While the MV1 product line offers phenomenal customization and control over growing plants, it does not have the agricultural throughput that a larger, rack-style product would have. As a result, it is useful to pair an MV1 with a rack-style product to gain the benefits of both. Below, I have broken down five existing rack products objectively and thrown in some of my opinions on them.
1: Hort GrowRack
Shelves: 3
Dimensions: 60” x 24” x 72”
Mobile: Yes
Reservoir size: 40 gallons
Irrigation setup: Soil
Environmental Sensors: None
Air Circulation: None
Lighting: Fully controllable
Overall, it has a robust lighting system, but it has a finnicky irrigation system and a complete lack of environmental sensing or control.
2: SANANBIO Radix
Shelves: Configurable
Dimensions: Configurable
Mobile: No
Reservoir size: Configurable
Irrigation setup: DWC/NFT Hybrid
Environmental Sensors: None
Air Circulation: None
Lighting: Preset, but configurable
The Radix features phenomenal irrigation, modularity, and ease of construction. However, it lacks environmental sensors or control, as well as it lacks sidewalls that would balance the light distribution. The configurable lighting and routing of wires and tubing through the pillars is a great touch.
3: Farmshelf
Shelves: 3
Dimensions: 40.25" x 21.5" x 74.75"
Mobile: Yes
Reservoir size: 13
Irrigation setup: NFT
Environmental Sensors: Cameras with sensors
Air Circulation: Unclear
Lighting: Automatic
The Farmshelf is visually appealing with great automation. However, it is unclear how much real-time control or data viewing can be done by the end user, or if it just used internally. There is also a lack of airflow, which is especially problematic for an enclosed unit.
4: GSC SunLite
Shelves: 3
Dimensions: 51" x 14-5/8" x 68-1/2"
Mobile: Yes
Reservoir size: None
Irrigation setup: None
Environmental Sensors: None
Air Circulation: None
Lighting: White
The GSC SunLite includes sufficient lighting, but that’s about all it does. Timing, as well as everything else, is external.
5: Babylon Galleri
Shelves: 5
Dimensions: 32" x 66" x 96"
Mobile: Yes
Reservoir size: Possibly none
Irrigation setup: NFT
Environmental Sensors: Cameras with sensors
Air Circulation: Unclear
Lighting: White
The Babylon Galleri has incredible capabilities all around, but it lacks a robust air circulation system.