Solar-powered robotic beekeeping

jsiepkes wrote: post #2

Looks super interesting. I would love to see some reallife feedback. Such are the moving parts prone to jams and stuff like that.

> We currently cater exclusively to the North American market. We plan on expanding our reach within the next few months.

> We currently cater exclusively to Commercial Beekeepers managing 1,000 beehives and above.

Genuine question: are you within their target market? I guess only a commercial honey maker would be?

Re: Solar-powered robotic beekeeping

#5

Post by drewm1980 » Thu, Mar 31, 2022, 10:28 AM UTC

How does this control varoa?

One of the arguments against domesticated honey bees is that they not only take food from but also spread disease to wild honey bee populations. The more diseased the domestic ated bees get the more hives keepers build to compensate, compounding the problem.

Re: Solar-powered robotic beekeeping

#6

Post by catmanjan » Thu, Mar 31, 2022, 10:30 AM UTC

drewm1980 wrote: post #5

How does this control varoa? One of the arguments against domesticated honey bees is that they not only take food from but also spread disease to wild honey bee populations. The more diseased the domestic ated bees get the more hives keepers build to compensate, compounding the problem.

According to the link "They constantly monitor pests within the hive and apply non-chemical treatment where needed"

Re: Solar-powered robotic beekeeping

#7

Post by franciscop » Thu, Mar 31, 2022, 10:43 AM UTC

I have no idea about beekeeping economies, could someone shed a bit of light here please? At $2000 shipping + $400/month it seems expensive, but it claims 24 colonies which seems like a lot, so how much does a colony produce per year? How much should it produce to make it worth this investment?

Re: Solar-powered robotic beekeeping

#8

Post by vitro » Thu, Mar 31, 2022, 10:49 AM UTC

franciscop wrote: post #7

I have no idea about beekeeping economies, could someone shed a bit of light here please? At $2000 shipping + $400/month it seems expensive, but it claims 24 colonies which seems like a lot, so how much does a colony produce per year? How much should it produce to make it worth this investment?

I guess you cannot calculate only a produce of those bees. Trees and flowers pollinated are a significant "side effect" that we neef for our survival.

Re: Solar-powered robotic beekeeping

#9

Post by headsoup » Thu, Mar 31, 2022, 10:50 AM UTC

I think the concern with this is that it seems to treat the hive as a machine and not a variable natural system.

What does it do to bee evolution to take away their instincts and ability to self-regulate their hive ? What impact does that have on how the bees measure the inside and outside environment?

It would be interesting to know what the non-chemical mite treatments are. Most are mechanical, so I can only imagine it applies powdered sugar or removes drone brood or something?

I also hope it leaves a substantial mass of honey in the hive so the bees have sufficient sustenance over winter and into spring so sugar water is not needed.

There's already too much interference without understanding in the bee industry, automating things is only going to eventually reduce knowledge much further, but I can appreciate the goals and effort at least.

Re: Solar-powered robotic beekeeping

#10

Post by franciscop » Thu, Mar 31, 2022, 10:54 AM UTC

vitro wrote: post #8

franciscop wrote: post #7

I have no idea about beekeeping economies, could someone shed a bit of light here please? At $2000 shipping + $400/month it seems expensive, but it claims 24 colonies which seems like a lot, so how much does a colony produce per year? How much should it produce to make it worth this investment?

I guess you cannot calculate only a produce of those bees. Trees and flowers pollinated are a significant "side effect" that we neef for our survival.

I assumed this would be a commercial application in the vast majority of cases, where I'm from we don't have a bee problem so it didn't occur to me that this could be setup from a charity just for the wellbeing of the bees.