See-through bees! CCU students use App technology to make the process of beekeeping transparent
Jun 12, 2023
One-third of the world's agricultural production depends on pollination by bees. However, climate change, urbanization of natural habitats, aging labor in the beekeeping industry, and other factors have made farming more challenging. To address these issues, the Fantast team from the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Base of Chung Cheng University has developed the "BeeCare Smart Beekeeping System" using the Internet of Things and AI image recognition technologies. This system includes smart beehives and a beehive tracking application, which not only benefits beekeepers in managing their colonies more efficiently but also provides consumers with greater confidence in the products they buy.
"Bees are delicate creatures, and with drastic changes in the environment, they are prone to illnesses that require constant monitoring," said Yang Ruyi, head of the Fantast team. Traditionally, beekeepers have had to open beehives around the clock to check the health of the bees. This not only increases their workload but also disrupts the life and rest of the colonies, dissuading younger people from entering the industry. Consequently, Taiwan's beekeeping industry is facing the challenge of an aging workforce, among other issues.
Yang Ruyi emphasized that their project aims to use technology to address the pain points of beekeeping farmers. To achieve this, she assembled a team of alumni from the Department of Engineering, Department of Business Administration, and Department of Mechanical Engineering. Professor Xiong Boan from the Department of Engineering, Assistant Professor Xu Jingguo from the Department of Assets Management, and Assistant Professor Fang Huizhen from the in-service special course of the Senior Executive Master of Management served as consultants. The team also collaborated with the Labor Brothers team from the Department of Resources and Engineering at Huwei University of Science and Technology to develop the "BeeCare Beekeeping System."
The system comprises smart beehives equipped with temperature, humidity, and weight sensors, as well as AI image recognition technology. When combined with the APP remote control network, this technology allows beekeepers to monitor changes in bee health and hive weight. The system improves management efficiency and significantly reduces manpower costs.
Moreover, the BeeCare system includes a "hive tracking app." Whenever there is an abnormal change in the surrounding environment of the beehive, the app sends a warning to notify the beekeeper. Additionally, the beekeeper can log relevant beekeeping records. This proactive approach replaces the previous reactive method where beekeepers would only notice problems after the bees' health and honey production were affected. The app collects and analyzes data, providing farmers with prediction models and solutions to problems, transforming beekeepers from being passive to taking the initiative.
The Fantast team also emphasized that many consumers have concerns about the quality of honey. Therefore, the APP serves as a reference for consumers to choose products. Beekeepers can upload data, such as bee colony growth status, honey production process, and surrounding maps, to the system. This creates a transparent production and sales history, allowing consumers to purchase honey with greater confidence and trust in the bee garden, thereby fostering a positive production and sales cycle.
In addition to technological advancements, the team also integrated Chiayi's local culture into their project. They conducted in-depth research at the Alishan Tefuye Tribe's Larax Manor, known for beekeeping. The team discovered that the local area faced challenges due to hornets. To address this, the Fantast team collaborated with Larax Manor and plans to install smart beehives in the bee garden by the end of June. This collaboration aims to create a friendly beekeeping industry and contribute to the preservation of the local ecosystem.