Periodic entrance photos
Record bee traffic and scout bee visits as images over time.
Beehive Monitoring Module
Beehive MonitoringModule
A field observation concept for periodically photographing a beehive entrance and leaving a visible record of whether bees are visiting.
The goal is not only to know whether bees moved in.It is to distinguish between no scout bees visiting at all and scout bees visiting but choosing not to settle, so failed attempts can be reviewed more clearly.
Overview
Turn entrance activity into a record that can be reviewed later.
The module periodically photographs the beehive entrance and stores the images as a time-based observation log. The intent is to review not only whether the hive was occupied, but also the location, box shape, and installation conditions.
SD card storage
Keep observing even in places where communication is unreliable.
Power-aware transfer
Start LTE communication only when the battery has enough charge.
System
A small independent power system for outdoor observation.
The design separates image capture, local storage, and transfer. Instead of assuming always-on communication, it prioritizes keeping the observation record alive in a power-limited field environment.
Camera unit
Mounted where it can see the beehive entrance and record daytime activity.
Solar panel and battery
Charges during the day while keeping enough stored power for cloudy periods and basic capture.
SD storage
Images are saved locally first so the record is not dependent on signal quality.
LTE transfer
The router wakes only when enough battery remains, then sends a batch of images.
Operation
Prioritize recording, and communicate only when needed.
For reliable field use, taking photos and sending photos are treated as different jobs. The expected flow saves power while preserving the images needed for later review.
01
Photograph the entrance
Wake the camera at a set interval and capture the hive entrance.
02
Save images to SD
Store each image with time information so the visit pattern can be checked later.
03
Check battery level
If the charge is low, skip communication and keep recording locally.
04
Transfer over LTE when possible
When power is available, start the LTE router and send the stored images.
Observation
Use failed attempts as information for the next placement.
A failed hive placement is hard to interpret from the final result alone. Image records can show whether scout bees came at all, how often they visited, and what installation conditions should be reviewed.
No scout bees visited
This may point to the location or surrounding environment not being discovered.
Visited but not chosen
This suggests reviewing the box shape, entrance, scent, height, direction, or placement.
Time and weather patterns
Images can help reveal when visits happen and how they relate to conditions.
Installation comparison
Multiple locations or boxes can be compared for future placement decisions.