The idea

Data is the currency of digitalization. This is especially true in the industrial environment. With the Beehyve project, we also want to bring bees into the IoT world and contribute to greater sustainability through the smart use of data. So if we now think of the hive as a smart home, we should equip it accordingly.

But how do you make a beehive smart?

• Install Sensors – These can collect data on the hive’s conditions and send it to a central hub or cloud platform for analysis.

• Add a smart hive monitoring system – This system can collect real-time data on the hive’s conditions and send alerts to beekeepers when conditions change. These alerts can help beekeepers make informed decisions about hive management and take action quickly to prevent problems.

• Use AI algorithms – You can use AI algorithms to analyze the data collected by the sensors and make predictions about the hive’s health and productivity. For example, you can use machine learning algorithms to predict when the hive is likely to swarm, or to detect signs of disease before they become apparent to the naked eye.

• Implement remote control features – You can use remote control features to adjust the hive’s conditions, such as temperature and humidity, from a distance. This can be useful for beekeepers who are unable to visit the hive regularly or who want to monitor the hive during off-hours.

Overall, making a beehive smart involves integrating various technologies and data sources to collect and analyze information about the hive’s conditions. This information can help beekeepers make more informed decisions and take proactive measures to maintain the health and productivity of their bees.

The solution

Bees are not necessarily fans of sensory technology in their home. Foreign objects in the hive are often cemented by the bees so that they no longer provide the desired data. Therefore, special rules apply to the installation of technical elements.

For us, this area is new territory – but not for others. That’s why we harness the power of swarm intelligence and seek to exchange knowledge with experts in the industry.

In this way, we were able to incorporate the feedback from the Hobos project directly into the technical setup in the Beehyve project.

How to build sensors into a beehive – using swarm intelligence

The starting point for building the smart hive is a standard wooden beehive.

How is a beehive typically constructed? A beehive typically consists of the following components:

• Hive stand: A sturdy platform on which the hive is placed, keeping it off the ground and preventing moisture from entering the hive.
• Bottom board: A flat board that serves as the base of the hive and provides an entrance for the bees to come and go.
• Brood boxes: Large wooden boxes where the queen bee lays eggs and where the young bees develop.
• Honey supers: sit on top of the brood boxes, where bees store their surplus honey. Like brood boxes, honey supers have frames where bees build their honeycomb.