IoT Smart Hive Invention

Remotely controlled short term bee hive closing up

Defensive publication innovation disclosure

We at Hermes Smart own an IoT Smart Hive patent that was registered at the Bulgarian Patent Office at the end of 2017. We did our research on how other innovation projects have been handling their patents, and we noticed that a patent does not necessarily guarantee your success. Depending on the situation, holding a patent of innovation without the resources necessary for further development might hinder the technology shift instead of boosting it. In our case, we consciously decided to give our invention to the world for free. From our perspective, as well as the perspective of the larger community, we believe this was the right thing to do.We should definitely break the ego-motivated business decisions, especially when they impede the company’s progress. Please feel free to use this innovative construction in your projects. We hope you enjoy using our invention! You are welcome to aid us with donations!

Outline

The innovation is related to automatics, telematics, and implements in the beekeeping area. The goal of the system is to ensure that the bee hive colony closes up simultaneously, in multiple bee hives, during periods of poison hazard without the aid of manual activities. Using a rectangular frame fixed to the immediate front panel of the hive and a mobile door moved by an electrical motor, the system provides the bee hive colony with isolation into the hive. A local controller handles the process at the hive level. A central controller provides central communication between the multiple local hive controllers and operator. The telematics system controls the group-level process on an unlimited number of hives, thus significantly increasing the beekeeper’s work efficiency, when there are numerous hives. The system protects the bee colonies by aiding them in closing up whenever necessary. This way, the system contributes towards preventing bee extinction.

Details

  • Technical area: Automatics, telematics, beekeeping

 

  • Prior art

Automatics and telematics have been developed into the beekeeping area worldwide. Most often various electronic sensors are placed into the hive for current bee colony status monitoring. For example: weight sensor, sensor for internal and external temperature and humidity, microphone. It is possible that movement (PIR) and physical proximity sensors are used for theft alarm implementation.

Bee colony death after being affected from a pesticide is very important and vibrant issue recent years. As a protection measure manual hive closing up during dangerous period is doing by the beekeepers.

 

Concept

The goal is to provide functionality of remotely controlled short term hive closing up. This is achieved via the following elements.

A1. Mechanical adapter in form of a rectangular frame fixed in front of the hive. The function of this adapter is to limit the bee movement to be possible only via the mobile door A2. The necessary preconditions are:

  • All outlets of the hive (3, 4) to fall into mechanical adapter area.
  • The upper edge of the mechanical adapter A1 to be lower than bottom edgeof the roof of the hive A1 in order usual hive maintenance process to be possible.

A2. Mobile air permeable door fixed at the front side of the mechanical adapter A1. In closed door state the bees are not allowed to leave the hive while the door allows free air ventilation through the screen A3 fixed at the door frame. The space of the mechanical adapter A1 remains accessible in door A2 closed state.

B1. Electrical motor connected at A2 door, capable to change the A2 state from opened to closed and back.

B2. Local controller delivering following functions.

  • Accepting a request for open and close of mobile door A2 on given date and time using a local radio channel from the central controller C.
  • Changing the A2 door state via B1 electrical motor driving also using the B3 end position sensors.
  • Monitoring the Internal hive temperature via B4 temperature sensor. Autonomous A2 door opening in case of internal hive temperature above predefined critical value. The purpose is bee colony protection in case of overheating.
  • Transmitting the information of current status of A2 door and the internal hive temperature via local radio channel to the central controller C.

B3. End position sensors detecting open and close position of A2 door.

  1. Central controller connecting the operator (beekeeper) and all the remotely controlled bee hives. The central controller assures following.

1) Two way mobile or Internet connection between the operator (beekeeper) providing information exchange for closing and opening date and time commands and detailed status data concerning all the connected hives.

2) Two way connection between C central controller and B2 local controllers delivering closing / opening commands and status data.

The advantages of the given telematics system compared to the preceding ones is the automation of a vitally important activity. On top of status data collecting and monitoring function the system offers a real physical reaction function as well. The value and ROI of that type of telematics system is much higher compared with the systems allowing data collection and monitoring only.

Drawings

Figure 1. Typical bee hive without an automation.

 

  • Hive roof
  • Hive body
  • Supplementary upper hive outlet
  • Main hive outlet

 

Figure 2. Automated hive.

A1 – Mechanical adapter frame.

A2 – Mobile air permeable door.

A3 – Air permeable screen fixed at the door frame A2.

A4 – Hinges of A2 door fixed on frame A1.

B1 – Electrical motor.

B2 – Local controller.

B3 – End position sensors.

Being in closed state the A2 door contacts close to the frame A1 and makes sure the bees to remain inside. Being in open state the A2 door turns on 270 degrees this way approaching close to the hive side edge. This way the A2 door do not prevent any hive maintenance operations.

 

Patent registration data

This innovation has been registered under Bulgarian intellectual property low as an utility model with following IDs:

(19) BG

(11) 2846 U1

(51) Int.Cl. A 01 K 47/06 (2006.01)

(21) Order No 3727

(22) Order Date 11.05.2017

(24) Registration effective from: 11.05.2017

(45) Printed on 29.12.2017

(46) Published in bulletin 12.2 on 29.12.2017

(73),(72) Invention owner: Vasil Vasilev, 1700 Sofia, Bulgaria, 9 prof Georgi Zlatarski Str. App. 14

(54) Telematics system for remotely controlled short term bee hive closing up.

The official BPO patent bulletin could be accessed here (http://www.bpo.bg/images/stories/buletini/binder-2017-12-29.pdf).

 

Defensive publication

For all the world except Bulgaria this shall be considered as defensive publication.

 

Contact

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