Ørsted says it’s now the world’s first offshore wind company to use autonomous giant drones to transport cargo to turbines.
Ørsted is trialing the 128-pound (58 kg) drones at the UK’s Hornsea 1 offshore wind farm. They have a wingspan of 8.5 feet (2.6 meters) and can transport cargo weighing up to 150 pounds (68 kg).
The cargo is contained in an orange bag, and then it’s attached to the drone using a long cord, so the bag hangs far beneath the drone. The drone flies through the air with the cargo, places it on a wind turbine’s platform high in the air, and then releases the long cord along with the bag.
Ørsted said delivering cargo to Hornsea 1 using these drones will reduce costs and save time and also improve operational safety and efficiency. The drones minimize the need for multiple journeys by ship, reducing emissions, and it also means…