Our open-source hardware solution for beekeepers consists of a scale and several sensors that are enclosed in a 3D printed design box. It allows beekeepers to monitor the health of their hive remotely and without the need for physical intervention, and to get data on the weight, activity, health, and yield of the colony.
Currently, a version 0.2 prototype is installed on bee hives at Prusa Research’s premises in Prague’s Holešovice district, as well as in several locations across Europe. The documentation is fully available on wikifactory.com.
Our goal is to develop a DIY solution for beekeepers around the world with the help of our community (anyone can participate in an open-source environment). The entire system is to be assembled from publicly available parts and technologies – many components are also 3D printable. At the moment, bee data can be tracked via the beep.nl app, but one of our milestones is the development of a custom software environment. Development version 0.3 should also see the possibility of mirroring the data to a database of the Czech University of Agriculture in Prague.
The platform currently features a stainless steel frame with a force gauge (measures changes in hive weight), a solar panel with a 3D printed stand (ensures operation outside the networked area), and a 3D printed box with a control unit and an array of sensors.
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