“If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe,
then man would have only four years of life left.
No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants,
no more animals, no more man.”
- Albert Einstein -
A MINIMALLY INVASIVE OBSERVATION TOOL FOR BEEKEEPERS
Mima is the idea of a measuring instrument to help the beekeeper examine and monitor the health of the bees. Thanks to the minimally invasive approach, the beehive stays closed for the examination, preserving the sensitive microclimate and not disturbing the bees. The measuring instrument is inserted through an opening into the hive, then the readings, as well as a video transmission from inside the beehive to the spherical examination unit (SU) are analysed. Moreover, it is possible to examine an individual bee, which is gently conveyed into the SU by the transport system and presented in a magnified form on the display. This considerate interaction between mankind, machine and animal, creates a novel symbiosis between nature, culture and technology.
My bachelor thesis is concerned with the serious matter of global bee mortality and works to examine two aspects. They are, on the one hand, what can be done to determine the bees’ state of health without disturbing the sensitive microcosm of the beehive; on the other hand, what could be the solution to the way the beekeeper profession has changed, and the continuously growing number of untrained amateur urban beekeepers.
Apiculture is now in a state of flux, which also means that the profession of apiculturists is changing too. Especially in urban areas apiculture becomes more popular. The „Apiculturist 2.0“ is therefore characterized by new values. Consequently, empirical knowledge is lost and apiculture is repositioned in our society.
The aim of my thesis is to develop a new system for diesease control for bees. This system will be beneficial for the apiculturists, who will be informed about the bees medical statuses at all times without disturbing their work.
An intuitive monitoring tool will make the profession of an apiculturist more attractive and reduce the fear of the job’s complexity. More so, the containment of diseases through improved precaution and detection will be trend-setting for hobby apiculturists.
Mima is the concept of a measuring instrument, which provides help for the apiculturist when it comes to controlling and maintaining the bees’ health. Instead of opening the beehive for each control, it can now stay closed. Thus, the sensitive climate in the hive is retained and the bees live and work without interruptions. The instrument is mainly a tool which is designed to support the apiculturist by providing important information regarding the bees’ health.
The instrument is being inserted in the beehive via a minimally invasive access. The apiculturist is now able to measure the climatic conditions in the hive. These are crucial for the bees’ mood, the development of the brood and also the outbreak of various diseases. What makes Mima special is the ability to monitor one single bee at a time. Through a pneumatic system the bee can be selected and then intensely examined.
The data that has been gained provides a detailed picture of the bees’ health. Thus, a safer work environment for both – the bees and the apiculturist – can evolve. External influences are now easier to determine. Along with new diagnostic patterns the survival of the bees can be efficiently supported.
As a result, Mima is an exceptional solution that might not be able to solve the complex worldwide problem of bee mortality, but could make a valuable contribution to preserving the honeybee species.
