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Solar-powered robotic beekeeping

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Re: Solar-powered robotic beekeeping

#51

Post by WaitWaitWha »

clutchdude wrote: post #41

Beekeeper here - Video didn't show many of the aspects a beekeeper has to deal with. "Beehomes use A.I. to identify when a colony could be preparing to swarm, and automatically prevents this event by adjusting conditions. Beekeepers can rest assured that the Beehome has their colonies stay put while they focus on other responsibilities." doesn't sell it. Bees are livestock, not programs. They sometimes decide that it…

Hi fellow beek.

> Bees are livestock, not programs.

And, having two top-bar hives is not the same as having six apiaries each with hundreds of hives.

Re: Solar-powered robotic beekeeping

#54

Post by Gys »

arijun wrote: post #47
Gys wrote: post #3

A bit more small scale: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/hiive/hiive-better-for-...

This doesn't look like it does anything robotically, but is rather is supposed to be a "better manmade hive" (e.g. with insulation and a semi-permeable membrane). I am not equipped to evaluate that claim, or if their manufacture/delivery goals are possible, so I would probably wait until someone else weighed in.

Indeed no robotics, but it has sensors to monitor the inside environment and detect swarming (a beekeeping friend of mine said it important to see that, because you would want to 'catch' the swarm). The honey collection is manual, but seems much easier then in current beehives.

Just to give an alternative modern take on beekeeping. The OP solution is only for people having 1000+ hives ;-)

And neither I have any knowledge nor intention to keep bees.

Re: Solar-powered robotic beekeeping

#55

Post by agumonkey »

Is there a field of low tech, low impact robo-electro-wildlife caretaking ? if that make sense.

Instead of having large flattened areas that can be used with tractors, having more eco friendly natural spaces, with tiny roombas/rovers that can attends, surveil, monitor the state of things 24/7.

Re: Solar-powered robotic beekeeping

#56

Post by uticus »

clutchdude wrote: post #41

Beekeeper here - Video didn't show many of the aspects a beekeeper has to deal with. "Beehomes use A.I. to identify when a colony could be preparing to swarm, and automatically prevents this event by adjusting conditions. Beekeepers can rest assured that the Beehome has their colonies stay put while they focus on other responsibilities." doesn't sell it. Bees are livestock, not programs. They sometimes decide that it…

first i've heard about hyperthermic, although i have anecdotally heard about benefits of increased humidity. any good links for readup on hyperthermic?

Re: Solar-powered robotic beekeeping

#57

Post by amelius »

agumonkey wrote: post #55

Is there a field of low tech, low impact robo-electro-wildlife caretaking ? if that make sense. Instead of having large flattened areas that can be used with tractors, having more eco friendly natural spaces, with tiny roombas/rovers that can attends, surveil, monitor the state of things 24/7.

I think people do it for fun. Why automate the fun work?

Re: Solar-powered robotic beekeeping

#58

Post by uticus »

londons_explore wrote: post #53

What impact does humans having beehives have on wild/natural colonies? When there are only so many flowers to go around, keeping bees might just be a disguised way to destroy natural bees.

intrigued by question. i honestly do not know, but can add for context that it is not unheard of in my area (temperate woodland) to have a dozen or more hives cohabiting the same acre. of course the bees are not confined to the acre, but my point is, if competition were a concern, perhaps a counterpoint is how would so many hives in one acre be sustainable?

additionally, many of the colonies are from local swarms. granted, who knows what genetic backgrounds are, but they are "wild" in contemporary terms.

additionally, commercial operations make good money because there are too many flowering things to go around.

would be interested in hearing counterpoints to my counterpoints, genuinely intrigued by question & implications

Re: Solar-powered robotic beekeeping

#59

Post by agumonkey »

amelius wrote: post #57
agumonkey wrote: post #55

Is there a field of low tech, low impact robo-electro-wildlife caretaking ? if that make sense. Instead of having large flattened areas that can be used with tractors, having more eco friendly natural spaces, with tiny roombas/rovers that can attends, surveil, monitor the state of things 24/7.

I think people do it for fun. Why automate the fun work?

On a smaller scale why not. I attend the forest nearby at times, neighbors do it even more often .. but we can't ensure good care of a whole field set.

Even if there were large social efforts for people to gather and maintain nature, we'd still be at the mercy of pest / insects / microscopic life acting at night.

Re: Solar-powered robotic beekeeping

#60

Post by kortex »

Not a beek, but I'm close friends with some, and might actually take the plunge this year.

This looks like a classic case of "automating the wrong way" and thinking in terms of agents instead of tools (force multipliers).

What beekeepers really benefit from are tools that let them do more work with less effort. Hive lifters are a perfect example [1]. The most popular design has a couple of mechanical flaws that can lead to buckling, and the hand winch is kind of a pain to use with really heavy supers. That's the real kind of innovation the field would benefit from.

Another is logistics. Schlepping around hive boxes, sugar water, tools, supplies, through loose farm mud, is a real hassle. Tractors are expensive and not really maneuverable. A "farm tug" would be crazy useful - something like an electric wheelbarrow (which exists) but a more generic/modular form factor.

1 - https://beehivelifters.com/product/beehive-lifter-manual-2-w...

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