Review on the Advancements in Wind Turbine Blade Inspection: Integrating Drone and Deep Learning Technologies for Enhanced Defect Detection

The increasing demand for wind power requires more frequent inspections to identify defects in the Wind Turbine Blades (WTBs). These defects, if not detected, can compromise the structural integrity and safety of wind turbines. As WTBs are crucial and costly components, they may suffer material degradation and fatigue failure, which affects their performance and safety. Thus, the urgency for efficient and regular monitoring to maintain their structural integrity is greater than ever. This review paper explores innovative methods in fatigue testing, damage detection, and structural reliability in WTBs, focusing on the use of recent inspection methods, including those that take advantage of drones. Drones are…