Russia Patents Smart Hive for Automated Beekeeping
The system monitors microclimate, feeds bees through the winter, and even alerts owners if someone tries to steal the hive.
Russian scientists have patented a “smart hive” that turns beekeeping into a fully automated operation.
Developed at Novgorod State University, the multifunctional system upgrades a traditional hive into an autonomous digital complex.
Inside, a suite of sensors tracks temperature, humidity, hive weight, and even the acoustic activity of bees. Data streams in real time to a base station and then to the beekeeper’s mobile app.
For theft protection, the hive is equipped with a motion detector and GPS tracker. Any attempt to move it triggers an instant alarm with location coordinates.
The system is energy independent, powered by solar panels on the roof and a backup battery that can last for weeks without sunlight.
One of its most vital features is automatic feeding: a built-in syrup dispenser kicks in when the hive’s weight falls below a critical threshold, signaling food shortages.
Researchers say the technology dramatically reduces labor and risks, making apiaries smarter, safer, and more resilient.
