BladeBUG makes robotic ‘blade walk’ on operational wind turbine

BladeBUG and the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult have announced the UK’s first blade walk by a robot on an offshore wind turbine. 

Over two days in mid-October, the six-legged inspect-and-repair robot repeatedly scaled blades at ORE Catapult’s 7MW Levenmouth Demonstration turbine off the coast of Fife. 

The robot is said to represent a 30 per cent cost reduction based on lifetime blade maintenance conducted by rope-access technicians. ORE Catapult have predicted the cost savings to reach up to 50 per cent for next generation turbines. These costs have traditionally been a primary area of concern for offshore operators, as sea conditions and faster tip speeds can lead to significant blade damage over time. 

Robot team set sail for offshore wind farm inspection

Currently being developed under a £1m collaboration project part funded by Innovate UK, the BladeBUG robot aims to be capable of inspecting blade surfaces for emergent cracks and imperfections by the project’s end next year, transmitting data on their condition back to shore and resurfacing the blades.