Page 45 - North American Clean Energy September October 2015

the inspection and expectations should a long term partnerships with Wind Energy providers. Drone Dave Peachey is the vice president of engineering

be gauged accordingly.
inspection options not only deliver some great functionality today, at UpWind Solutions. He directs the development
he great news is drones provide a but ultimately provide a safe, cost efective, high quality option of technology based oferings for UpWind,
new inspection option that continue
with multiple applications.
strengthening the company’s commitment to
to improve with collision avoidance, here is a reality and a limit to drone inspections but also engineering solutions which help technicians ind

levels of autonomous light, longer light tremendous potential. It’s an exciting development for the and ix problems before wind turbines go down.
times, higher payloads, and alternative industry!
imaging sensors for visual and structural UpWind Solutions | www.upwindsolutions.com

inspections. In addition, the FAA
may eventually reduce the regulatory
requirements which will make their use
easier and allow for more cost efective

inspections.

Some speciics on blade
inspections

Today drones provide faster inspections
with the ability to capture diferent angles
and images of damage which allow for
more accurate analysis. Below are a few

tasks where drones both work well, and
where it doesn’t make sense to use them.

Drones are better for:

• Gathering clear, high resolution photos
which leave nothing to question, unlike
what happens sometimes with ground
based inspections;

• Identifying trailing edge splits, which
can be diicult to identify because of oil/
dirt accumulation;
• Post blade failure inspections when

safety is in question;
• Photographing damaged areas from
multiple angles;
• Providing high resolution close-up

videos of the entire blade surface; and
• Completing inspections in less time
than rope access teams.

Drones are not better for:
• Inspecting lightning protection systems
(LPS);

• Examining underlying damage which
requires tap testing and in depth
investigation to determine the proper
repair required; and

• Programmatic routine inspections which
can be completed at a lower cost from
the ground.

Look for the best it
When selecting and implementing an
inspection, or program of inspections,
look at all options, assess the pros and

cons of each, and choose the option which
provides the lexibility, safety, quality,
content, and deliverable results required.
In the end, it is the report, images, and

data which matter. Whether working with
a drone provider, an inspection company,
or wind energy services company, the key
is working with the team who delivers

the best reports, data and images, and
inspection expertise should mean all
options are available from one source.
Professional companies will inspect

from the ground, from rope, and with
drones. hey will understand the pros and
cons of each option and have developed

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North American Clean Energy