The Danish company Rope Robotics is one of the pioneers in the field of robotic solutions for the repair and maintenance of windshields of windshields. Not so long ago, the company began testing its robots in sea turbines and plans to launch the product in commercial operation by 2024. According to the company, one such robot pays off in full only for 6 months of work.
In the patented BR-8 robot, which has already repaired more than 150 shore windows blades, in the future they plan to integrate artificial intelligence.
Video from the official YouTube channel Rope Robotics
Damage to erosion during the rain causes the aerodynamic characteristics of the blades and may even lead to their breakdown. Rope Robotics offers a quick, economical and effective repair to restore the output power of the turbine. “Effective modern repair helps to extend the service life of one of the most expensive components of the windshield. The share of each blade accounts for up to 30% of the cost of the entire structure,” the Rope Robotics says.
According to the company, now the diagnosis of damage is as follows: a 150-kilogram robot attached to the cables rises about 100 meters from the ground to a damaged blade, fixed vertically. The vacuum system reliably fixes the robot, while special engines provide movement on the surface of the blade. Using a built -in high resolution camera and a laser scanner, the robot examines the surface and sends the images to the remote operator, which diagnoses damage and triggers the repair process in real time.
The repair itself consists of three stages. First, the damaged area is polished by special equipment. Then the surface of the blade is cleaned with a brush and alcohol to remove accumulated dirt and fat. And then an advanced protective material is applied to the surface of the blade, restoring the optimal aerodynamic shape of the blade, aligning the material to the given standards.
The company seeks to use the results of the repair work already carried out around the world to introduce artificial intelligence into the process of repairing artificial intelligence. It is assumed that over time the robot will learn to diagnose the problem and will restore damaged blades without human help.
“The robot proven itself in the field at a wind speed of up to 14 meters per second, relative humidity up to 80 percent and temperatures from 0 to 40 degrees Celsius,” the company representatives said. Currently, repairs of sea wind turbines are carried out in test mode. Rope Robotics plans to launch them on sale by the end of the year.