Aerones, the wind turbine inspection and maintenance company, has launched a new robotics system for improved precision, stability, and effectiveness, abandoning its previous drone-based system in favor of patented ground-based winch and robotic arm technology.
The ground-based system allows for the automation of routine inspection and maintenance functions, such as cleaning, coating and repair. The robotic system makes it possible to increase the frequency of inspection and maintenance, thereby improving wind turbine output and longevity. It reduces the necessity of rope-access technicians for routine tasks, which reduces costs and increases safety of those involved.
The system makes use of a winch system with three winches on the ground, and one pulley from the nacelle. A robotic arm is mounted to the system, which can hold a variety of tools for sanding, coating and drainage hole cleaning. The system is controlled remotely by a team of operators in a well-equipped van and can be operated in darkness and sub-par weather conditions.
“Technicians who would otherwise hang hundreds of meters in the air manually working on each turbine blade, where safety concerns and weather limit operations, can now operate these inspection and maintenance services from the safety of a van, with controls that are as easy to use as a kid’s gaming console,” said Janis Putrams, CEO of Aerones.
The new solution was piloted in 2019, during which time finalizations to the design and system were made. It is being commercially deployed in Europe and America.
Aerones was founded in 2015 by Putrams, Dainis Kruze and Andris Dambis. The company is known for its heavy-lift drone solution, which was used to perform the world’s first drone jump. The company has since serviced hundreds of wind turbines across Europe and the U.S.
News item from Aerones
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