[Japan] Tokyo Electric Power Company Demonstrated its Remote Data Collection Capabilities for Maintenance and Inspection, Using an Underwater Vehicle and a Drone at Choshi Offshore Wind Farm

On May 14, 2019, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) announced that it had completed a demonstration of its remote data collection capabilities for maintenance and inspection, using a remotely controlled underwater vehicle and a drone at the Choshi offshore wind power farm. The demonstration was conducted from November 2018 to January 2019 to examine the feasibility of automating remote maintenance and inspection activities for offshore wind farms. In the future, the use of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) and drones is expected to improve the efficiency of maintenance and inspection activities in harsh environments. 

The demonstration project confirmed that the underwater vehicle was able to be controlled remotely and take images under difficult conditions, such as in murky and/or turbulent water, at water depths of ​​20m or less. The drone test demonstrated that it can take images of turbine blades to inspect any damage or dirt while the wind turbines were turned off. Based on the results of the project, TEPCO will further examine how to improve the efficiency of autonomous underwater vehicles under severe conditions, and how to enable the use of drones while the wind turbine blades are running.

[Japan] J-Power and Okayama University of Science Filed a Patent Application for Autonomous Camera-Equipped Drone for Monitoring Energy Infrastructure Facilities

On September 10, 2018, J-Power announced that it had jointly filed a patent application with the Okayama University of Science for an autonomous camera technology to monitor and inspect energy infrastructure facilities, using drones. A camera-equipped drone automatically plans a flight route and approaches transmission facilities, such as steel transmission towers and transmission lines, and takes photographs of the targeted objects. The technology combines flight control, avoidance control, and high-speed image processing, aiming to significantly improve the safety and the quality of inspection work, as well as reducing the risk of field workers at high elevations. In addition, the drone’s operational status, such as its location, altitude, and flight state, can be monitored through the wireless network. In cases when the drone detects a failure or problems at the facilities, it also records images along with the location. The technology is expected to be fully commercialized in FY 2019.