As regards knowing when supers are full, it would be very surprising if a
gross check of the dielectric constant and dissipation factor perpendicular
to the frames in a super did not relate in some meaningful way to the honey
content thereof.  Beeswax is a fine dielectric, and so is air.  When full of
bees, frames might be somewhat lossy and of intermediate dielectric
constant.  When full of nectar the dielectric constant might be quite high,
and the lossiness might relate to water content.  Wires in the frames will
have little effect if orthogonal to the applied field, or might even be used
as electrodes.  These data are cheap to measure, and might either supplant
or aid weight sensors.

Regarding Thom's post: just because load cells might be a bit clumsy and
expensive
doesn't mean we must give up on weight.  Instead we should find cheap and
convenient ways to measure it.

Bill Morong