The production kit on the overview page grew out of two prototype phases. Their pages are kept for builders and for the design history, but they are no longer the product description.
| Phase |
What it proved |
Hardware |
Cost |
Pages |
| Phase 1 - Lab |
Firmware, wiring, calibration and telemetry ingestion on a desk |
ESP32 DevKit, HX711 breakout, one load cell, DS18B20, USB power |
€20-35 |
Overview, product description, system overview, BOM, bench wiring |
| Phase 2 - Field MVP |
An outdoor DIY scale that a pilot beekeeper can install |
DevKit + modules in an IP65 box, scale frame, 18650 battery shield, optional solar |
€45-90 |
Overview, product description, BOM |
| Phase 3 - Production |
A repeatable, supportable, sellable kit that also fits the Robotic Beehive |
Carrier PCB with ESP32-S3, AP62AFB single-point cell, plywood and thermo-pine case, 3D-printed parts, IP67 pod |
≈ €150-250 |
Overview, product description, BOM, 3D model |
What carried over
- Firmware path: ESP32 + HX711 + DS18B20 + HTTPS to
telemetry-api, from Phase 1 unchanged. Production adds a pin map per hardware revision, BLE setup and device-health fields.
- Sensor scope: weight, internal temperature, ambient humidity and battery first. Sound, CO2 and tamper sensing stay research options (research references).
- Cadence: 30-60 s on the bench, 10-minute readings with batched uploads in the field.
What changed for production
| Prototype choice |
Production choice |
Reason |
| DevKit on jumpers or a breadboard |
Carrier PCB with a pre-certified ESP32-S3 module |
No loose wires; factory flashing over pogo pads; lower sleep current. |
| 4 × 50 kg bar cells or a generic frame |
One AP62AFB single-point cell with brackets |
One calibration, one cable, reads correctly when the hive is off-centre. |
| IP65 junction box with glands |
IP67 pod with M8 field connectors |
Probe, cell and panel can be replaced without opening the enclosure. |
| Battery shield and LCD |
1S 18650 holder, BQ24074, fuel gauge, status LED and magnet switch |
Months on batteries; no buttons or display that can leak or drain power. |
| Stand-alone only |
Same scale and pod in the Robotic Beehive |
One design for both products. |
