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Swiss aerial robotics specialist Voliro has released the Voliro T Wind Turbine Lightning Protection System (LPS) Inspection Guide, a practical resource designed to help operators, technicians, and service providers modernize lightning protection testing in line with IEC/EN 61400-24 standards.
Lightning strikes are a constant risk for wind farms, and ensuring the full LPS circuit, from blade tip receptor to grounding system, is electrically sound is critical for safety, uptime, and insurance compliance. Traditionally, verifying LPS continuity required rope access, manual ohmmeters, and hours of downtime. Alternative technologies often involve heavy equipment, high-voltage simulation, or partial measurements that cannot deliver precise resistance data.
The guide outlines how the Voliro T drone system streamlines this process with:
- A drone-mounted needle probe for direct receptor contact
- A tethered micro-ohmmeter at the turbine base
- 4-wire milliohm-precision resistance measurement
- Full-loop testing to verify the entire lightning path
With this approach, inspections take just 20–30 minutes per turbine, five times faster than rope access, while providing quantitative results for true condition assessment. The guide includes step-by-step workflows, safety considerations, and tips for maximizing inspection efficiency without climbing or nacelle access.
By combining drone agility with laboratory-grade measurement accuracy, the Voliro T enables earlier fault detection, reduced technician risk, and minimal operational disruption. The newly released guide offers wind energy stakeholders a clear pathway to safer, more scalable, and fully compliant LPS inspections.
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