Windpower Engineering & Development

  • Home
  • Articles
    • Most recent posts
    • News
    • Featured
  • Resources
    • Digital issues
    • Podcasts
    • Suppliers
    • Webinars
    • Events
  • Videos
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
  • Magazine
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

ABJ Drones launches weatherproof UAS with thermal technology

By Michelle Froese | September 11, 2018

ABJ Drones is currently launching WindVue, a newly developed unmanned aircraft system (UAS) that will change how wind-turbine blades are inspected in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Ireland.

ABJ WindVue Wind Turbine Inspection

The ABJ WindVue system uses a weatherproof UAS with a specially calibrated infrared camera and thermal technology to gather extremely accurate data on turbine blades.

“The current method of inspecting wind blades is antiquated, dangerous, and costly,” said Vip Jain, CEO of ABJ Drones. “Our patented system increases efficiency for wind farms by reducing man hours and cost. As blades are safely assessed and accurate data gathered, blade damage is identified and analyzed.”

Damage to turbine blades can occur for many different reasons, including delamination due to extreme weather conditions, erosion, and lightning strikes among others. Once damaged, blades can become susceptible to other integrity issues, weakening their performance.

The ABJ WindVue system uses a weatherproof UAS that carries a complex, ultra-high-resolution camera and a specially calibrated infrared camera to gather data. ABJ’s sophisticated drone technology and proprietary thermal technology enables highly experienced pilots to see 15cm into the blade while creating detailed thermographic images, which can reveal internal structural damage not visible to the naked eye.

Inspection pilots are handpicked for their extensive knowledge and experience in aviation and practical flight capabilities. They must undergo rigorous re-training every two years in Germany that encompasses thermography, flight operations, and technical changes in the wind industry so that standards are maintained.

Once data has been gathered by inspection pilots, ABJ’s specialized data labs begin the process of turning their findings into a comprehensive report. After in-house engineers and blade experts have monitored, examined and interpreted the findings, they will put forth a recommendation to remedy any issues found.  

ABJ WindVue offers thermal blade inspections as a global service, deploying specialist teams around the world.

 


Filed Under: Drones, News, O&M
Tagged With: abjdrones
 

About The Author

Michelle Froese

Related Articles Read More >

Richardson Electronics to deliver pitch energy modules to TransAlta wind fleets
Equinor halts work on Empire Wind offshore project after federal government order
ARESCA wants input on offshore wind standards
US wind market has worst install year since 2013

Podcasts

Wind Spotlight: Looking back at a year of Thrive with ZF Wind Power
See More >

Windpower Engineering & Development Digital Edition

Digital Edition

Browse the most current issue of Windpower Engineering & Development and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Clip, share and download with the leading wind power engineering magazine today.

Windpower Engineering & Development
  • Wind Articles
  • Solar Power World
  • Subscribe to Windpower Engineering
  • About Us/Contact Us

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising

Search Windpower Engineering & Development

  • Home
  • Articles
    • Most recent posts
    • News
    • Featured
  • Resources
    • Digital issues
    • Podcasts
    • Suppliers
    • Webinars
    • Events
  • Videos
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
  • Magazine
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe