As the global renewable energy market continues to expand, the need for enhanced safety, power generation efficiency, and long-term operation and maintenance (O&M) of solar power systems has become increasingly important. IRUAV Technology Co., Ltd. announced its participation in the Fukuoka IST R&D Program, led by Japan's System-JD, in collaboration with Kyushu University, Kita Nihon Skytech Co., Ltd., and beadspark. Together, the partners will conduct a feasibility study on a High-Precision Solar O&M Platform Integrating Electrical Diagnostics and Drone-Based Imaging Diagnostics. The project has been selected for the Fukuoka IST R&D Commissioned Program, demonstrating strong recognition from Japan's industry, academia, and public sectors of IRUAV's capabilities in drone inspection, AI-powered thermal analysis, and smart O&M platforms. The collaboration aims to develop a next-generation Smart Solar O&M platform that enhances fault detection accuracy, operational efficiency, and asset management capabilities for solar power plants, accelerating the adoption of intelligent energy technologies across Japan and Asia.

This project will combine IRUAV’s technological strengths in automated drone inspections, AI-powered thermal image analysis, and cloud-based management platforms with the SOKODES GF electrical diagnostic system developed by System JD. Together, these technologies will establish an integrated intelligent Operation & Maintenance (O&M) platform that covers the entire workflow—from anomaly detection, root cause identification, and priority assessment to maintenance recommendations and historical asset record management.

IRUAV stated that current photovoltaic inspection practices worldwide still focus primarily on thermal image anomaly detection. However, fault cause identification, maintenance priority analysis, and follow-up management continue to rely heavily on human experience. Through this collaboration project, integrated technologies including AI analysis, expert review, and electrical diagnostics will be introduced to enhance the operational efficiency and safety of photovoltaic system O&M.

According to the project scope, IRUAV will be responsible for drone inspection data analysis, cloud platform development, and requirements definition. The company will also collaborate with project partners to study the integration of imaging data, electrical diagnostic data, and cloud-based information, enabling a unified and intelligent solar asset management solution.

This research will also address the needs of the Japanese market by developing requirements for multilingual reports, customized reporting formats, asset management, and insurance-related applications. In addition, future SaaS deployment and international market expansion strategies will be planned.

IRUAV pointed out that the future of smart solar O&M will go beyond simply “detecting anomalies.” Instead, it will evolve toward “rapid cause identification, reduction of power generation losses, enhancement of safety, and the establishment of long-term asset management mechanisms.” Through the integration of AI, drone technologies, and electrical diagnostics, a new generation of high value-added smart energy O&M service models can be realized.

In addition, IRUAV is also promoting a feasibility study on a “hybrid drone for solar inspection and firefighting applications.” The project aims to integrate thermal imaging recognition, autonomous flight control, and firefighting support technologies, enabling the drone to perform solar power inspections during normal operations and assist firefighting and safety applications during emergencies, thereby enhancing the resilience and safety of green energy infrastructure.

IRUAV stated that it will continue to strengthen collaboration with partners in Japan and around the world to advance AI-powered smart energy management, autonomous drone inspection technologies, and cloud-based SaaS platform development, helping the global photovoltaic industry move toward a safer, smarter, and more efficient future.

About IRUAV

IRUAV is a SaaS platform company specializing in Smart Solar O&M solutions. By integrating drone inspection, AI-based thermal image analysis, expert review, and cloud management platforms, IRUAV provides a one-stop solution for photovoltaic sites covering inspection, analysis, reporting, and operation & maintenance management. IRUAV APP supports multilingual and international deployment needs while continuously advancing smart energy management and ESG-related applications.