Lightning-protection testing
checked 1 Sep 2026
Wind
Task maturity · five steps · every value is an analyst assessment| Task | Maturity | Dominant approach | Vendors | Deployed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blade visual inspection | Mature | Drone-based | 3 | 1 |
| Tower and nacelle inspection | Scaling | Drone-based | ||
| Blade cleaning | Early commercial | Rope/cable-suspended robot | 1 | |
| Lightning-protection testing | Early commercial | Rope/cable-suspended robot | 1 | |
| Blade repair | Pilot | Rope/cable-suspended robot | 3 | |
| Contact NDT | Pilot | Blade crawler |
Lightning-protection testing
Early commercialVerifying continuity of the blade lightning protection system between receptors and the tower ground path.
Aerones sells robotic LPS continuity testing commercially and it is a natural add-on for any suspended platform already on the blade. Volume is limited by how often owners test, which is annual at most, so it will follow cleaning rather than lead it.
What happens today
The incumbent process
Technician continuity measurement from rope access or platform.
The test itself is simple; the cost is entirely access.
How do robots attack it
Robotics approaches
Rope/cable-suspended robotEarly commercial
A robot lowered from the nacelle on ropes or cables and positioned against the blade for cleaning, coating, testing and repair.
Who is doing it
Vendors and deployments
vendorsAerones
Who buys it
Target customers
Asset owners and operators
Owners carry the insurance obligation to test.