Remote Controlled Robots Can Inspect, Clean, and Maintain Wind Turbines

Twitter Pinterest Digg Reddit Stumbleupon Linkedin Email
Join GLI's 10,000 other followers on Twitter!

With the increased installation of wind turbines, we’re getting more clean energy, but one thing that isn’t so easy to do is inspect the blades, towers, and turbines. Usually this involves sending people up the towers to rappel down the blades or towers to inspect and clean the machines and towers. Using a remote control robot to do this job could take much of the risk out the inspection and maintenance procedure.

Image: Ignorant WalkingWind Turbine Formation

Wind Turbine Formation

Because wind turbines are purposely installed in high wind areas, sending humans out on the towers and blades can be dangerous and costly, due to the risk involved and the fact that it can only be done on low wind days. Sending a robot such as the International Climbing Machines Climber to inspect the turbines can help to lower the cost and increase the safety to the workers, while making it easier to perform inspections more frequently.

Image: ICMClimber

Climber

The Climber can crawl up almost any vertical or inverted surface held to by vacuum force. It adheres to metal, concrete, brick, virtually any hard surface. The flexible seal securely adheres the Climber as it moves over surface irregularities – obstacles like weld seams, bolt heads, or plates.

Image: ICMClimber

Climber

An attached video camera turns them into remote controlled, free-climbing video inspection devices, and other tools can be attached to the machines for other common tasks.  Mechanical abraders housed in a vacuum chamber help with cleaning and remediation jobs, and because the materials cleaned from the surface are captured by the vacuum  and transported by a hose directly into drums for disposal, no human contact is necessary and no toxic materials are released into the environment.

Image: ICMClimber

Climber



About Derek Markham

I dig singlespeed bicycles, simple living, organic gardening, sustainable lifestyle design, slacklining, bouldering, and baking with sourdough.
 
I love good food; Colorado peaches are my all-time favorite. I really enjoy conversations with three year olds. I love being in the wilderness with my family; it feels like home. I love positive thinking and big audacious dreams. I like to skip rope, and yes, I do have a tiny rubber chicken (vegan) that lives with my flash drive.
 
Come see me over at Natural Papa!

Comments

  1. check , for special offer with low price

Trackbacks

  1. [...] hoy Greenlivingideas me entero de la propuesta de esta web para que el mantenimiento de los aerogeneradores se realice [...]

Speak Your Mind

*

Join GLI's ~10,000 other followers on Twitter!