FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Supairvision
Inspection
Cloud
Who are we?
SupAirVision, your partner in wind energy. We have specialized in drones for 8 years and in photography for 20 years. "SupAirVision contributes to your performance by developing relevant and valuable solutions for the future. We put our experience of the image and the drone at the service of wind power." We focus on wind power and solve your technical problems with the help of drones. We offer simple and effective solutions for wind turbine inspection and park management issues. Imagine the wind turbine drones of tomorrow: precise, fast, safe, and autonomous!
Can you work all over Europe?
Yes, we operate in Europe for a minimum of 20 machines. In France from a single wind turbine.
What is your estimated response time?
Our intervention time is guaranteed within 48 hours in the case of damage.
How can I partner with SupAirVision?
We consider each partnership opportunity and study all the issues in the wind energy business that could be solved using the drone. If you are interested in collaborating with us, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Who does the inspection?
Inspections are carried out by our experienced pilots, and the images are analyzed by a blade and composite expert. Our team is fully qualified and trained for this type of intervention.
What type of technical assistance do you need?
A technician must be present on site to stop the machine and turn the rotor.
Are there any regulations to be taken into account?
SupAirVision and the drones used for wind turbine inspections are registered with the DGAC (Direction Générale de l'Aviation Civile). On wind farms, we are concerned by scenario S1, free zones, flight < 200 m of the pilot and < 150 m height. A prefectural authorization - scenario S3, urban areas - is therefore not required to carry out blade inspection. Any other authorization is exceptional due to the configuration and location of the wind farms (total height less than 150 m, excluding air corridors and military areas).
Do you inspect offshore wind turbines?
We are working on the development of drones to work on offshore wind turbines. But at this time, we work on onshore wind turbines.
Do you conduct other types of inspections?
We are ready to conduct all types of inspections involving a drone and wind turbines and remain committed to your business issues. We are currently engaged with Engie Green and the University of Reims, in a research program to develop a system for detecting internal defects in the blades. In addition, we have developed an aerial painting system, and several other projects are in the process of being carried out.
Can you fly on any type of wind turbine or blades?
The drone's inspections are available on all types of machines and blade lengths. This may only induce additional inspection time.
Do the blades have to be stopped for inspection?
The drone inspections are done on a stopped wind turbine. The blades are therefore stopped.
How is the rotor locked?
The rotor is blocked by the brake (rotor lock is not necessary), vertical blade (Y inverted) to allow the drone to "rotate" around the blade, without pitch of the blades. This position requires the rotor to be released twice during the operation (inspection on oblique blades soon available).
What are your wind speed limits?
The wind limits for our drone are 8 m/s, flying 3 m from the blades in semi-automatic laser-guided flight, helps to preserve our high quality images (SupAirVision technology). We are able to fly when the wind is stronger, but from a distance of more than 3 m.
What are the best weather conditions?
With sun or clouds, we operate in all conditions, even when the wind is less than 8 m/s. We do not perform in rainy, snowy, and windy conditions.
How long is the flight time?
About 15 minutes per blade for a standard size of 40 m, or 45 minutes of flight per wind turbine.
What is the work rate?
Our daily work rate is 6 to 8 wind turbines depending on the season.
What is the resolution of your photos?
The drone is equipped with a 42-million-pixel camera to provide image definition and allow you to significantly zoom in on the photos. Flying at a steady distance from the blade also allows you to obtain clear images. We provide the best images on the market.
How are the images being submitted?
In the 72 hours after the inspection, you will be able to access to the images, in your customer area accessible on our secure cloud.
Are the images reconstructed and combined?
Reliable defect detection requires a thorough inspection of the images. SupAirVision has developed its own system to combine the images and reconstruct the blade in "3D". This allows you to view the entire blade and zoom in on the finest defects. The future depends on predictive maintenance, i.e. automatic defect detection on image by artificial intelligence (AI). SupAirVision also works on the automatic comparison of inspections.
Who analyzes the images?
Pre-detection of defects is ensured by our blade and composite expert, and you have access to the data at any time to validate or correct them. We can also deliver the assembled images for annotation by you.
How long do we have access to the data? Do we have the complete history of all the inspections?
We offer full and unlimited access to our platform. You, therefore, have all your inspection historical data at your disposal. A feature that allows you to closely monitor the condition of your blades.
Is it possible to integrate our image bank (excluding SupAirVision inspections)?
We can process your images, so you keep your inspection history. We can also integrate the SupAirVision Cloud with your own information system (API), after a preliminary assessment of the feasibility.