On-Site Inspection by Pilot
We have qualified legal qualifications and experience in applying for no-fly zones and executing flight missions, and we ensure that we obtain permission from the competent authorities and comply with the relevant operating regulations before the operation. According to the site information form filled out by the customer, we will send a professional pilot with a professional license to the site with drone equipment and a sunshine meter for inspection. The standardized process is carried out under the conditions of sufficient sunlight (>600 W/m²), normal system power generation, no serious dirt on the module surface, and notification of the owner. All the drones used are insured against liability and fly automatically. Upon completion of the mission, the pilot will submit the data through the data upload function of the IRUAV APP.
AI Analysis and Expert Verification
We have accumulated extensive thermal imaging inspection experience across various types of PV systems, collecting large volumes of outdoor IR and RGB data to build a comprehensive defect-classification and annotation database. Our current AI model achieves an average accuracy rate exceeding 90% and has been fully integrated into the IRUAV Analysis software. After AI processing, all results undergo expert review to ensure nearly 100% accuracy. As PV module technologies continue to advance and installation environments grow increasingly diverse, only a continuously evolving AI model combined with expert verification can maintain highly reliable inspection quality across different plants. Please refer to the video: https://youtu.be/bQzb-CHEumc .
Cloud Visualization System
We have also developed the IRUAV APP, a cloud-based visualization system that allows customers to easily view and manage inspection results. The platform stores and presents aerial thermal-imaging data and supports one-click automatic report generation, significantly enhancing the value of drone inspections. IRUAV APP is accessible on both desktop and mobile devices. With its search function, users can quickly locate specific sites. The system maps classified thermal anomalies onto their corresponding module positions on the orthophoto, enabling O&M teams to identify abnormal modules quickly and accurately in the field. The historical comparison feature functions like a “health check” for each PV system, making anomaly trends and improvement results immediately clear. In addition, the maintenance log records corrective actions, allowing companies to effectively manage large solar portfolios while meeting the transparency and disclosure requirements of ESG governance.
Module Power Measurement
According to the characteristics of silicon solar modules, the output power will change by 0.4~0.5% for every 1℃ change in temperature. In order to uniformly evaluate the module's power generation performance, the IEC formulated Standard Test Conditions (STC), including: module temperature of 25°C, illuminance of 1000 W/m², and AM1.5 standard spectra, and the power test was conducted by the laboratory in this environment. When system power generation is lower than expected in the field and no significant thermal defects are found in the thermal image blanks, it is recommended that a selection of modules from the field be sent to the lab for STC power testing to confirm the presence of abnormal cell degradation (e.g., LeTID, UVID). This practice can help to rule out hidden problems and provide an important basis for power plant performance diagnosis.
EL Measurement
PV modules installed outdoors in large quantities are difficult to assess visually, making it challenging to determine whether internal damage has occurred. When thermal UAV inspections reveal that a certain proportion of modules exhibit hot spots, a selected sample can be sent to a laboratory for EL (Electroluminescence) testing. EL testing utilizes the electroluminescent characteristics of PV cells under electrical excitation: the more defects present, the weaker the emitted light. Issues such as cell fractures, micro-cracks, broken ribbons, or other imperfections become clearly visible in EL images. The pattern and distribution of these defects also help determine the root cause of the abnormality. Compared with outdoor testing tools, laboratory EL reports offer significantly higher reliability and consistency. They are widely recognized in the industry, especially when identifying module quality issues.
Dry and Wet Insulation Measurement
The operating voltage of a solar PV system typically reaches 1000–1500V, and this high voltage is present throughout the system’s conductors. When the insulation materials of PV modules, such as the backsheet or EVA deteriorate due to aging, leakage current may occur, potentially causing inverter tripping or posing electric shock hazards to O&M personnel. To assess the dielectric strength of module insulation under high voltage, laboratory dry/wet insulation current testing can be performed. The test applies 1000V plus twice the system’s rated voltage between the module’s junction box terminals and the aluminum frame, measuring leakage current and calculating insulation resistance. If the measured insulation resistance falls below 40 MΩ per square meter, it indicates possible degradation of the module’s insulation performance or materials. Such conditions require close monitoring, as they may impact system safety and overall power generation efficiency.
Multi-functional Drones
The PV system will continue to generate electricity when there is sufficient sunlight. In case of a fire, the high voltage environment may cause serious harm to firefighters and maintenance technicians. In recent years, Taiwan manufacturers have gradually acquired the R&D capability of key drone module such as flight control system, communication system, RTK module, thermal camera, motor and batteries, etc. On this basis, we have invested in the feasibility study of a combined solar inspection and fire-fighting drone. This multi-functional drone can perform solar inspection during normal times to help identify abnormal factors affecting the efficiency and safety of PV system, while in emergency situations, it can accurately deliver dry powder fire extinguishing balls, providing a safe and effective fire-fighting assistance program, please refer to the video : https://youtu.be/oyk1dul_KUE .
DJI Enterprise Drones
DJI is a world leader in flight control systems, aerial photography carrier design, multi-axis gimbals, and high-resolution image transmission technology, and its products are widely used in aerial photography, film production, surveying and mapping, firefighting, rescue, and energy inspection, making it a top brand in the global drone industry. The IRUAV platform has successfully validated the compatibility of a number of DJI enterprise models for inspection, including the Mavic 3T, Matrice 30T, Matrice 350 RTK + H20T, and Matrice 4T, ensuring a stable and reliable inspection process. We also sell the above compatible models and provide after-service and professional pilot training programs to help customers quickly build up a complete inspection capability.
Pilot Training Programs
The data collected by the pilot directly determines the accuracy of the inspection result, thus it is a highly professional job. Based on the IEC 62446-3 technical document as the core theoretical foundation, this course systematically explains how to utilize platform-compatible industrial drones and IRUAV APP to complete a set of standardized thermal image aerial photography process for PV systems. The course is both theoretical and practical, covering three main topics: (1) the principle of thermal image aerial photography and operational notes, (2) the key points of industrial drone operation and related regulations, and (3) the practical operation of the IRUAV APP (the uploading function of the pilot's data). The complete course includes 3 hours of online training and 2 hours of outdoor practical training to help pilots build up a complete inspection capability from theory to practice.
