Robotics

Using drones to protect wind turbines from ice

Damp, cold conditions are the enemy of wind power. If a layer of ice forms on the rotor blades, this can result in rotational imbalance and, hence, increased wear. In such cases, the turbines often have to be shut down for ...

Energy & Green Tech

A sustainable solution: Compostable wind turbine blades

It is the year 2035. In a world facing climate catastrophe, the human enterprise is powered by fields of wind farms, with turbine blades made from fast-growing grasses and the roots of a million-year-old fungus.

Energy & Green Tech

Offshore wind farms move ahead full sail with underwater help

Off the coast of Portugal, a team of underwater robots is scanning the base of turbines on a wind farm and looking for signs of damage while aerial drones check the blades. The activity is part of a project to reduce inspection ...

Energy & Green Tech

Researchers explore wind farm co-design with communities

In past projects, Professor Lucy Pao and her research group have focused on designing the best control systems for wind turbines—systems aimed at maximizing power production or reducing structural loads.

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