The Advantages of Using Drones for Wind Turbine Inspection

Traditionally, wind turbine inspection has been a slow process that is inherently dangerous. Often, wind turbines would need to be inspected manually, both during maintenance and construction. Today, using drones for wind turbine inspection can vastly speed up the process, making it both easier and safer.

This post will take a look at the advantages of using drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), for wind turbine monitoring and maintenance.

Carry Out Maintenance Up to Four Times Faster

Through drones, wind farms may be able to conduct their standard operations and maintenance inspections up to four times faster. Drones can be deployed either in a broad spectrum over the entire landscape or to inspect a single wind turbine if there have been incidents recorded. Drones can easily inspect wind turbines with the accuracy and acuity of a manual inspection, without putting a worker at risk or requiring them to access the turbine itself. Not only does this reduce the dangers associated with inspection and maintenance, but it additionally reduces the prospect of accidental damage to the turbine.

Improve the Safety of Your Worksite

Every business wants to improve the safety of their operations for their employees. Drone technology uses completely unmanned solutions that represent no danger to the operator, which makes them highly preferred in terms of safety. Not only does this improve the worksite for employees but it also reduces delays.

UAVs Provide High-Resolution Imagery

Apart from reducing the safety risk to personnel, UAVs produce high-resolution imagery of areas that personnel may not otherwise be able to reach. They can capture all angles and areas of a wind turbine, even those that a human being wouldn’t be able to access.

Photos, videos, and live streams can be captured that are extremely accurate and in very high-resolution, which can aid in the diagnosis and discovery of problems. Comparatively, a manual technician will only be able to diagnose and identify what they can see when they inspect the turbine.

Further, drones can be used to cut down on potentially unnecessary inspections, as they can be used to investigate alarms or potential damage and to report back quickly.

Creating Scans and Simulations

Through high-resolution scanning and simulation technology, drones can be used to create models of a wind turbine project, which can further be used to analyze the current maintenance and operational solutions and find improved operational strategies.

Reviewing Large Areas at Once

Drones can cover a lot of ground quickly, making them ideal for larger wind farms. What once would take a human team days to inspect can be done by a UAV in the matter of hours. By conducting these inspections regularly, businesses can key into potentially dangerous or costly issues before they become serious, saving them money.

Drone Technology During Construction

Drones can additionally be used during the construction process to better survey land on which wind turbines could potentially be placed. By utilizing drones during the construction, organizations can get survey data quickly.

Drone services can streamline and optimize the maintenance and installation processes for wind turbines, providing support at every level of the project including the initial land survey. For more information about the incredible benefits that drone technology can provide, contact the experts at Landpoint.