The interesting things for me are: counting small things, and using a teensy. I have been using a teensy2.0++ for the USB, and I found it is really easy to use (but I like Atmel). The USB HID examples were straight-forward, and I got them to work in a couple of hours. It is easy to re-program. I added a CLI thru a serial port. .... bandit

Subject: [New post] Counting bees
From: "Hack a Day" <donotreply@wordpress.com>
Date: Thu, 14 June, 2012 5:01 am

Post : Counting bees
URL : http://hackaday.com/2012/06/14/counting-bees/
Posted : June 14, 2012 at 4:01 am
Author : Mike Szczys
Tags : bee, beekeeping, bees, counter, reflectance, reflective, Teensy
Categories : green hacks, home hacks

http://hackadaycom.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/bee-counter.png

This is the bee counter (http://www.instructables.com/id/Honey-Bee-Counter) which [Hydronics] designed. It's made to attach to the opening for a hive, and will count the number of bees entering and exiting. We're not experienced bee keepers ourselves (in fact we're more of the mind of getting rid of stinging beasties (http://hackaday.com/2010/07/01/wasp-sucker-clears-the-air/) ) but we understand their important role in agriculture and ecosystem so we're glad someone's making a nice home for them.

Most of the apparatus is a circuit board lined with reflective sensors. There is a double-row of pin sockets on the top of the board which accepts the Teensy+ which monitors those sensors. The bees must pass below this PCB every time they enter or leave the hive, thereby tripping a sensor. In the video after the break [Hydronics] shows off the system with a netbook used to monitor the output. But it sounds like he has plans for an integrated display system in future versions of the bee counter.

Read more of this post (http://hackaday.com/2012/06/14/counting-bees/#more-76923)

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