MHPS to Use Drones for Inspecting Power Plant Boilers

Mar 12, 2019 12:21 JST

Source: Mitsubishi Power

- Technology to Shorten Downtimes, Extend Period between Regular Inspections, and Allow for Quick and Appropriate Response to Emergencies -

- Demonstration testing for manually operated UAV completed, with service to be offered from April 2019
- Technology verification being conducted with autonomous UAV prototype, with practical application planned for fiscal 2020

YOKOHAMA, Japan, Mar 12, 2019 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Ltd. (MHPS) is putting into practical service unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to more easily and efficiently inspect the interiors of power plant boilers and other large indoor structures. Demonstration testing for manually operated drones was completed last year, and MHPS plans to begin offering the inspection service from April 2019.

Manually Operated Drone which completed Demonstration Testing

MHPS is also pursuing development of autonomous UAVs, together with research and development firm A.L.I. Technologies Inc. Basic technology verification tests were conducted using a prototype device, and were completed last year. MHPS' production of the device and practical application is planned for fiscal 2020. The aim is to facilitate shorter downtimes of facilities, longer periods between regular inspections, and a quick and appropriate response to emergencies.

Manually operated UAVs used to inspect the inside of power plant boilers and other structures, will utilize MHPS' collision and environment resistant technologies, and have been under development since fiscal 2016. The test demonstration in December of 2018 was conducted with the support of Mitsubishi Heavy Industry's Research & Innovation Center, and the use of actual test facilities and boilers.

Autonomous UAVs purposed for inspections, have been jointly developed by MHPS and A.L.I. Technologies since fiscal 2017, using multiple test boilers and mockups of actual boiler environments. Basic technology verification tests conducted in September of 2018 confirmed the capability for autonomous flight without using GPS or other satellite positioning systems. The practical application of UAVs using satellite positioning systems is already well advanced, but operational technologies in special environments, such as the inside of boilers, have yet to be established, making practical application a breakthrough technology. A.L.I. Technologies' business scope consists predominantly of drone-related applications and edge computing technologies.

MHPS, by developing drone-enabled power plant inspection technologies and providing advanced after-sales services for power generation facilities, will further enhance stable energy supplies and contribute to global economic development, while lessening the environmental load.

Contact:

Corporate Communication Department
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
Email: mediacontact_global@mhi.co.jp
Tel: +81-(0)3-6275-6278

Source: Mitsubishi Power
Sectors: Energy, Alternatives

Related Press Release

Mitsubishi Power Advances Bahrain's Industrial Growth with Completion of Alba's Power Station 5 Block 4 Combined Cycle Power Plant Project

February 19 2025 15:54 JST

Mitsubishi Power Secures Major Gas Turbine and Services Order for Al Wahda Open Cycle Gas Turbine Power Plant in Morocco

February 12 2025 15:21 JST

Mitsubishi Power Advances Thailand's Energy Development with Completion of 1,400MW Combined Cycle Hin Kong Power Plant

January 21 2025 15:24 JST

Mitsubishi Power Reinforces Commitment to Saudi Arabia's Sustainable Energy Future at Saudi Aramco's IKTVA Forum 2025

January 16 2025 15:56 JST

Sarawak Premier Makes Inaugural Visit to Mitsubishi Power's Takasago Hydrogen Park

December 24 2024 09:10 JST

Mitsubishi Power Receives Order for Facility Retrofit at the Darajat Geothermal Power Plant in Indonesia

October 28 2024 14:35 JST

Mitsubishi Power Completes Construction of 50MW Woody Biomass-fired Power Plant in Hyuga, Miyazaki Prefecture

October 16 2024 19:07 JST

Mitsubishi Power Completes Landmark 5,300MW Combined Cycle Power Plant Project in Thailand

October 09 2024 16:16 JST

Mitsubishi Power Secures Landmark Gas Turbine and Services Order in Saudi Arabia

August 26 2024 14:37 JST

Mitsubishi Power to Supply Technology to Support Brazil's Largest Reliability Project

May 31 2024 16:09 JST

More Press release >>

Latest Press Release

DENSO Acquires Axia Vegetable Seeds to Realize Sustainable Agriculture
Jul 04, 2025 16:20 JST

MHIET Launches 450kW Gas Cogeneration System Capable of Hydrogen Co-Firing
Jul 04, 2025 15:13 JST

Yachiyo Engineering and NEC launch adaptation finance study in Indonesia to calculate the adaptation value of disaster prevention measures
Jul 04, 2025 13:25 JST

Fujitsu to implement store monitoring solution for METRO Inc. in Canada, enhancing operational efficiency and policy compliance
Jul 04, 2025 13:19 JST

Fujitsu to develop ETF trading platform based on TSE's CONNEQTOR and provide it to Australian Securities Exchange
Jul 03, 2025 11:14 JST

Mitsubishi Motors Launches the All-New Grandis for the European Market
Jul 02, 2025 12:10 JST

Valuufy partners with Mainichi Future Creation Lab, Supporting New Approaches to Business Sustainability
Jul 02, 2025 12:00 JST

Fujitsu launches solution to enhance customers' global supply chain resilience
Jul 02, 2025 11:32 JST

MHI Receives Order to Supply Four Circulating Water Pumps for Units 5 and 6 of Sanmen Nuclear Power Plant in China Under Collaboration with Dongfang Electric Machinery
Jul 02, 2025 11:30 JST

Multi-purpose Arena in Odaiba Aomi Area TOYOTA ARENA TOKYO Construction Completed
Jul 01, 2025 22:56 JST

1Finity, a Fujitsu company, commences operations and reveals brand identity
Jul 01, 2025 22:53 JST

MHI Thermal Systems Begins Field Test of Jointly Developed "Surplus Renewable Energy Absorption and Release System"
Jul 01, 2025 22:40 JST

Japan's Telecommunications Carriers Strengthen Disaster Response Through Collaborative Information Sharing
Jul 01, 2025 22:30 JST

JCB and Mandai Wildlife Group Deepen Partnership with exclusive discounts for JCB cardmembers
Jul 01, 2025 16:00 JST

Fujitsu provides Japan's first AI-powered cloud-based library search service
Jul 01, 2025 11:30 JST

JCB Brings Apple Pay to Cardmembers in Vietnam
Jul 01, 2025 11:15 JST

First Shipment of LNG from the LNG Canada Project
Jul 01, 2025 11:00 JST

Approval in Principle (AiP) for World's First LCO2 / Methanol Carrier
Jun 30, 2025 20:30 JST

Acropolis Rally Greece: Day 4 Sunday success and second overall for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing's Ogier
Jun 30, 2025 20:15 JST

Mitsubishi Fuso-Hino Merger: 4 Firms Collaborate for the Future of Commercial Vehicles
Jun 30, 2025 20:10 JST

More Latest Release >>