Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

wind

Fugro and Spoor to develop bird-monitoring solution for offshore renewable energy projects

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Fugro and Spoor, a software company that helps renewable energy projects reduce their environmental impact, have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a new bird-monitoring solution for offshore renewable energy projects.

This innovative system will not only help protect bird populations but also supports the growth of renewable energy by making environmental assessments more affordable, cleaner, and safer.

The solution uses video cameras installed on Fugro’s SeaWatch Wind Lidar and other metocean buoys to record bird activity at wind farm locations. Spoor’s advanced computer vision and AI software then analyses these recordings to quickly and accurately identify bird species. [Read more…] about Fugro and Spoor to develop bird-monitoring solution for offshore renewable energy projects

Beam unveils new underwater robot for wind farm operations

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Beam, a provider of high-technology offshore wind services, has launched a new autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) driven by artificial intelligence (AI).

Scout, a concept expected to enter the market in 2025, will put the power of subsea inspection directly in the hands of wind farm operators.

The company says this is “an important step” in Beam’s journey to develop cutting-edge underwater technologies that transform the viability and scalability of offshore wind. [Read more…] about Beam unveils new underwater robot for wind farm operations

Horizon and Wind River partner to develop autonomous vehicle solutions

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Wind River, a developer of software for mission-critical intelligent systems, has agreed a strategic collaboration with Horizon Robotics to advance smart driving solutions.

Horizon is a leading provider of energy-efficient computing solutions for advanced driver assist systems (ADAS) for consumer vehicles in China.

The collaboration between the two companies will enable OEMs to leverage a fully integrated ADAS hardware/software solution based on Horizon’s Journey series computing solutions and the Wind River cloud-to-edge portfolio. [Read more…] about Horizon and Wind River partner to develop autonomous vehicle solutions

Fugro’s marine robot completes ‘world’s first’ fully remote offshore wind ROV inspection

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What is being described as “the world’s first” fully remote inspection of offshore wind farm assets has been successfully carried out by Fugro, using one of its Blue Essence uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) with Blue Volta, an electrical remotely operated vehicle (eROV).

The inspection at the Aberdeen offshore wind farm in the North Sea (also known as the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre) was jointly funded by Vattenfall and Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult.

This partnership gives innovators in the offshore wind supply chain the opportunity to test and prove technologies in real-world conditions to support innovation in operations and maintenance. [Read more…] about Fugro’s marine robot completes ‘world’s first’ fully remote offshore wind ROV inspection

DoE offering $30 million for new materials and manufacturing to lower cost of large wind turbines

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The US Department of Energy has announced a $30 million funding opportunity to advance the cost-effective domestic manufacturing of materials, including lightweight composites, that allow wind turbines to produce power more efficiently.

Because wind energy is the largest source of renewable power in the United States and one of the most affordable sources of energy today, it is a critical tool for reducing our reliance on fossil energy, and next-generation technologies and manufacturing improvements will help bring down costs even more.

The improved materials and manufacturing processes envisioned under this funding opportunity have the potential to reduce wind energy costs and expand the deployment of the nation’s wind energy portfolio in support of President Biden’s goals to reach 100 percent clean electricity by 2035 and a net-zero-emissions economy by 2050. [Read more…] about DoE offering $30 million for new materials and manufacturing to lower cost of large wind turbines

Rope Robotics says its robotic wind turbine blade repairs pay off in six months

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After over 18 months in operation, having repaired over 150 rain-damaged onshore wind turbine blades on three continents, the patented robot from Denmark’s Rope Robotics, the world leader in robotic blade maintenance, has demonstrated return on investment for turbine owners within just six months.

Compared to manual alternatives, the robot can repair the blade around four times faster at half the cost.

An increasing problem, rain erosion damage compromises aerodynamic performance of the blade and at worst can lead to blade failure and expensive turbine downtime. [Read more…] about Rope Robotics says its robotic wind turbine blade repairs pay off in six months

Robotic pollinator: A fairy-like robot flies by the power of wind and light

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The loss of pollinators, such as bees, is a huge challenge for global biodiversity and affects humanity by causing problems in food production. At Tampere University, researchers have now developed the first passively flying robot equipped with artificial muscle. Could this artificial fairy be utilised in pollination?

The development of stimuli-responsive polymers has brought about a wealth of material-related opportunities for next-generation small-scale, wirelessly controlled soft-bodied robots.

For some time now, engineers have known how to use these materials to make small robots that can walk, swim and jump. So far, no one has been able to make them fly.

Researchers of the Light Robots group at Tampere University are now researching how to make smart material fly. Hao Zeng, Academy Research Fellow and the group leader, and Jianfeng Yang, a doctoral researcher, have come up with a new design for their project called FAIRY – Flying Aero-robots based on Light Responsive Materials Assembly. They have developed a polymer-assembly robot that flies by wind and is controlled by light. [Read more…] about Robotic pollinator: A fairy-like robot flies by the power of wind and light

Aerones demonstrates ‘first’ robot for wind turbine maintenance and repair

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Aerones has demonstrated for what it claims is the “first robot that offers full-service leading edge wind turbine blade maintenance and repair”.

The robot performs maintenance 5x faster than humans, and makes use of various attachments to perform different tasks, including refinishing blades with RELEST coatings from AkzoNobel.

The robot is able to perform maintenance and repair for Level 1-3 Leading Edge Erosion (LEE), proactively addressing erosion in a cost-effective manner and halting progression to Level 4-5 erosion. [Read more…] about Aerones demonstrates ‘first’ robot for wind turbine maintenance and repair

Aerones raises $30 million to develop wind turbine maintenance robot

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Aerones, a Latvia-based company specializing in robot-enabled wind turbine maintenance and inspection, has secured $30 million in growth capital to scale its business globally.

The capital will be used to help the Company meet surging demand in a market which is expected to reach $50 billion in value by 2028.

The funding round was co-led by Lightrock, the global growth equity investor, and Haniel, the European family-owned purpose-driven investor. [Read more…] about Aerones raises $30 million to develop wind turbine maintenance robot

EDF employs ‘unique’ underwater drone to carry out ‘first ever’ autonomous robotic inspection of wind farm foundations

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EDF has installed a uniquely customised remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to carry out what is believed to be the first autonomous wind farm foundation inspection at its Blyth Offshore Wind Farm.

The ROV, equipped and operated by researchers from the ORCA Hub, a strategic project within the National Robotarium, was modified to include cutting-edge robotic technologies for autonomous inspection capabilities and carried out visual inspections of the gravity-based foundations of three offshore turbines over the course of four days.

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. [Read more…] about EDF employs ‘unique’ underwater drone to carry out ‘first ever’ autonomous robotic inspection of wind farm foundations