About us
How did I join the community of beekeepers
Electrotechnics
high school, and then on Technical University, Faculty of Electrotechnics, field
of study Radio-electronics. I have been developing monitoring and controlling
systems, measuring devices for gas-fitting companies, industrial automats, hand
computers with the ARM processors, components of household automation based on
the technologies GSM, GPRS, RF, and I have designed antennas for microwave band
and television wiring. For example, I have completed the project of a coffee
machine automat with monitoring function via SMS, RFID readers, operation
system, for 8- and 16-bit microcontrollers, household automation. I have
developed more than 150 devices. The company for the development of the
electronics was established in 1999. In 2009, I have founded the company Vorlon
I have been interested in the electrotechnics when I was 8 years old. I was
studying at Technology s.r.o., and I am dealing solely with the development
since 2012. In 2017, I have founded the company Operchips.r.o., which is
currently the business company producing the scales for beekeepers.
An
idea to create a system for beekeepers came in 2011, when I had to choose,
where I will use my long-term experience from the previous developments of
intelligent houses – where we have developed complete system for controlling
and monitoring the houses, including the hardware and software. Beekeepers
needed to monitor and secure their apiary stations on the locations without the
electricity or internet cable connection. And with such technologies I deal all
my life. In the cooperation with the research office of apiculture in
LiptovskýHrádok, as well as in the cooperation with Specialized high school “pod
Bánošom” in BanskáBystrica, we have designed the electronic hive scales with
the sensors and security system with the functions, which are practically
needed for remote hives´ monitoring and apiary stations via SMS and internet,
and also email. Since 2013, we test our scales at our apiary station in High
Tatras.
What have we done for beekeepers
The
first electronic scales had a big central tensiometer and metal or
stainless-steel welded profiles with integrated electronics in waterproof box
with controlling function via SMS and monitoring on WEB server. The entire
software was written in C programming language and ran on one-chip
microcontroller with external memory of the program. We have introduced it at
the end of 2012 at the XVIII.
International Conference of Improvers and Investors in Apiculture, and
it won the first place in the category of professional beekeepers.
After
several years of testing and improving the functions, we have designed a
conception for electronic scales, which would be affordable for all beekeepers.
We tried to create the hive scales from reinforced glass and with cauterized
metal support stand. Two prototypes have been tested for several years.
Another
attempt was with wooden scales made of waterproof board covered in plastic
foil, which would comply with the criteria necessary for practical use for
beekeepers. Thus, we have created several versions of wooden scale. We had to
redesign the electronics to smaller size and to add some new functions.
Gradually,
we have come to the seventh version of the electronics, which is designed
accurately for beekeepers, and it is also affordable for everyone. It has
following functions; however, not all of them are commercially available yet:
-
One-chip
microcontroller with external memory of the program and data.
-
Data
memory EEPROM for storing of measured data until they will be transferred
automatically to the WEB server into the data storage, where they can be
analyzed in the graphs.
- Accelerometer –location sensor, sensor of vibrations and motion.
-
GSM
modem for remote communication via SMS, email or internet via GPRS network.
- GSM antenna.
-
Two
inputs for the security system for magnetic detectors or IR passive detectors
of motion.
-
Switching
relay 2A for turning on the siren or a light for the security system.
-
Two
24-bit convertors for measuring the weight of two platforms.
-
Charger
of lithium-ion accumulators.
- Charging of the accumulator from solar cell. Either from 5 V or via stabilizer, which is n the electronics from the 12 V one.
-
External
input of 5V for charging the accumulator from the adapter.
- Switching source, which enables to power the electronics from 5 to 25 V.
- Measuring of accumulator capacity condition.
- RS232 interface for the communication with the PC.
-
Bluetooth
3.0 with integrated antenna on electronics board. For the configuration of the
scales via mobile app and transfer of images from the photo-trap to mobile
phone.
-
Module
with the SIM card, for nano SIM card or Chip SIM MFF2M2Mcard.
-
Microphone
for listening in the area.
-
Pre-amplifier
with program-controlled amplification and active filters for the analysis of
bee buzzing – amplitude and buzzing frequency.
-
I2Cinterface
for connecting the LED display, and temperature and humidity sensor.
-
1Winterface
for connecting various sensors.
-
Two
analogue inputs for thermistors to measure the temperature of tensiometers and
their correction of measurements dependent on ambient temperature.
-
Input
for waking the electronics up from the sleep.
-
Module
RF 868MHzwith integrated antenna for wireless radio communication with other
hives and photo-trap, or other electronics within the apiary station.
-
Module
GPS/GLONASS with external antenna.
-
Possibility
to change the GSM module for module NB IOT for wireless network of the
internet.
We
have also developed a simple version of hive scales, which can measure only the
weight of the hive, or the drops and growths, and to show these values on LED
display by putting the magnet next to the scale. It contains lithium-ion
accumulator, which can be charged by solar cell or USB charger. It is
affordable and usable for all beekeepers, who have their hives near their
houses.
Who are our partners
By the
end of 2018, we have started the cooperation with the company
Pokorný Dačice
from
Czech Republic in the development and electrification of plastic beehives,
which the company PokornýDačiceproduces. Thus, we have created a concept of
intelligent hive, where we would measure and process data necessary for the
assessment of behavior of bee colonies, and for securing the hives, as
well as the apiary station, against the
thieves and animals. We have developed plastic scales under wooden hives and
plastic hives, integrated into the assembly of plastic hives made by Pokorný Dačice.
The parts of an intelligent hive:
- Hive weight measuring – growths, drops and their assessment. Number of bees, how much honey they produced. When the hive is busy, how high is the stock in the hive, etc...
- Ambient temperature and humidity measuring.
-
Measuring
of the temperature, humidity and buzzing in the cradle. These values will help
analyze the behavior of the colony in the cradle, such as swarming, increased
humidity, increased or decreased temperature, bee diseases.
-
Camera
in the super – finding the bee ticks, health condition of bees.
-
Vibration
detection.
-
Raindrops
sensor.
-
Heating
the hive for the elimination of bee tick.
-
Connector
for connecting the security system and siren.
-
LED
display for monitoring the weight without a mobile phone or activated SIM card.
-
Input
for charging the accumulator.
-
Solar
panel for the super to charge the accumulator automatically.
-
No
cables; electronics integrated in the wall of the hive; transfer of the current
and communication via flexible contacts on the supers.