How are Aerial Inferred scans helpful for diagnosing problem with Photovoltaic Systems?

Aerial thermal scans can be used to diagnose problems with photovoltaic (PV) systems by detecting and measuring variations in temperature across the surface of the PV panels. These temperature variations can indicate areas of the panel that are underperforming or malfunctioning.

For example, if a PV panel is not functioning properly, it may be generating more heat than surrounding panels. This can be detected using an aerial thermal scan, which can identify the location of the faulty panel and help to diagnose the problem.

Aerial thermal scans can also be used to identify hotspots on PV panels, which are areas that are generating more heat than normal. Hotspots can be caused by a variety of issues, such as electrical faults, shading, or dirt and debris accumulation, and they can significantly reduce the efficiency of the PV system.

There are several common defects that can occur with solar panels, including:

1. Microcracks: These are small cracks that can occur on the surface of the solar panel and can be caused by factors such as manufacturing defects, temperature changes, and mechanical stress.

2. Hotspots: Hotspots occur when an area of the solar panel becomes overheated, which can reduce its efficiency and even cause it to fail.

3. Shading: Solar panels rely on sunlight to generate electricity, so shading from trees, buildings, or other objects can significantly reduce their output.

4. Dirt and debris: Dust, dirt, and other debris can accumulate on the surface of the solar panel, which can reduce its ability to capture sunlight.

5. Water damage: Solar panels are often installed on rooftops, which can make them susceptible to water damage from leaks or storms.

6. Electrical issues: Solar panels are connected to an electrical system, so defects in this system can affect their performance.

7. Manufacturing defects: Sometimes solar panels may have defects due to manufacturing problems, such as faulty wiring or poor-quality materials.

Overall, aerial thermal scans can be a useful tool for identifying problems with PV systems and helping to diagnose and fix them in order to improve the overall performance of the system.

What is a Digital Twin?

What are the Industrial Applications of Digital Twins?

Digital twins have become a widely used tool in industries such as city planning, engineering, and manufacturing. This new technology has proven to be highly promising as it allows us to simulate real-life scenarios and get accurate results. But what exactly is digital twin technology, how does it work, and what are its industrial applications? To answer all these questions, we made this brief telling you all about this amazing technology.

What is a Digital Twin?

A digital twin is the digital version of a product that reflects the parameters of the physical object accurately. It is like a replica of a physical product, but instead of making it in the physical world, it is made digitally in a computer system. The physical product of which the digital twin is made can be referred to as a physical twin. A digital twin gets the data from the physical twin, usually using sensors.

When this data is applied to the digital twin, it can be used to run various simulations. Through these simulations, we can find design improvements or detect possible flaws in the system. The insights from running simulations on the digital twin allow us to better optimize the physical product itself. 

History of Digital Twins

David Gelernter was the first one to propose the idea of digital twins in 1991 in his “Mirror Worlds” publication. However, Dr. Michael Grieves was the first person to pioneer the concept of applying digital twins technology to the manufacturing process. 

This would lay the foundation upon which the current digital twin technology is based. But, it can be argued that the idea of using a digital twin may originate in the 1960s when NASA created an earthbound version of their voyaging spacecraft to test using simulations. 

How is a Digital Twin Made?

A digital twin is made by creating computational models after gathering data about the product or item. The data-gathering process can vary depending on the application for which the digital twin is being made. For instance, you can get data about a windmill by using sensors. On the other hand, for larger-scale applications, drone mapping can be used to create 3D models of the environment.

The data can also be gathered through maintenance records, manufacturing processes, engineering information, product processes, design specifications, and even historical records. Once all the data is acquired, it can be used to create a model, which can then be linked to gain improvements and insights.

Benefits of Digital Twins

Better Research Applications

Digital twins can be used to conduct extensive research about a product in a reasonable amount of time and at a relatively low cost. This can lead to the identification of design flaws and highlight possible improvements before the product is introduced into the market. The performance outcomes provided by digital twins are accurate and can even save lives by helping prevent mishaps and malfunctions.

Helps Increase Efficiency In Systems

Efficiency is super important in most modern manufacturing processes and equipment. With digital twins, better and more efficient systems can be created through testing. This can save time and effort for the company by maintaining peak efficiency throughout the whole production process. 

Product End Life Applications

Manufacturers need to figure out what their options are once a product reaches the end of its lifecycle. Through digital twins, the manufacturer can determine the best course of action for the final processing of the product at the end of its life cycle. They can then recycle the product or harvest useful materials based on the results from the digital twins. This makes digital twins a useful tool for improving the recycling process, helping prevent damage to the environment from waste production.

Industrial Applications of Digital Twins

Digital twins technology is being used in most major industries today. This is thanks to its great versatility since a digital twin can be made of almost anything with enough data. Some of the ways digital twins are being used in industries are:

Power Generation

Digital twin technology is being used in the power generation industries to figure out the best time frames for maintenance. This is done for windmills, turbines, and even locomotive engines. Through the use of digital twins, companies can make sure that their power generation equipment is running efficiently at all times. 

Structure and System Planning

The digital twin technology is also used for aiding in structures and system planings. This is especially true for offshore drilling sites or very large construction projects where everything needs to work in coordination. Digital twins can also be used to design the optimal HVAC systems for large structures, as dead spots can easily be identified in a simulation. 

Streamlining Manufacturing Processes

As mentioned before, digital twins are used to streamline the manufacturing process. This technology is ever present in almost all parts of product manufacturing, including designing, manufacturing, and end-of-life planning. 

Healthcare

Digital twin technology has also found its use in the healthcare systems. Many hospitals use digital twins for tracking health indicators using band-aid-sized sensors, improving life quality and disease research. 

Automotive Industry

Since cars consist of several components that need to work in conjunction, the automotive industry relies heavily on digital twin technology. From designing car parts to assembly, digital twins are utilized by most manufacturers. Digital twins have contributed a lot towards improving car performance and making their production process much more efficient. 

Urban Planning

Urban planning is another area where digital twin technology has shined. By utilizing other great technologies, such as drone mapping, city planners can find the optimal layouts for the city. This is done while also ensuring the availability of necessary facilities to the citizens.

All the data can be presented in a 3D view to make planning much easier. Since digital twins can be used to run all kinds of simulations, city planners can also pre-plan emergency protocols for a disaster scenario, ensuring public safety. 

Final Thoughts

Digital twins technology can find use in almost every industry today. Which is why its popularity has risen dramatically in the last few decades. We can already see its impact on our society as most things we take for granted would not be possible without the use of digital twin technology. From our cars to designing space probes, digital twins have become a vital part of our society.

First Beyond Visual Line of Sight Waiver Granted by FAA

The American based company, American Robotics, is the first company within the United States to receive a blanket beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) waiver from the FAA to operate their drones autonomously, without an operator, and beyond the parameters of visual line of sight restrictions in glass G airspace. This is a significant turning point for the industry because companies have previously been restricted to operate, under CFR Part 107 rules, which restricts the operation to happen within the visual line of sight of the operator or visual observers. As the rule currently stands, conducting operations that would go BVLOS requires more manpower which is costly to an operation. American Robotics will be the first company to conduct these operations for customers, research purposes, along with paving the road for future companies to build safe, reliable UAS platforms with beyond visual line of sight capabilities that meet regulatory standards and requirements.

            The technology that has allowed American Robotics to achieve this milestone is a combination of their redundant systems, operational risk mitigation, and proprietary Detect and Avoid technology. Instead of using visual observers, lidar sensors, or ABS-C to avoid a collision with incoming aircraft, they use an acoustic microphone system to detect and triangulate incoming aircraft.  This technology works by having a series of microphones on the unmanned aircraft which passively scans for specific frequencies that correspond with sound from aircraft engines and rotor noise(Anthony & Franklin. 2011). This allows the companies Scout System to sense and avoid aircraft, in real-time, which has entered its operational space. This technology has added another layer of safety and machine awareness to the Scouts Systems operational readiness, which paid dividends when evaluated by the FAA.

            The Scout System, along with its advanced and redundant technologies, is designed to operate from a waterproof base station that is able to swap batteries, download and process data, and house the UAS until it’s ready for operation. Once installed in the field, this base station allows the Scout System to fly and collect data multiple times per day and potentially operate for long periods of time without any human intervention. This capability expands the current realm and operational range of drone applications ranging from routine infrastructure inspections for power and transmission poles, scheduled field inspections for crop or livestock analysis, and a multitude of other applications waiting to be explored.

            This is a pivotal moment for the company, after working with the FAA for the last 4 years to test and prove their system can meet regulatory and operational requirements (). American Robotics has been able to prove to the FAA that their Scout System can integrate seamlessly and safely with the National Airspace System and conduct operations with little risk to manned aviators.