Configuring AUTOMAIT Guardrails
What is AUTOMAIT?
AUTOMAIT™ is AROYA’s intelligent irrigation engine that dynamically executes irrigation strategies based on live substrate and environmental feedback. Instead of relying on static schedules or manual set-points, it continuously adapts irrigation decisions to maintain optimal root-zone conditions and align with crop steering strategies. AUTOMAIT is tuned through the Absolute Steering Index™ (ASI™), which lets growers express their strategic intent on a scale from fully generative to fully vegetative. By linking AI-driven irrigation control with ASI, AUTOMAIT ensures responsive irrigation that supports consistent outcomes while reducing the need for constant manual adjustments.
What is ASI / Absolute Steering Index?
The Absolute Steering Index (ASI) is a simple 1–10 scale that represents the grower’s crop steering intent, ranging from fully generative (1) to fully vegetative (10). Instead of requiring complex irrigation schedules or constant recalibration, growers use ASI to set their desired steering direction. AUTOMAIT then interprets this input and dynamically adjusts irrigation strategies in real time, delivering shot frequency and volume consistent with the selected steering intent. By combining sensor-driven feedback with ASI guidance, AROYA enables precise, repeatable steering outcomes across cultivation runs.
Guardrails for the ASI
AUTOMAIT gives growers the ability to define guardrails around the Absolute Steering Index, setting the bounds within which the system can make dynamic irrigation decisions. These parameters ensure that irrigation adjustments always operate within limits chosen by the grower, combining the efficiency of AI-driven control with the confidence of grower-defined expertise. Guardrails provide the flexibility to harness automation while retaining clear control over how strategies are executed in practice.
Irrigation Window Start
Time after lights on when irrigation begins. Provides a buffer for plants to transition from the dark period, allowing time for stomata to open and transpiration to start. Marks the beginning of the P1 rehydration phase.
Irrigation Safety Cutoff
Buffer period before lights off to ensure root oxygenation, healthy dryback, and reduced nighttime pathogen pressure. This should not be used to specify the end of the irrigation window (which is controlled by the ASI value), but rather a ‘never irrigate after’ backstop.
ECpw Limit (Max)
Upper pore-water EC (dS/m) threshold. If exceeded, a Supplemental Shot dilutes salts to prevent nutrient burn, lockout, and osmotic stress.
Supplemental Shot Size
Duration of the corrective shot applied when ECpw is too high or VWC too low—enough to refresh the root zone without disrupting irrigation strategy.
P1 Shot Size
Duration of irrigations during the P1 rehydration phase. A series of these shots, spaced by the wait time, gradually refills the substrate toward field capacity. Should be sized to promote even wetting and reduce the risk of channeling.
P1 Maximum Duration if No Drain Detected
Maximum time allowed in the P1 phase before automatically transitioning to P2 if no drain is detected. If triggered, it may indicate irrigation guardrails preventing reaching field capacity or an issue with the drain station.
P2 Shot Size
Duration of irrigations during the P2 maintenance phase. These shots sustain VWC near field capacity. Should be sized to provide consistent moisture renewal without oversaturation.
Wait between Shots (Max)
Maximum allowable interval between shots. Prevents the root zone from drying back too far or salts from concentrating excessively between irrigations.
Wait between Shots (Min)
Minimum allowable interval between shots. Ensures each irrigation has time to spread evenly through the substrate, reducing risk of channeling and uneven wetting.
VWC Limit (Min)
Lower substrate VWC (%) threshold. If breached, a Supplemental Shot re-wets the media to prevent hydrophobicity, salt buildup, and root dehydration stress.
