Objective The wind turbine industry is one of the fastest growing markets. Current turbines are huge with turbine rotor diameters of over 100m becoming standard. EU energy policy calls for 20% of the EU's 3040Th/y electricity demand to come from renewable sources by 2020, which constitutes a market of some 140€ billion and wind energy is the clear front runner.Presently in situ blade inspection is carried out every 3-6 month visually or with manual operatives involved in dangerous abseiling. In certain cases, a blade is dismantled and transported onshore, making the turbine downtime very high.The AUTOWINSPEC project will provide a system to automatically estimate the condition and remaining lifespan of the blades, by eliminating dangerous rope access and reducing downtime whilst increasing productivity.The inspection involves the following steps:- An autonomous robotic system crawls along the blade.- Using novel Acousto-Ultrasonic NDE technique the condition of the blades is estimated.- The NDT equipment is applied through probes based on a gimbal structure to perform the inspection as a continuous spot measurement process to cover the blades.- The coordinates and respective measurements are stored and through novel signal analysis techniques a map of the mechanical properties of the blades is produced pinpointing defects and estimating the remaining life of the entire blade.The AUTOWINSPEC system aims for a target reduction of 84% in maintenance costs, since the inspection process will be completed in half time compared to current practice eliminating the need for trained operators. By including the reduction of revenue loss through increased downtime, overall savings can be greater. In addition, project SMEs will have enhanced access to the EU wind turbine maintenance market, set to reach 42€ billion, i.e. 30% of renewable sources revenue by 2020. Fields of science engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringroboticsautonomous robotssocial scienceseconomics and businesseconomicsproduction economicsproductivityengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsrenewable energywind power Programme(s) FP7-SME - Specific Programme "Capacities": Research for the benefit of SMEs Topic(s) SME-2013-1 - Research for SMEs Call for proposal FP7-SME-2013 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme BSG-SME - Research for SMEs Coordinator WLB LIMITED Address Zinonos sozou (office 103) 11 1075 Lefkosia Cyprus See on map Region Κύπρος Κύπρος Κύπρος Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Silvia Sotiropoulou (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window EU contribution € 197 070,00 Participants (8) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all ROBOTNIK AUTOMATION SL Spain EU contribution € 164 215,00 Address Ronda auguste y louis lumiere 6 y 8 46980 Paterna See on map Region Este Comunitat Valenciana Valencia/València Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Rafael Lopez (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window BS ROTOR TECHNIC (UK) LTD United Kingdom EU contribution € 180 920,00 Address Twyford SO21 1QR Crofton highfield See on map Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Jeremy Sheppard (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window I DIMOULIS & CO EE Greece EU contribution € 167 858,00 Address Eyplias street 49 185 37 Piraeus See on map Region Αττική Aττική Πειραιάς Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Giota Xifara (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window STIRLING DYNAMICS LTD United Kingdom EU contribution € 184 889,00 Address Regent street 26 clifton BS8 4HG Bristol See on map Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Simon Waring (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window INNORA PROIGMENA TECHNOLOGIKA SYSTIMATA KAI YPIRESIES AE Greece EU contribution € 27 218,00 Address Ioannoy metaxa 59 19400 Koropi attikis See on map Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Panagiotis Chatzakos (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window TWI LIMITED United Kingdom EU contribution € 59 450,00 Address Granta park great abington CB21 6AL Cambridge See on map Region East of England East Anglia Cambridgeshire CC Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact David Hamper (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE LIMITED - INNOTECUK United Kingdom EU contribution € 36 380,00 Address Hildersham road north wing the old livery CB21 6DR Cambridge See on map Region East of England East Anglia Cambridgeshire CC Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Munawar A. Dossul (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window TELEROBOT SPA Participation ended Italy EU contribution € 0,00 Address Via buccari 9 16153 Genova See on map Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Francesco Becchi (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window
