Bee Minder — LoRaWAN Environmental Monitor on Grasshopper
Ultra-compact 18x18mm environmental monitor by Kris Winer for beehives, greenhouses, and birdhouses with BME280, BMA400, and VEML6075 sensors, transmitting via LoRaWAN.
Bee Minder — LoRaWAN Environmental Monitor
An ultra-compact environmental monitoring device by Kris Winer (Tlera Corp), built on the CMWX1ZZABZ module (the same platform as the Grasshopper), designed for monitoring conditions in beehives, greenhouses, bat shelters, birdhouses, and compost piles.
Overview
The Bee Minder is an 18 x 18 mm sensor board based on the CMWX1ZZABZ module (STM32L082 + SX1276), integrating multiple environmental sensors in a coin-cell-powered package. It logs data locally to SPI flash and transmits updates via LoRaWAN at configurable intervals.
Sensors
- BME280 — pressure, temperature, humidity
- BMA400 — accelerometer (motion detection)
- VEML6075 — UVA/UVB light
- BH1749 — RGB and infrared ambient light
- 8 MByte SPI NOR flash — local data logging
- ECC608A — secure element for cryptographic operations
Specifications
- Powered by 120 mAh 3V coin cell battery
- Expected 4+ month runtime at 10-minute update intervals
- Average power consumption: 25-30 uA
- Estimated component cost: approximately $25
Use Cases
Designed for remote, unattended environmental monitoring in locations like:
- Beehives (temperature, humidity, UV tracking)
- Greenhouses (climate monitoring)
- Birdhouses and bat shelters (wildlife habitat conditions)
- Compost piles (temperature monitoring)
