Buyeo Drone Education Center

High-Rise Structure NDT

  • Non-destructive Inspection

  • Next-Generation NDT Solution for High-Rise Structures
  • Dual-Drone Autonomous X-ray Control Platform
  • This system is an NDT (Non-Destructive Testing) control solution that safely and precisely diagnoses internal defects in wind turbine blades and, beyond them, in all kinds of high-rise structures, including bridges, steel towers and large plants. Through an autonomous formation flight system in which two drones (one carrying an X-ray generator, the other a detector) work in tandem, it replaces high-risk, high-cost traditional inspection methods and offers a next-generation approach to safety diagnostics controlled from the ground.
Two inspection drones hovering face to face on either side of a wind turbine structure: one emits X-rays while the other, opposite, receives them

Why It Matters

Threats to your assets begin where you cannot see them.

Critical damage to wind turbine blades and large high-rise structures (bond-line debonding, delamination, internal cracks and more) starts inside the structure. Surface optical imaging alone cannot detect it early, and seeing inside has meant workers hanging from ropes or large cranes being brought in.

Because of these heavy risk costs and the downtime involved, most sites have inspected only to a limited extent, “when the budget allows” rather than “when truly necessary.” Our platform overcomes these limits through technology, enabling continuous, precise Structural Health Monitoring.

A Paradigm Shift

Conventional methods compared with the smart autonomous NDT platform.

Two people standing at a mobile control console on level ground at the foot of a wind farm, conducting an inspection entirely from the ground without climbing the structure
CategoryConventional Method (Rope Access / Platforms)Smart Autonomous NDT SystemBusiness Impact
Worker PositionOn the high-rise structure (high-risk exposure)Ground-controlledReduced Risk of Serious Accidents
Personnel RequiredSpecialist rope team + equipment support staff1 operator, 1 inspectorLower labor and operating costs
PreparationCrane rental, access road preparation, rope installationMinimal take-off space and pre-flight checksMinimal inspection lead time
Changing TargetsMust descend to the ground and climb againClick the target on the control screen (one touch)Consecutive inspection of multiple targets for maximum efficiency
Resuming WorkRestart from the beginning after any interruptionResume immediately from the saved stop coordinatesGreater resilience to variables such as bad weather
Data RepeatabilityRelies on the worker’s judgment (same position cannot be tracked)Precise revisits based on 3D mapping coordinatesTime-series condition tracking at 6-month and 1-year intervals, enabling predictive maintenance

How It Works

Instead of relying on pre-loaded drawings (CAD), the system interprets the structure’s 3D spatial information on site in real time to carry out the mission.

  1. 01

    Real-Time 3D Spatial Scanning Digital Twin

    After take-off, a Lidar sensor measures the actual shape of the structure (rotor, blade planes, etc.) and maps it in 3D. No drawing data is required.

  2. 02

    Intelligent Targeting & Approach Targeting

    When the operator designates a target, the system automatically calculates its surface normal (Normal vector) and approaches the inspection zone at the optimal safe approach speed (0.5m/s).

  3. 03

    Ultra-Precise Formation Hovering Dual-Flight Alignment

    The two drones hold a face-to-face position on either side of the structure (Source–Detector) while following its surface.

  4. 04

    Imaging Geometry Alignment Monitoring Geometry Index

    The geometric alignment between the two aircraft for X-ray transmission is visualized in real time as an index from 0 to 1. Inspectors can see small deviations caused by wind and capture images at the optimal moment.

  5. 05

    Coordinate Logging & Return Coordinated Return

    Every inspection position is recorded as a 3D coordinate before the drones return automatically, so the same position can be re-inspected later.

Uncompromising Safety

Multi-layer safety protocols protect high-value equipment and the safety of industrial sites.

  • Hardware Geofencing Minimum Standoff Distance

    The system enforces a hard limit that prevents entry within a 3 m radius of the structure under any circumstances.

  • Real-Time Dynamic Anomaly Detection Dynamic Anomaly

    If the blade rotates or vibrates even slightly, the drones immediately retreat to a safe distance and await the operator’s decision.

  • 3-Stage Collision Avoidance Algorithm Collision Avoidance

    Even if communication is lost, onboard sensors alone detect surrounding obstacles, and the drones return autonomously after a three-stage avoidance maneuver.

  • Power, Take-off & Landing Management Power & Sequencing

    A warning is issued at 30% battery and an immediate return command is triggered at 20% (with a 2-minute flight reserve). To prevent collisions between aircraft, take-off, landing and target approach are sequenced.

Strengths of the Integrated Control System

  • Equipment Neutrality Hardware Agnostic

    Not tied to any specific NDT equipment. X-ray and other diagnostic equipment you already operate can be mounted on the drones and used as is.

  • Independent Closed-Network Operation Air-Gapped

    Runs solely on a standalone on-site control system with no internet connection or external cloud, improving security and stability.

  • Reproducible Records Time-series Tracking

    Intuitive records such as “Blade 3, 12 m from the tip” are linked to precise coordinates. Months later, the drones can fly back to exactly the same position to track how a defect has progressed.

  • Digital Twin Simulation Pre-Rehearsal

    Before the real aircraft take off, the entire mission is rehearsed in a simulator that replicates the control software environment, eliminating field variables in advance.

System Configuration & Specifications

Air — Autonomous Flight Unit

Drone formation (minimum of 2, expandable to 4 or more)

Onboard modules: high-performance onboard AI computer, 3-channel Lidar, dual IMU, RTK satellite navigation system, next-generation flight controller (FC)

Ground — Control Unit

Formation flight control computer, inspection and data control computer

Mission, asset and operator UI

Supported Structures
Wind turbines (3-blade Y-type, 2-blade vertical type) and various large high-rise structures
Operating Range
Observation distance 50–200 m · standoff 10 m · default inspection distance 5 m (3 m safety minimum enforced)
Harsh-Environment Control
Max. operating wind speed 12m/s
Data Processing Performance
Standoff distance calculation 20Hz or higher · 3D point cloud processing 6Hz · real-time rendering 30Hz

These figures are design reference values and can be optimized for your site conditions and the specifications of the NDT equipment mounted.

Inspection Software WTBLADE

Flight and inspection run within a single software package. Mission planning, formation availability checks, control and safety assessment, sensor calibration and diagnostics, and report review all take place within the same interface.

Screen List
Operational Overview Note: Screen data shown is for illustration only
01Operational Overview

View ongoing inspection missions and drone status at a glance.

Screen List
Operations Cockpit Note: Screen data shown is for illustration only
02Operations Cockpit
Screen List
Mission History Note: Screen data shown is for illustration only
03Mission History

Look up completed missions by status and wind turbine.

Screen List
Formation Availability Note: Screen data shown is for illustration only
04Formation Availability

Check the availability of both drones required for an inspection mission.

Screen List
Formation Monitoring Note: Screen data shown is for illustration only
05Formation Monitoring

Diagnose registered drones through in-depth comparison of real-time telemetry, and check formation status at a glance.

Screen List
Domain Reports Note: Screen data shown is for illustration only
06Domain Reports

Select a domain to view its reports. (Read-only)

Screen List
Sensor Monitoring Note: Screen data shown is for illustration only
07Sensor Monitoring
Screen List
Sensor Calibration Note: Screen data shown is for illustration only
08Sensor Calibration

We go beyond the limits of high-rise structure safety assessment.

Tell us the equipment type and scale of the site you want assessed, and we will provide a tailored operating scenario and deployment consulting optimized for your business environment.

Contact Us

Zero-Downtime Wind Turbine Inspection

  • Wind Turbine Inspection

  • D-AIR OIS Zero-Downtime Exterior Inspection System
  • An innovative “zero-downtime exterior inspection system” that detects defects on the rotating blades of operating wind turbines without stopping them, and delivers detailed inspection reports based on the findings.
  • D-AIR OIS captures detailed exterior images while the turbine keeps running, preventing the large loss of generation revenue caused by stopping the turbine. Because it determines blade geometry directly from the ground, it can be deployed on site immediately without the manufacturer’s design drawings. And instead of relying on the eyes or memory of workers, an intelligent system automatically tracks the entire imaging area, securing inspection coverage with minimal blind spots.

Why D-AIR OIS

A site where a drone captures images of an operating wind turbine from the air while ground-based tracking equipment follows its rotation A site where a drone inspects an operating wind turbine from the air while ground tracking equipment receives the data
Strengths

An Innovative Zero-Downtime Blade Inspection Solution

Conventional wind turbine inspection presupposes stopping the turbine, and the generation revenue lost while it is stopped far exceeds the cost of the inspection itself.

D-AIR OIS, by contrast, uses advanced technology that follows the rotor’s path while it keeps turning to capture inspection data. You no longer need to accept downtime, and can reduce revenue loss through uninterrupted operation.

Stop and Inspect Inspect While Running Time Time Lost Generation Revenue Inspection Window Power Output Power Output — Uninterrupted
Strengths

Coverage Management That Replaces Human Memory

The most dangerous failure in inspection is not a “misjudgment” but an “omission.” If any area has not been examined at all, you cannot be sure it is free of defects. D-AIR OIS does not rely on the senses or memory of workers. The system manages a grid ledger that divides the entire blade surface into small cells, finds any cells that were missed and automatically orders them to be re-shot. No report is issued until every cell is filled, which serves as evidence of an inspection with no omissions.

Missed cell No report is issued until every cell is filled Blade Surface Grid Ledger
Strengths

Inspection That Starts Without Drawings or Third-Party Cooperation

Most existing inspection systems operate on the basis of blade design drawings. As a result, power producers that do not hold the drawings themselves have faced the procedural hurdle of seeking the manufacturer’s cooperation from the very first stage of deployment.

D-AIR OIS, by contrast, is an innovative solution in which ground-based equipment scans the rotating blades directly and determines their geometry on its own. Inspection can therefore begin on site immediately, without prior design data or third-party cooperation.

Strengths

Ultra-Precise Defect Localization That Accounts for Blade Deformation Under Wind Pressure

Operating blades inevitably bend under wind pressure. If the blade is assumed to be a rigid body with no bending, as in conventional inspection methods, the error relative to the actual defect position grows toward the blade tip.

To overcome this limitation, the system accurately analyzes and accounts for the blade’s real-time bending. As a result, it pinpoints damage precisely even at the blade tip, where defects occur most often.

Tip Error Actual — bent by the wind Position assumed as a rigid body Toward the tip, the actual defect position drifts further off — the system tracks that deformation in real time
Strengths

Intuitive Maintenance Support Through Defect Reporting by Risk Level

The system does not simply list the defects it finds; it classifies and reports them systematically by risk level. This priority-based listing prevents “critical defects” that require immediate action from being overlooked among numerous ordinary defects, and enables efficient maintenance work.

Strengths

Data Reliability with Flight Safety as the Top Priority

When adopting zero-downtime inspection, customers are most concerned about the risk of collision when flying near a rotating body, and about data confusion, with the location information of countless images getting mixed up.

The system controls the drone’s flight path geometrically, blocking entry into the blades’ rotation radius and lowering the risk of accidents. Every image collected is also given an accurate location tag through a rigorous verification process. The system proactively rejects any data that is even slightly ambiguous or suspected of error, and keeps only information whose integrity has been proven, giving you a reliable final inspection report.

Inspection Software

It does not end with image capture. Everything from registering inspection targets to flight control, coverage checks, defect review and report delivery happens in one place.

Screen List
Inspection Status at a Glance Note: Screen data shown is for illustration only
01Inspection Status at a Glance

The first screen shows registered turbines, the cumulative number of inspection rounds, work not yet started and defects still awaiting verification.

Screen List
Turbine & Blade Register Note: Screen data shown is for illustration only
02Turbine & Blade Register

Once turbines and blade geometry are registered for each wind farm, subsequent inspection rounds build up against the same baseline.

Screen List
Pre-Inspection Tracking Accuracy Check Note: Screen data shown is for illustration only
03Pre-Inspection Tracking Accuracy Check

The alignment of the ground tracking equipment is checked first. If the error exceeds the threshold, the inspection does not start.

Screen List
Flight Control & Fault Response Note: Screen data shown is for illustration only
04Flight Control & Fault Response

Operators watch the drone video and rotation tracking status and mark sections to re-shoot on the spot. If communication is lost, captured images are preserved while safety preconditions are rechecked before recovery.

Screen List
Imaging Coverage Check Note: Screen data shown is for illustration only
05Imaging Coverage Check

Each blade is divided into the leading edge, trailing edge, pressure side and suction side, and imaging coverage is checked for each radial section. For an interrupted session, the remaining sections are clearly shown.

Screen List
Defect Review Note: Screen data shown is for illustration only
06Defect Review

Defects found on each blade are reviewed together with their locations, and false detections are rejected while being kept on record.

Screen List
Defect Confirmation & Report Delivery Note: Screen data shown is for illustration only
07Defect Confirmation & Report Delivery

Only verified defects go into the report, which is delivered together with the blade reconstruction outputs.

Screen List
Open Item Management Note: Screen data shown is for illustration only
08Open Item Management

Items that need re-inspection or still await verification are gathered in a single list.

Screen List
Inspection History Audit Trail Note: Screen data shown is for illustration only
09Inspection History Audit Trail

Every status change from image capture to delivery is recorded with its time and reason, and cannot be deleted.

Autonomous Agent Drone Dock

The need to visit in person for peace of mind · blind spots you cannot see · unnecessary staffing —
D-AIR addresses all of these on-site problems.
We inspect hazardous places on your behalf, record the site around the clock and report only the results.
You can reduce unnecessary call-outs and risk exposure, and raise your standard of management.
Wherever you are, your site remains under control.

Construction Site Safety & Asset Monitoring

Is it difficult to check a large site in person? Safety with fewer blind spots, accurate progress tracking and careful asset monitoring can all be managed from your office.

River Facility & Environmental Monitoring

In place of hazardous river patrols, we monitor and report on extensive facilities and environmental changes. You can reduce the time and staffing burden and ease concerns about the site from your office.

An industrial multirotor flying over an automatic charging dock at a petrochemical plant site

Industrial Facility Safety & Asset Monitoring

Without blind spots across large sites, hazardous facility inspections or unnecessary use of staff, you can reduce the risk of serious accidents and check the condition of extensive site assets from your office.

Civil Engineering Site Safety, Asset & Construction Monitoring

Blind spots across endless civil engineering sites, frequent patrols and worry about accidents. You can reduce the burden of travelling to and from the site, and manage everything from construction to assets at a glance from your office.

A closed white drone charging dock at the edge of a cabbage field, with an industrial multirotor flying over the field

Forest & Crop Ecological Monitoring

Endless forests and fields are hard to inspect on foot, and there is a risk of missing the spread of pests and diseases or the right time for pest control. We support regular tracking of wide-ranging ecological changes, so that warning signs can be detected and addressed in good time.

How We Deliver 24/7 Unmanned Monitoring

  1. 1 Autonomous Agent Drones Stationed 24/7
  2. 2 Autonomous Mission Planning
Mobile Dock
01Mobile Dock

Dock mounted on a mobile trailer for rapid demonstrations

  1. 3 Mission Ready
  2. 4 Recurring · Scheduled · Remote · Sensor-Triggered Launch
  3. 5 Autonomous Missions · Data CollectionAnomaly Detection · Real-Time Reporting
  4. 6 Automatic Return · Landing
  5. 7 3-Minute Automatic Battery Swap
  6. 8 Data Transfer · Reporting
Anomaly Detection Monitoring Reporting 24/7 Continuous Always-On Unmanned Remote Sites Recurring On-Demand Auto-Repeat Scheduling
Image in preparationComing soon
Remote, unmanned 24/7 monitoring

D'STATION-M3A Specifications

Supported AircraftDJI M3E / M3T series
Dimensions (mm)(min.) ≤1015×1365×735 / (max.) ≤1015×2085×735
Weight≤160 kg
Material304 stainless steel · aluminum alloy
SensorsWind speed / temperature / humidity / rainfall
Safety DevicesOverload · residual-current protection (30mA)
Power Consumption(typical) ≤350W / (max.) 1,500W
Input Voltage220V AC 50~60Hz
Operating Temperature−20°C ~ 55°C

D-AIR

D-AIR Co., Ltd.  |  CEO Jeong Yeong-seok  |  Business Registration No. 415-87-02399
Rooms 220–221, Dowon Sangga Bldg., 216 Munhwa-ro, Naju-si, Jeollanam-do, Republic of Korea
Phone 061w8j6-33pr1-3mt643c02  |  Email da5c9hirbaux64028h@crpnab3dever5j.coioem
COPYRIGHT © D-AIR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.