For solar owners and O&M teams, control.io runs drone thermal and RGB inspections of PV plants. Anomalies are classified in the style of IEC TS 62446-3, each one is geo-tagged to its module, and the result is a ranked defect list and PDF report your field crew can work through row by row.
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Problems and answers
Thermal and RGB drone inspection of solar farms, with every anomaly pinned to a module.
- 01
The problem
Walking a large plant with a handheld camera takes days.
With control.io
A drone covers the array in a fraction of the time under consistent irradiance.
- 02
The problem
Thermal images alone are hard to act on.
With control.io
Each anomaly is paired with an RGB image and a module position on the map.
- 03
The problem
Warranty claims need documented evidence of module defects.
With control.io
Reports record the anomaly class, temperature difference and conditions at capture.
Deliverables
- Radiometric thermal and RGB imagery of the full array
- Anomaly classification: hot cells, bypass diodes, open strings, soiling, shading
- Geo-tagged per-module defect map
- Prioritised PDF report for O&M
- Year-on-year comparison of repeat inspections
What solar defects can a drone thermal inspection find?
Hot-spots from cracked or damaged cells, active bypass diodes, disconnected modules and strings, soiling and bird droppings, vegetation shading and some junction-box faults.
What conditions are needed for a thermal PV inspection?
Clear sky and sufficient irradiance on the module plane (IEC TS 62446-3 calls for at least 600 W/m²), low wind and the plant operating under load.
Do you inspect rooftop systems as well as ground-mount farms?
Yes, where airspace and roof access allow a safe flight. Ground-mount plants are the most common case.