Robotic bolt inspection technology backed by GE Renewable Energy will help make the global offshore wind power revolution feasible by inspecting millions of bolts on turbines that would be impossible to check manually, said a UK innovation platform.
A project to unite two existing technologies – the BladeBUG insect-like inspection and repair system and an ultrasonic bolt inspection device called EchoBolt – will make maintenance of the small but crucial components realistic as wind fleets undergo massive expansion, and could slash repair costs in that specific area by 75%, said the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult as it prepared to test the two together.
