying trends.
• Rhythm CSS’s platform enables comprehensive data collection across all systems, providing insights for operators and facilitating better decision-making.
• Challenges with Space Allocation and Design Flexibility:
• Many grow facilities under-allocate space for fertigation and water storage, leading to design challenges.
• Rhythm CSS assists clients with custom equipment layouts to maximize space efficiency without compromising functionality.
• Redundancy and Risk Mitigation:
• Winters recommends having backup water and treatment systems, ideally storing at least two days' worth of water.
• Redundant systems are essential for mitigating the impact of equipment failures or supply interruptions.
• Future of AI and Machine Learning in Cultivation:
• Rhythm CSS is exploring AI applications to enhance predictive analytics and automate responses to environmental conditions.
• However, Winters emphasizes the importance of reliable sensor data and warns against rushing AI solutions into critical processes.
• Sensor Technology:
• Rhythm CSS has integrated advanced sensors to improve the accuracy of environmental monitoring.
• Proper sensor placement and maintenance are critical to ensuring accurate data and avoiding potential errors with automated adjustments.
• Conclusion & Contact Information:
• For those interested in Rhythm CSS solutions, Winters provides contact details and encourages potential clients to reach out for personalized consultations.

This episode provides an in-depth look at Rhythm CSS's role in advancing cannabis cultivation technology, emphasizing automation,...