Machine Vision and Honeybees

Dec. 5, 2011
Smart Camera Technology Is Being Used for Novel Studies Into the Activities of Honeybee

Showing off capabilities in complex and time-critical inspection processes, smart camera technology is being used for novel studies into the activities of honeybees, which are suffering from an alarming rate of colony collapse disorder (CCD).

The BEEgroup (www.beegroup.de) at the University of Würzburg joined forces with Eidecon Automation, Vision & Control, and KBA Metronic to develop technology to research honeybee populations.

The solution comes through RFID tags with data matrix codes attached to the backs of honeybees. Smart cameras are attached inside beehives and used to register the honeybees and draw up individual movement profiles.

The researchers hope to use the data to drive actions on protecting the role of bees on our planet. The BEEgroup has studied the feedback to learn more about how the physical and chemical parameters of a nest affect the bees' physiology.

The smart camera technology was provided by Vision & Control (www.vision-control.com), and modified for this project by Eidecon Automation.

Sponsored Recommendations

Programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and programmable automation controllers (PACs) provide viable options for machine control. This Control Design collection explains the differences...
Motion control engineers tend to focus on torque and speed specifications during the design process, but often fail to notice the unique features that differentiate a high-quality...
Covering the basics of choosing the right position feedback option for your application.
This white paper describes advantages of using advanced angle sensor technologies and focuses on best practices for correctly implementing non-­contact and touchless angle sensors...