As solar power plants face growing maintenance challenges, Ziyan UAS has introduced an automated inspection system combining unmanned helicopters, AI technology, and advanced sensors for optimized operations.
As the construction of solar power plants accelerates worldwide, the challenges in operations and maintenance (O&M) become increasingly prominent. Traditional manual inspections are often inefficient, costly, and time-consuming, making them inadequate to meet the rigorous needs of solar inspection.
To better increase inspection efficiency and reduce O&M costs, Ziyan has launched its automated inspection solution for solar energy that integrates the Ranger P2X, Tri-Sensor Payload, and Automated Dock. This solution leverages AI-based recognition, terrain-following flight, and communication relays to optimize solar inspection operations.
Advantages of Unmanned Helicopter for Inspection
Compared to multi-rotor UAVs, which have limited endurance, and vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) drones, which require larger takeoff and landing areas and have slower deployment and retrieval times, the Ranger P2X excels in large-scale, long-duration inspections, especially in complex environments:
Rapid Deployment: With a modular design, the Ranger P2X can be assembled and disassembled within 3 minutes, significantly reducing on-site preparation and equipment retrieval times.
Long Endurance: With a flight endurance of up to 120 minutes, the Ranger P2X can cover larger inspection areas per flight without changing batteries frequently, and significantly enhancing operational efficiency.
Terrain-Following: Terrain-following can simplify mission planning by allowing the drone to automatically adjust its altitude to match the ground level.
AI-Powered Fault Detection
Using a high-altitude perspective, paired with a 30x optical zoom and infrared thermal imaging cameras, the drone enhances the thoroughness and accuracy of inspections. Enabled by scenario-based AI algorithms, it can rapidly identify issues such as hot spots, zero current, object obstructions, and immediately generate reports for staff to address. Compared to manual inspections, this dramatically shortens inspection cycles, boosting the safety, efficiency, and economic benefits of solar power plants.
