Autonomous robot takes helicopter ride to service wind turbine blades

Kawasaki Heavy Industries and BladeRobots have partnered to develop an automated maintenance system for wind turbine blade leading edges, integrating Kawasaki’s unmanned helicopter, K-RACER, with a robotic maintenance tool. The helicopter transports the robot to the blade, where it performs repairs autonomously. This innovation aims to standardize maintenance, reduce manual labor, and enhance safety by minimizing the need for technicians to work at dangerous heights. The collaboration follows a successful technical demonstration and targets full-scale commercialization to meet the growing demands of the wind power sector. The initiative addresses the critical need for regular upkeep of turbine blades, whose leading edges degrade due to environmental exposure, affecting aerodynamic performance and turbine efficiency. The system reduces man-hours and ensures consistent repair quality by automating the maintenance process. A recent demonstration at a Danish wind farm, supported by Vestas Wind Systems, validated the technology’s feasibility under typical strong wind conditions. By combining automated flight and remote control, the K-RACER successfully deployed and retrieved the maintenance