RES has launched Smart Pilot, a new software solution designed to automate wind turbine blade inspections and improve operational efficiency for wind farm operators.
The platform enables inspection teams to complete blade data capture during a single turbine shutdown, reducing inspection time by approximately 25% compared with traditional methods that require multiple turbine stops and separate drone flights.
The company said Smart Pilot has been developed to simplify blade inspection operations while maintaining high-quality data collection and reducing overall operational complexity.
Automated Inspection Workflow
Conventional blade inspections typically involve positioning each blade separately, requiring several turbine shutdowns and multiple drone missions to collect the necessary imagery.
Smart Pilot replaces this process with an automated workflow that captures inspection data during a single turbine stop. The software guides drone operations and image collection automatically, reducing the amount of manual intervention required by inspection crews.
By minimizing downtime and streamlining flight operations, the solution helps operators complete inspections more efficiently while keeping turbines available for power generation.
Leveraging Standard Drone Technology
Unlike some inspection systems that rely on proprietary equipment, Smart Pilot operates using standard DJI drones and payloads already widely used across the industry.
This approach allows wind farm operators and service providers to deploy the software without investing in specialized hardware, helping to reduce costs and simplify implementation across multiple sites.
The use of commercially available drone technology also supports faster scaling of inspection programs across regional and international wind portfolios.
Rea Meisinger, Vice President of Digital Blades at RES, said the software was developed to combine efficiency, automation and scalability into a single platform.
“The key achievement with Smart Pilot is not a single feature, but the integration of automation, reduced downtime and high-quality data capture on standard drone hardware.”
“This combination allows inspection teams to deploy quickly, operate consistently and scale globally without relying on proprietary equipment.”
Supporting Digital Asset Management
Data collected during inspections is uploaded to RES’ digital platform, where it can be stored, reviewed and managed through a centralized system.
The integrated approach supports more consistent inspection reporting and provides operators with a scalable framework for monitoring blade condition across multiple wind farms.
RES also noted that training requirements have been significantly reduced, with inspection personnel able to complete remote training and become operational within half a day.
Growing Demand for Efficient Inspections
As wind turbine fleets continue to expand globally, operators are increasingly seeking digital solutions that improve maintenance efficiency and reduce operational disruptions.
By automating inspection workflows and reducing the need for repeated turbine shutdowns, Smart Pilot aims to help wind farm owners lower costs, improve productivity and maintain high standards of blade condition monitoring.
The launch forms part of RES’ broader efforts to support digitalisation across renewable energy operations and maintenance services.
Source: EnergyMagz