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20 unmanned systems inside April/May 2016 AIR INSPECTION said. That erosion hampers the blade's aero- dynamics, affecting the capability of the blade to turn and generate electricity; ultimately the wear and tear could lead to structural issues. "It's all about the efficiency of the turbine," Glenn said. "Over time, damage occurs and the blades don't perform at peak ability. Every drop in performance translates into a drop in dollars. Maintenance helps ensure owners get optimal performance out of each turbine. They can see if something is broken off or why turbine 23 isn't performing the way it did last year." Even small cracks, if not addressed, eventu- ally could be fatal for a blade, Peck said. UAS make it possible for owners to find analomies they normally wouldn't be able to see and to fix problems while they're still manageable. "You have to keep blades healthy. You have to repair them and this is a good way to look at those blades," Peck said. "If a blade were to break in high winds, it could take down the whole tur- bine—which is a $2 million replacement." Managing the Data One of the biggest challenges facing UAS manu- facturers and wind farm owners is managing and interpreting the data that's collected, said Chris Shroyer, president of EdgeData. During an inspection a drone typically takes 1,600 photos of each turbine—and looking through all those pho- tos can be time consuming, even overwhelming. Through the partnership with UND and other companies, EdgeData is working to de- velop a software platform and process to help owners manage the data and integrate UAS in- spection into their operations and maintenance program, Shroyer said. "Management of the data and the informa- tion is critical," he said. "We need to understand what images they need, how to capture those images and to make sure we're delivering data that's valuable. The drone takes a picture every four seconds and then stitches those images into a single image of each blade. Users can Photos courtesy of Strat Aero, ING Robotic Aviation and AAIR Damage on a wind turbine found but a Strat Aero inspection. The Responder from ING Robotic Aviation performing an inspection. "YOU HAVE TO KEEP BLADES HEALTHY. You have to repair them and this is a good way to look at those blades. If a blade were to break in high winds, it could take down the whole turbine— which is a $2 million replacement." Russ Peck, director of Worldwide Inspection Services for Strat Aero