ITER Advances Predictive Maintenance for Wind Turbines with Aerogenia Project

Collaborative Work on Autonomous Navigation System

The Technological Institute for Renewable Energies (ITER) has made significant progress in the development of the Aerogenia project, aimed at optimising predictive maintenance for wind turbines. This week, the ITER Robotics Unit team participated in a work session with researchers from the Computer Vision and Aerial Robotics Group (CVAR) at the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM). During this session, they validated the autonomous navigation system designed for aerial inspection of wind turbines.

According to a statement issued by the Cabildo of Tenerife on Monday, the tests confirmed the effective operation of the system during critical phases such as take-off, autonomous flight along predefined routes, and the automatic capture of multispectral images of the wind turbines. These images will later be processed to identify potential defects in the components.

Autonomous Navigation System Training

Additionally, ITER staff received practical training on operating the autonomous navigation system based on the open-source software Aerostack2. This training will enable the integration of this technology into future preventive maintenance routines for wind farms.

Juan José Martínez, the island’s Councillor for Innovation, Research and Development, emphasised in the statement that “this project is a clear example of how Tenerife can lead technological innovation with global impact” through the development of solutions that enhance the efficiency and safety of renewable energies.

Objectives of the Aerogenia Project

The primary aim of the Aerogenia project is to develop, validate, and industrialise a comprehensive diagnostic system for faults in wind turbines. The initiative, led by ITER in collaboration with UPM and Alcalá University (UAH), has a budget of €709,164.88 and is co-financed by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, the State Research Agency, and the European Union through the Next Generation funds.