TOPseven sets standards with continuously optimised technology for the inspection of the lightning protection system on wind turbine generators

Focus on Wind Energy – TOPseven presents technological innovations

Munich, 17.06.2024

TOPseven, a leading high-tech company in the area of automated, drone-assisted
inspections, is again presenting its groundbreaking solution for rotor blade inspection on
wind turbine generators at Wind Energy in Hamburg. TOPseven’s technology combines
drone-based visual inspection with innovative, contactless lightning protection system
measurement and is setting new standards for efficiency, precision and safety.

Continuous innovation as a unique feature

“We are revolutionising the inspection of rotor blade lightning protection systems with our
innovative, contactless technology – developed and continuously improved by our in-house
team of experts” explains Dr Sven Davani, Senior Product Manager at TOPseven. “Our
holistic approach during product development is unique. We do not just react to current
challenges, instead we anticipate the future needs of the sector.”
The central element of the system is currently the DJI Matrice 300 or 350 drone,
supplemented by our internally developed 61 MP TOPseven Camera. “This combination
enables us to acquire ultra-high-resolution images with 1.6–3.4 pixels per millimetre to
meet various inspection requirements”, explains Davani.

Industry-leading technology is revolutionising inspection of the lightning protection system for rotor blades

The heart of TOPseven’s technology is its globally patented contactless lightning protection
system measurement. Using a signal generator, attached to the down conductor for the
corresponding blade without interrupting the circuit, and a special sensor on the drone,
potential problems in the lightning protection system can be detected at an early stage.
Here the precise localisation of possible defects is a significant improvement over the
traditional method of measuring the resistance and in this way permits more efficient
repair.
TOPseven has developed a powerful BackOffice program that enables the customer to
manage inspection tasks, reports and statistics. The TOPseven Ecosystem also provides
interfaces to external cloud storage solutions while the software TOPseven Inspector, part
of the ecosystem, is used for mission planning, data analysis and report preparation.
The patented AI-assisted optimisation of camera settings such as focus, exposure or
shutter speed ensures constant image quality in all weather conditions and therefore
precise AI-damage detection afterward. The reliability of the analyses can be continually
increased by training the AI using manually validated data.
“Our drone-based visual rotor blade inspection and lightning protection system
measurement represents the peak of innovation in the wind energy sector”, summarises
Davani. “We are proud that with our technology we are making a contribution to safer,
more cost-efficient wind turbine generators and at the same time ensuring they have a
long service life.”

About TOPseven

TOPseven is a developer of software and technology with a focus on drone technology,
cloud computing and artificial intelligence.
With an international team of experts, TOPseven develops AI-based navigation and
analysis software as well as special hardware in the areas of sensors and drones. For the
future TOPseven has set itself the task of making it possible to inspect, regularly and
completely, even difficult to access infrastructure so that damage can be detected at an
early stage, the consequences of the damage minimised and service life increased