The inspections were undertaken as part of a partnership between EDF and the ORCA Hub to investigate a wide range of potential applications for drone technology to assess offshore wind turbines. The trials demonstrated the drone’s ability to work autonomously at the site, as it recorded videos to assess the exterior condition of turbine foundations and cables.
The drone also was used to create a 3D reconstruction model of parts of the underwater assets, which will be used to monitor biofouling, the accumulation of microorganisms, plants and algae on the turbine foundations.
“These trials have showcased the ability of autonomous inspection drones to collect high-quality images off offshore turbine technology," said Maxime Duchet, offshore wind research engineer with the EDF R&D UK Centre. "These images, and the modeling they enable, will greatly enhance our ability to carry out operations and maintenance activities on site. Further tests are needed to estimate the time required to inspect all of the turbine foundations and to demonstrate the full potential of marine robotic technology. However, it is clear from these initial results that the technology can ensure safer and faster operations and a reduced carbon footprint."
Dr. Sen Wang, lead of robotics and autonomous systems with the National Robotarium, added, “This trial demonstrates the enormous potential for underwater robots to autonomously carry out inspection and maintenance of offshore wind turbines, reducing the need and the associated risks of putting personnel into challenging and hazardous environments. By equipping the ROV with sensors and robot autonomy software developed by the ORCA Hub, we can obtain high-quality videos and build an extremely accurate 3D model of the turbine foundations, providing rich information in a more efficient manner for companies working in this sector."
05.25.2022
