Preliminary results from beehive activity monitoring using a 77 GHz FMCW radar sensor

Insect pollinators depopulation is a problem that is worrying experts worldwide. Between the species which are considered at risk, the honeybee (apis mellifera) is known to be the most efficient. The number of colony collapse events is continuously growing due to parasites such as varroa mites infestations, extended use of pesticides in agriculture, unstable climatic conditions and bee-specific diseases. Monitoring systems are needed in order to analyse bee activity, having the scope of checking hive’s health and honey production quality. Whereas standard methods with weight scales, optical cameras or temperature sensors are affected by inaccurate or incomplete results, modern millimetre-wave radar have the potential to measure position and velocity of targets in the scene through micro-Doppler signature. In this paper first results from a experimental field measurement campaign on an apis mellifera carnica bee hive in South Tyrol, Italy, are presented.