We zoom in on an innovation that is helping to preserve the different species of bees: robotic hives. Developed in Israel, this technology could soon be available around the world!
In recent years, many bees have disappeared around the world, victims of ‘colony collapse disorder’. According to the UN, “pollinators are now dying out at a rate 100 to 1,000 times higher than normal”.
This phenomenon is attributed to a combination of factors. The effects of climate change (rising temperatures, increasing droughts, floods, etc.) are among the main threats to bees.
But that’s not all. According to Professor Sharoni Shafir, who heads the bee study center at the Hebrew University in Rehovot, the reduction of flower fields due to construction has reduced the power source and diversification of the bees’ diet. Added to this are the use of pesticides, diseases, and parasites such as Varroa destructor, a devastating mite.
Yet we are very dependent on bees. A significant part of human nutrition is the result of pollination, which is carried out by insects and enables pollinate plants to reproduce. More than 70% of crops (almost all fruits, vegetables, oil and protein crops, spices, coffee, and cocoa) need them!!!!
In the long term, “nutritious crops” (fruits, nuts, vegetables) are likely to be replaced by “food crops” (rice, maize, potatoes). This will lead to “unbalanced diets”, the United Nations is concerned.
To protect the increasingly fragile bee colonies, Beewise, an Israeli start-up, came up with the idea of creating robotic hives that monitor bees 24 hours a day and help reduce the mortality of these pollinators.
The company has created containers called “Beehome”, each of which can house 24 hives. These beehives function like normal wooden hives, except that they are managed by a pollinating robot inside, which monitors the insects, controls their habitat and provides them with care.
This is how one beekeeper's "aha" moment turned into @BeewiseT - the startup that’s using @Arm-powered AI tech to save the bees. 🐝
— Arm (@Arm) March 7, 2022
They're building the world's first autonomous beehive, where beekeepers can monitor & maintain their beehives remotely.
All #MadePossibleByArm! pic.twitter.com/24lEKiuSZw
The robot is equipped with sensors that tell it what is happening in the frames. Thanks to artificial intelligence and this artificial pollination, the software knows what the bees need.
If there is a problem, it alerts the beekeeper via an app. The beekeeper can intervene remotely from his computer and move around if necessary. The robot can also automatically distribute sugar, water and medicines.
The solar-powered mega hive can also regulate temperature, eliminate pests and even extract honey, thanks to a built-in centrifuge.
This technology can help protect bee colonies. Sometimes it takes beekeepers several months to realize there is an issue, but with the robot they can tackle it in real time, reducing bee mortality!
Beewise produces the world’s first honey made with artificial intelligence. A hundred of these robotic hives have already been deployed in Israel and a dozen in the United States.
Have you ever imagined the future like this? What we have yet to see!
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