don't get me wrong I think it's awesome that you have put forth the effort to create something and actually see it go from idea to reality, that's definitely commendable!
as a DWC veteran though it just doesn't get me excited, mostly because it solves a problem that's not actually a problem, by using a medium that retains water in your net cup you can just plop your cutting right in, same for seed, into any dwc system(5gal buckets are cheap and everywhere) I like a mix of chunky perlite and verm about 50/50 but I'm having good results with promix atm.
having the connection for the water pump outside the bucket means it will have to be used in an RDWC configuration, which is costly compared to a stand alone unit, for the grower who wants RDWC that's fine, but you eliminate virtually all your "one or two bucket" customers, and any like myself who don't want the hassle of tweaking and maintaining an RDWC just to get the same results. that's not to say RDWC folks wont like your design though. I would go a step further and mold in some threaded connection points at the bottom to attach pipes for the RDWC setup, that's a HUGE problem for folks getting into RDWC, solid water tight connectors built right in.
make sure your test grows use the same variables and the tests have to be cuttings for the side by side or no one will value the results, my prediction is they will be nearly similar as your design doesn't add anything that would increase yield over regular DWC, mostly because the design is quite simply still DWC, roots suspended in aqueous solution. Aeroponics is roots suspended in air, the nutrient solution is aerosolized by a special high pressure pump, special misters that can handle that pressure and deliver a uniform droplet size. This combo is teamed with a special timer that allows intervals of less than one second. The timer hits the pump, a burst of mist hits the roots, the ultra tiny droplets are absorbed completely and run off is very slight if any. Intervals must be carefully timed to keep roots moist but not wet. This allows for the least possible waste and the most efficient possible grow with higher yields relative to the amount of nutes used to produce it.
marketing on bigger yields is a mistake, there are way more variables at play besides the bucket, i would steer your design toward integrating useful things like connection ports, a drain and fill with a level indicator for one or two bucket growers, think about how to take the hassle out of DWC and market your products that way.
Avoid china like it was the fuckin French Finger! Your blueprints become State property, they'll quote your price for say, 10000 units, they'll use the money to run 30000 and warehouse 20k until yours begin to sell, then they start trickling them in as "Grow Boss Halo Buckets 6 site hydro tent" or something like that. See "selfie stick"
