BG4252U1 - System for non-invasive bee frame monitoring - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model relates to a system for non-invasive monitoring of a bee frame, which will find application in beekeeping by providing the best possible rearing environment for the bees without mechanical intervention in the hive. According to the utility model, the bee frames (100) are composed of a support frame (5) on which two transparent partitions (2) are mounted to form a monitoring compartment (3), wax bases (4) are mounted on the outside of the transparent partitions (2), and on a horizontal support base (109) is arranged the driving mechanism (101) and a vertically mounted support wall (110) for frames (100) with openings (111), the monitoring compartment (3) is arranged opposite the openings of the support wall (110), and the monitoring system includes an electrical power source (103) unidirectionally coupled to a power controller (104), at least one infrared camera (102) unidirectionally coupled to a microcontroller (105) that is unidirectionally coupled to a motion controller (106) that is unidirectionally coupled to a motion controller (101), and the microcontroller (105) that is bidirectionally coupled to a non-volatile memory (107) and a communication module (108). The utility model provides information about the larvae laid and the presence of queens laid by the bees for new queens without mechanical intervention in the hive, which does not disturb the bees and removes the risk of damage to the queen. The system, according to the utility model, can be integrated into all types of hives.

Description

(54) SYSTEM FOR NON-INVASIVE MONITORING OF BEE FRAME

Field of technique

The utility model relates to a system for non-invasive monitoring of a bee frame that will find application in beekeeping, providing the best possible environment for bees to grow without mechanical intervention in the hive.

Prior art

Bees play an extremely important role in nature. Almost 80% of plant species require pollination and bees are a key contributor to maintaining ecosystems and biodiversity. The lack of pollinators threatens many plant species, as well as the organisms that are directly or indirectly associated with these plants. Plant and related animal species, and therefore entire ecosystems, are threatened. In addition, the role of bees is increasing at the present time, due to the decrease in the number of wild pollinators (solitary bees, large mossy bees), which are being destroyed by the chemicalization of agriculture, the development of industry, the destruction of plant communities, urbanization , soil, water and air pollution. Bee colonies around the world are disappearing due to climate change and other factors, which is why modern efforts are aimed at creating systems for monitoring beehives, providing information on various parameters and facilitating the work of the beekeeper.

At present, in the rearing of bee colonies, in order to monitor their development, the beekeeper must visit each hive, open it and remove each frame to inspect it. This intervention disturbs the bees, they are fumigated and this leads to the cessation of their effectiveness for hours. At the same time, there is a risk of mechanical damage to the queen bee when removing and placing the frames with the bee frames. The role of the queen bee is extremely important because she lays up to 2,000 eggs per day, and at the same time she is the only fertile female in the hive.

It is known from US 2017 035 033 A, published on 09.02.2017 a beehive that includes a plurality of modular sections configured in such a way as to allow a simplified, even automated extraction of honey. A beehive consists of a number of interchangeable rings or plates, which are stacked on top of each other and secured in a prefabricated connection.

From the patent document CN 108 684 576 A, published on 04.12.2018, a beehive is known, which consists of a hive body and an intelligent monitoring system. The hive body is equipped with a cover, an auxiliary cover, a relay unit, a hive main body, a movable base plate and a hive bottom frame, which are sequentially arranged from top to bottom. The intelligent control system includes a power module, ARM processor, GSM module, LCD, camera, temperature and humidity sensor, signal device, humidifier, fan, infrared sensor module and ATGM336H GPS positioning module. In this way, intelligent management of the hive is achieved, and remote monitoring is carried out, during which the internal parameters of the hive are stabilized and conditions suitable for the growth and reproduction of the bees are provided. The monitoring system according to the patent document does not provide the ability to monitor the bee frame.

It is known from CN 112 119 946 A, published on 23.10.2018, a system for remote monitoring of a beehive, which is divided into two parts, one part containing the bee frames, and the other part housing the monitoring system, in which monitoring devices made of transparent baffle plates are installed, and each monitoring device includes a control unit, an infrared camera, a moving mechanism, a power battery and a wireless communication module. The actuators are controlled by the control units, which drive the infrared cameras to obtain stage images of the bee frames. The control units start the wireless communication modules according to the preset mode in case of emergency so that they send monitoring data to a remote server.

According to the patent document, the photo taken is panoramic and it does not provide information about the development of the bee colony on each bee frame.

Technical nature of the utility model

The purpose of the utility model is to create a system for non-invasive monitoring of the development of bee colonies, which provides the possibility to observe the bee frames without the intervention of the beekeeper, to avoid removing the bee frames from the hive and to provide information on the development of the bee colony on each bee frame.

The goal is achieved with a system for non-invasive monitoring of a beehive, in which the beehives are composed of a supporting frame on which two transparent partitions are mounted, which form an observation compartment. Wax bases are mounted on the outside of the transparent partitions. On a horizontal supporting base is located the driving mechanism and a vertically mounted supporting wall for frames with openings.

The observation compartment is located opposite the load-bearing wall openings.

The monitoring system includes an electrical power source unidirectionally connected to a power controller, at least one infrared camera, unidirectionally connected to a microcontroller, which is unidirectionally connected to a drive mechanism control unit, which is unidirectionally connected to a drive mechanism, and a microcontroller is connected bi-directional with non-volatile memory and communication module.

The drive mechanism is capable of movement in the three directions X, Y and Z and is rail-driven by means of screw-ball pairs or toothed belts.

According to the utility model, the infrared camera is attached to the drive mechanism by means of a hinged connection that ensures its rotation.

According to the non-invasive bee frame monitoring system, the infrared camera is bi-directionally rotatable to take pictures from both sides of the bee frames, which pictures are merged by the microcontroller into two composite pictures for each of the frames.

The source of electrical power is solar, battery or the power grid.

According to an embodiment of the utility model, when there are two infrared cameras, they move in opposite directions.

The advantages provided by the non-invasive monitoring system according to the utility model are:

Information is provided on the larvae laid and the presence of queen bees laid by the bees for new queen bees, without mechanical intervention in the hive, which does not disturb the bees and eliminates the danger of damage to the queen bee. The information obtained also serves as statistical data, which provides the possibility of predictions for future periods.

The system, according to the utility model, can be integrated in all types of hives.

Explanation of the attached figures

The utility model is described in more detail with reference to the attached figures illustrating an exemplary embodiment thereof:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bee frame according to the utility model;

figure 2 is a section along B-B of fig. 1;

figure 3 is a perspective view of a moving mechanism with an infrared camera;

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a non-invasive monitoring system according to the utility model.

Examples of implementation of the utility model

With reference to the attached figures, a preferred exemplary embodiment is described in detail, according to the utility model, without limiting it.

The bee frames 100 are composed of a supporting frame 5, on which the two transparent partitions 2 are glued, forming an observation compartment 3.

On the outside of the transparent partitions 2, wax bases 4 are placed by hot-melt bonding, on which the bees build the cells of the bee frame from wax.

On the horizontal supporting base 109 is located the driving mechanism 101 and a vertically mounted with screws supporting wall 110 for frames 100 with holes 111. The holes 111 are depending on the number of bee frames.

The monitoring compartment 3 is located opposite the openings of the supporting wall 110.

Microcontroller 105 is unidirectionally connected to motion control unit 106, which in turn is unidirectionally connected to motion mechanism 101.

Microcontroller 105 is bidirectionally connected to non-volatile memory 107 and communication module 108.

With a given command through the communication module 108 or by means of a preset time interval, the moving mechanism 101, controlled by a microcontroller 105 and a moving mechanism control unit 106, moves the infrared camera 102 in the observation compartment 3 of the bee frames 100, making a set of photos from one side and after rotating the camera, a set of photos is taken from the other side of the bee frames. The set of pictures is processed by microcontroller 105, combining them into two composite two-sided pictures for each of the frames. The pictures are sent through the communication module 108 to the beekeeper, providing him with information about the larvae laid and the availability laid by the queen bees for new queen bees.

In the non-volatile memory 107 through a microcontroller 105, which processes the captured images, guides through a moving mechanism control unit 106 the trajectory along which the images are captured and controls the charge from the power source 103 through a power controller 104.

According to an embodiment of the utility model, the power source 103 is solar connected unidirectionally to the power controller 104 or a storage battery connected bidirectionally to the power controller 104 or the power source is the power grid.

According to another embodiment, the infrared camera 102 may be two and move in two opposite directions.

According to an embodiment of the utility model, transparent partitions 2 are mounted by means of bolts to a supporting frame 5.

Claims (1)

A system for non-invasive monitoring of a bee frame, which includes a control unit, an infrared camera, a mobile mechanism and a communication module, characterized in that the bee frames (100) consist of a supporting frame (5) on which two transparent partitions are mounted (2), which form a monitoring compartment (3), wax bases (4) are mounted on the outside of the transparent partitions (2), and a driving mechanism (101) and a vertically mounted bearing wall are located on a horizontal supporting base (109). (110) for frames (100) with openings (111), the monitoring compartment (3) being located opposite the openings in the load-bearing wall (110) and the monitoring system including a power supply (103) connected in one direction to a controller of the power supply (104), at least one infrared camera (102) connected in one direction to a microcontroller (105) which is connected in one direction to a drive control unit (106) which is connected in one direction to a drive mechanism (101) and a microcontroller the controller (105) is connected in both directions to a non-volatile memory (107) and a communication module (108)