Beekeeping has entered a new era where traditional methods are combined with advanced IoT technology, enabling beekeepers to monitor hive health, honey production, and environmental conditions with exceptional accuracy. Our IoT Beehive Weight Scale with TTGO T-Call ESP32 SIM800L is a complete smart monitoring solution designed to meet modern beekeeping challenges—especially for remote locations where Wi-Fi is not available and real-time data is crucial.

This project was developed as part of our Product Design and Development Services, incorporating advanced embedded electronics, Arduino programming language, cloud integration, and precision load measurement. The system uses a load cell, a DHT11/22 temperature & humidity sensor, and a 20×4 I²C LCD module, all controlled by the ESP32 SIM800L GSM board. Sensor data is uploaded securely to Blynk IoT Cloud, allowing the beekeeper to access important parameters such as hive weight, internal temperature, and moisture level from anywhere in the world.

One of the key strengths of the project is its dual communication capability. The system automatically sends sensor data to the cloud every hour and also sends SMS updates at sunrise and sunset, providing essential insights during the most active bee hours of the day. Additionally, if the user presses the “Get Latest Data” button in the Blynk app, the device wakes up and immediately sends fresh sensor readings on-demand. The system also features intelligent alert mechanisms, notifying the user via SMS and cloud updates in case of sudden changes in weight or temperature—critical indicators of hive disturbance, swarming, honey harvesting, theft attempts, or environmental problems.

The project also underwent a professional mechanical and structural design workflow. We created a 3D-printed load cell assembly for demonstration purposes, showcasing our expertise in 3D modeling and design.

An upgraded version using the LILYGO TTGO T-A7670G 4G LTE board and NAU7802 high-precision ADC is also in development, offering higher accuracy and modern network compatibility. This future version will be published soon on our website. This project demonstrates how IoT, embedded systems, smart sensors, GSM connectivity, cloud data visualization, and custom fabrication can come together to transform traditional beekeeping into a smart farming solution. It not only enhances productivity but also enables proactive hive management, ensuring the wellbeing of the colony and improved honey yield.

Why Monitoring of Beehive Is Necessary?

Monitoring a beehive is essential for:

1. Tracking Honey Production

A weight scale helps determine:

• How much honey bees produce
• When harvesting is ideal
• Daily nectar intake

2. Detecting Swarming Events

Sudden weight drop → bees are leaving the hive.
The beekeeper gets an early alert to prevent colony loss.

3. Preventing Theft or Disturbance

If someone tries to steal the hive or if animals disturb it:

• Load cell detects sudden weight change
• Sends SMS alerts instantly

4. Monitoring Bee Health

Temperature & humidity tell a lot about colony health:

• Too hot → bees stressed
• Too cold → risk of brood death
• High humidity → fungus formation

5. Ensuring Proper Foraging

If weight does not increase during nectar season, bees may not be foraging properly.

6. Winter Monitoring

During winter:

• Bees consume stored honey
• Weight drops gradually
• Beekeeper can calculate food availability

7. Reduced Physical Inspections

Manual inspections:

• Disturb bees
• Reduce honey production
• Risk the queen being harmed

IoT monitoring → continuous data without opening the hive.

8. Early Prediction of Problems

AI-based or cloud-based logs show:

• Abnormal patterns
• Poor colony strength
• Risk of collapse

Thus beekeepers can take timely action.

Client Requirements & Final Solution

Our client required a fully automated IoT Beehive Monitoring System that must:

1. Send data to Blynk IoT Cloud every 1 hour using GSM
2. Send instant data on-demand when user presses “Get Latest Data” in Blynk
3. Send SMS automatically at sunrise and sunset containing:
   • Beehive Weight
   • Temperature
   • Humidity
4. Detect sudden changes in hive weight or temperature, and immediately send:
   • SMS alert
   • Blynk notification
5. Work on battery or external power supply
6. Support remote locations where Wi-Fi is not available
7. Provide robust load cell structure for heavy beehives (up to 300 kg)

Components Used in IoT Smart Beehive Monitoring System

1. TTGO T-Call ESP32 SIM800L

• Dual capability: ESP32 Wi-Fi + SIM800L GSM
• Ideal for GSM-based IoT devices
• SMS sending, mobile internet, and cloud communication

2. Load Cell

Used to measure:

• Beehive weight
• Honey production
• Food consumption
• Colony strength

3. HX711 ADC Amplifier Module

• For reading Load Cell Module

4. DHT11 / DHT22 Temperature & Humidity Sensor

Monitors:

• Internal hive temperature
• Moisture conditions
• Colony comfort level

5. 20×4 I²C LCD Display

Used during configuration and debugging.

6. Power Supply

• Rechargeable battery
• External DC adapter (5V)
• Low power mode enabled for saving energy

A Solar Panel with a Battery and Charge Controller is the best Power option for a Beehive Monitoring System, especially because Beehive boxes are usually placed in remote location.

7. 3D Printed Load Cell Assembly (Demo Version)

We designed a Simple custom 3D model and 3D printed the Mounting Bracket and Box assembly for demonstration only.
The final client version used metal fabricated frame for long-term installation.

Functionality of IoT Smart Beehive Monitoring System

1. Hourly GSM Data Upload

The ESP32 T-Call sends:

• Hive Weight
• Temperature
• Humidity

to Blynk IoT Cloud every 1 hour.

This helps the user monitor hive behavior throughout the day.

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2. Live Data on Demand (“Get Latest Data”)

When the user presses the “Get Latest Data” button in the Blynk App:

• GSM wakes up
• Reads all sensors instantly
• Sends new data to the cloud
• Updates the user in real-time

This feature is extremely useful when a beekeeper wants to check hive health at any moment.

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3. SMS Alerts at Sunrise & Sunset

Two automatic SMS messages per day containing:

• Hive Weight
• Temperature
• Humidity
• Timestamp

Sunrise and sunset values help understand daily hive cycle patterns.

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4. Abnormal Activity Alert (SMS + Blynk)

If there is a sudden change in:

• Hive weight (e.g., honey harvesting, theft, heavy rainfall, swarm leaving)
• Temperature (abnormal internal heat, overheating, queen issues)

The user instantly receives:

• SMS alert
• Blynk notification

This makes the system extremely reliable for remote monitoring.

Blynk IoT App Dashboard for Smart Beehive Monitoring System

→Mobile App Dashboard

→Web dashboard

Circuit Diagram of IoT Smart Beehive Monitoring System with ESP32 SIM800L

Wiring Instruction: Use external Power Supply (5V) or Battery. Connect HX711 and LCD directly to Power Supply

ESP32 Code for IoT Smart Beehive Monitoring System

 /***************** Blynk & TinyGSM Setup *****************/
#define BLYNK_TEMPLATE_ID "TMPL4CoTeQFLQ"
#define BLYNK_TEMPLATE_NAME "Beehive Monitoring System"
#define BLYNK_AUTH_TOKEN "?????????????????????????????????????"
#define BLYNK_PRINT Serial

#define TINY_GSM_MODEM_SIM800
#define TINY_GSM_RX_BUFFER 1024

#include <TinyGsmClient.h>
#include <BlynkSimpleTinyGSM.h>
#include <HardwareSerial.h>
#include "HX711.h"
#include "DHT.h"
#include <Wire.h>
#include <LiquidCrystal_I2C.h>

/***************** Cellular APN *****************/
const char apn[]  = "jazzconnect.mobilinkworld.com";
const char user[] = "";
const char pass[] = "";

/***************** T-Call Pins *****************/
HardwareSerial SerialAT(1);

#define MODEM_RST       5
#define MODEM_PWRKEY    4
#define MODEM_POWER_ON  23
#define MODEM_TX        27
#define MODEM_RX        26

/***************** On-board LED *****************/
#define LED_PIN 13

/***************** HX711 Pins *****************/
#define HX711_DOUT 32
#define HX711_SCK  33
HX711 scale;

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