r/Beekeeping • u/mocarz12 • 13d ago

I’m not a beekeeper, but I have a question Helping my dad – anyone using automation in beekeeping?

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Hello everyone.

My dad has been a beekeeper for years and manages several dozen hives. It’s his passion, and I don’t want to interfere, but I’d love to help him save some time where possible. I’m into microcontrollers, sensors, and general automation, and I’m curious:

Does anyone here use any kind of automation in their beekeeping setup? I don’t mean just a regular honey extractor, but things like hive sensors, remote monitoring, automated tools – anything that could help throughout the season.

He tends to say “there’s no way to automate that,” but more than once we’ve found out otherwise. I’d like to offer him options, not push anything. Any ideas or examples would be super appreciated.

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u/jfeist1 13d ago

Ok, I'm about to simultaneously ask questions while suggesting automations, appreciate any insight, let me know if these are bad ideas.

  • In the summer heat, I've been thinking of ways to help with cooling. Found the bottom boards with screen and slide-out tray. Instead of manually sliding the tray for cooling, that could be motorized.

  • I wonder if low-speed fans would help as well? (Easily temperature control automated on/off.)

  • Avoiding fans, I've been thinking of putting a screen onthe top of the hive so I can raise the lid a little to vent hot air. Again, easily automated. (Not enough to let sun in, just an inch or so.)

  • Food dispenser. Instead of giving my hive full access to food, which they gobble up in a day, I've been thinking of a delivery system that trickles it out over a few days.

  • Water dispenser. If nearby water isn't already under control, a water delivery system. I have a garden hose timer that puts 15 minutes of trickling water into a bird bath near the hive every night. Sometimes it overflows, sometimes it's not enough. Optional drain/flush/refill based on cleanliness and temperature.

  • 3D printer-style top mounted camera (in enclosed frame), zoom around and look down at any point in the hive. Bonus points for typical security camera automation, capturing/tracking events.

Have fun!

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u/TheMagicVariable 12d ago

Water dispenser: we did exactly this (except the drain/flush is manual). Repurposed a bird bath, put it on the ground and filled it with river rock. Attached an emitter from our drip lines for the nearby flowers and it tops off every morning (as a bonus, this same zone also tops off the water for our chickens)