Robs Beehive Project

[robocall...@googlemail.com]

<brain dump>

My hardware skills are low - more software, duc tape and glue - so
k.i.s.s and off the shelf to begin with.

If anyone is interested we could have a field day and I can show you a
(empty) hive - how it is formed over the seasons etc?

For starters I would like to monitor:-

0. The External environment of the hive - I'm hoping a off the shelf
weather kit could do that. I would like the info to be stored in a
database, for a website and for anyone else who wants to take a feed.
Maybe this could be useful for #homecamp too?

1. The Weight of the Hive. Hives grow in weight due to the stores
(honey) and more physical layers (called supers which have wax
foundation/combs within them on frames) and other equipment (feeders/
excluders) is added over the season. So I need a base line weight
(empty hive + bees) - a total weight that moment and the ability to
know what equipment is on it at that time. After a super is processed
(the honey is extracted - we are left with extra wax so each super
needs a unique id if possible). This could be a single feed - weight +
extras for items added or I could take weight readings at each level
as items are stacked and each of those have a feed. Stability of the
hive is very important as wind and gaps are big dangers.

2. Temp and humidity. Bees use temp and humidity to set the honey.
Initially I would like to take a single reading – but later maybe take
several reading at different points to give a 3d view. Bees will cover
and/or stick everything in a hive –the first one needs to be in the
roof space while I work out how to have sensors inside. Again a
database and feed. The items (supers) in use effect the height –feed/
database with a location id.

3. Web cam – this is the most visual – off the shelf wireless seem
possible. The opening of the hive changes in size (width not height)
over the season. It would be nice to have a general video feed of bees
landing and maybe a macro feed to get close ups on entry. An internal
cam could be possible – but space is very limited inside the hive. The
pollen stuck on bees backs changes over the year – I wonder if an
ultra violet or infra red camera would be able to notice changes?

</brain dump>

[folkn...@googlemail.com]

On Mar 25, 11:34 am, "robocallaghan...@googlemail.com"

<robocallaghan...@googlemail.com> wrote:
> <brain dump>
>
> My hardware skills are low - more software, duc tape and glue - so
> k.i.s.s and off the shelf to begin with.
>

Your requirements are slighty unique and hence will require getting
your hands dirty but there should be a fair amount of help on hand if
you have the patience.

> If anyone is interested we could have a field day and I can show you a
> (empty) hive - how it is formed over the seasons etc?

I would definitely be interested in such a field trip, cool idea.

>
> For starters I would like to monitor:-

You will need something to collect, transform and transmit the data, I
would suggest an Arduino for this as you will get plenty of support
from the others on helping to program it. This can act as the remote
CPU with manages data collection which i turn transmits this to you
local PC/server

>
> 0.      The External environment of the hive - I'm hoping a off the shelf
> weather kit could do that. I would like the info to be stored in a
> database, for a website and for anyone else who wants to take a feed.
> Maybe this could be useful for #homecamp too?
>

Chris and Andy-P have both invested in Maplin's weather stations which
can be interfaced too, so chase those guys for some more info.

> 1.      The Weight of the Hive. Hives grow in weight due to the stores
> (honey) and more physical layers (called supers which have wax
> foundation/combs within them on frames) and other equipment (feeders/
> excluders) is added over the season. So I need a base line weight
> (empty hive + bees) - a total weight that moment and the ability to
> know what equipment is on it at that time. After a super is processed
> (the honey is extracted - we are left with extra wax so each super
> needs a unique id if possible). This could be a single feed - weight +
> extras for items added or I could take weight readings at each level
> as items are stacked and each of those have a feed. Stability of the
> hive is very important as wind and gaps are big dangers.
>

I don't have much experience with these kinds of transducers but you
would need to think carefully about the mechanics of the hive
suspension/support such that you could use a strain gauge or pressure
sensitive device like a QTC (Quantum tunnelling compound) pill. Maplin
sell and QTC Pill so you might want to take a look at those.

> 2.      Temp and humidity. Bees use temp and humidity to set the honey.
> Initially I would like to take a single reading – but later maybe take
> several reading at different points to give a 3d view. Bees will cover
> and/or stick everything in a hive –the first one needs to be in the
> roof space while I work out how to have sensors inside. Again a
> database and feed. The items (supers) in use effect the height –feed/
> database with a location id.

Not sure on humidity but for temp you will need a temperature
transducer. The job here is to convert temperature changes into
voltage or current changes, these in turn can be fed into the arduino
for measurement and recording. The simplest way is use a thermocouple
combined with a special chip which linearizes the thermocouple signal
when loaded. Most thermocouples do not provide a linear temp to
voltage/resistance/current output. A chip like the AD595/AD594 will
amplify and condition the signal output from a thermocouple into a
suitable form for analogue to digital conversion (ADC) on the Arduino.
Also manufacturer's chip's datasheets often have very good circuit/
usage suggestions so always check them out e.g.
http://www.mne.psu.edu/sommer/me445/AD594_5_c.pdf. What you choose
here will depend on the temperature range and accuracy required.

If you are even more determined you could build your own circuit with
thermistor some basic components and an Opamp with a dc offset. This
however will require more thought and much more manual calibration.
Checkout 'The Art of Electronics' (my fave electronics book, although
a little out of date) if you feeling like an adventure
http://books.google.com/books?id=bkOMDgwFA28C&pg=RA1-PA993&vq=thermistor&dq=the+art+of+electronics+google+books&source=gbs_search_s&cad=0

[folkn...@googlemail.com]

This is a handy article I found looking whilst searching for the AD595
datasheet :-
http://www.emesys.com/OL2therm.htm

> usage suggestions so always check them out e.g.http://www.mne.psu.edu/sommer/me445/AD594_5_c.pdf. What you choose

> here will depend on the temperature range and accuracy required.
>
> If you are even more determined you could build your own circuit with
> thermistor some basic components and an Opamp with a dc offset. This
> however will require more thought and much more manual calibration.
> Checkout 'The Art of Electronics' (my fave electronics book, although

> a little out of date) if you feeling like an adventurehttp://books.google.com/books?id=bkOMDgwFA28C&pg=RA1-PA993&vq=thermis...

[folkn...@googlemail.com]

Actually just discovered a reference to this digital thermometer in my
reader :

http://www.maxim-ic.com/appnotes.cfm/an_pk/4377

This could make you temperature measurements even simpler stil, in
fact this would be very useful in teh arduino world for many apps.

[folkn...@googlemail.com]

Some good pieces of the puzzle in this project http://www.elxproject.com/news.php?readmore=36

[robert.oca...@googlemail.com]

Just got a weather station from maplins - has a usb port so I'm going
to try and hack into it and see what data I can get.

Rob.

[Andy Piper]

If this is the one that they've had on offer for a while - I've got
mine hooked up to Ubuntu and it uses the pywws project on Google Code
to Twitter results to http://twitter.com/whiteleaf. I keep meaning to
post a howto and a video on YouTube but I've not had time.

--
Andy Piper | Farnborough, Hampshire (UK)
blog: http://andypiper.co.uk | skype: andypiperuk
twitter: @andypiper | images: http://www.flickr.com/photos/andypiper

[folkn...@googlemail.com]

Rob if this works, you could have the 1st twittering Bees!

[robert.oca...@googlemail.com]

Hey Andy,

It was a cheap watson - I think it maybe the same. That google code
looks great!

Rob.

On 7 May, 06:53, Andy Piper <andypipe...@gmail.com> wrote:
> If this is the one that they've had on offer for a while - I've got  
> mine hooked up to Ubuntu and it uses the pywws project on Google Code  

> to Twitter results tohttp://twitter.com/whiteleaf. I keep meaning to  

> post a howto and a video on YouTube but I've not had time.
>

[Andy Piper]

I'll try to come along for an hour or so on Wednesday but can't
promise.... I have video footage of mine but not cut it together
yet... and then I need to write a post to go with the video. So far
behind with things!

This is a WH-1081PC model.

[robert.oca...@googlemail.com]

Was nice meeting you Andy.

Rob.

On 11 May, 18:16, Andy Piper <andypipe...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I'll try to come along for an hour or so on Wednesday but can't  
> promise.... I have video footage of mine but not cut it together  
> yet... and then I need to write a post to go with the video. So far  
> behind with things!
>
> This is a WH-1081PC model.
>

[robert.oca...@googlemail.com]

External data now transmitting on twitter using the id of
@beehiveyourself

Camera next on the list - I have a ip camera I'm playing with - I'm
wondering if it can be flashed to run code on :-)

Rob.