Applications and Implications

Plan and document a final project that integrates the range of units covered.

Mid-term I decided to leave my initial Physical PAC-MAN project plan and, instead, work on a more amitious project about beehives.

Together with two other Fab Academy students, Jonathan Minchin and Ferran Masip, we will create a beehive that is augmented with sensors to collect data about the bees' environment both inside and outside their hive. Our lab coordinator, Tomas Diez, has connected us with OKNO who in turn are working with several organisations on the main project that will encompass the findings from this.

What will it do?

The beehive will be designed, milled, constructed and finally augmented with various sensors. It will be installed in Barcelona and other European locations where we can compare data collected and act upon it accordingly.

Who's done what beforehand?

The project will encompass many of the skills that I have acquired over the weeks of my Fab Academy course. I shall endeavour to ensure that I contribute my fair-share for every discipline.

What materials and components will be required? And where will they come from?

The project will require several sheets of wood, we are using a hardwood ply to save costs. We'll be getting it from a local supplier.

The electronics will be sourced from the fab inventory, except for the IR detectors that go in the bee-counter, these will come from RS-online.

How much will it cost?

I expect the total cost of parts to total approximately 50-70 EUR

What parts and systems will be made?

My final project will comprise of a wooden hive, with temperature and humidity sensors coupled with a bee-counter.

What processes will be used?

3D DESIGN the structure was designed with Google Sketchup
MILLING the final iteration will be milled on the ShopBot
INPUT DEVICES it houses several sensors, including Temperature, Humidity and a Bee Counter Entrance
3D PRINTING the entrance gates were 3D printed, in a rake shape to count individual bees
NETWORKING collected data is transmitted via a laser pulse to a receiver
LASER CUTTING the receiver is housed in a bespoke laser-cut box

What is the schedule?

The schedule has been ongoing since a few weeks ago, we have met the milestone of installing the first hive at Valldaura, Barcelona and now I am focussed on developing my own hive.

How will it be evaluated?

I will present the project, together with Ferran and Jonathan during the final presentations session in June. We will have a nucleus of 20,000 bees added to the first hive before then so that will be a good indication of if we have done things correctly!