Optical Bird and Bat Detection for Targeted Turbine Curtailment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for mitigating the risk posed by wind turbines to birds and bats are inefficient, often leading to unnecessary curtailment of wind turbine operations and high capital costs, as they cannot specifically identify protected species and may overreact to potential threats.
Innovation Solution
An automated system using optical imaging technology with sensors and controllers to identify protected species like Golden Eagles or Bald Eagles at a safe distance, allowing for targeted curtailment or deployment of deterrents to mitigate risk effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing mitigation methods curtail wind turbine operation when birds or bats are detected, then risk to protected species is reduced, but energy production and revenue are lost due to unnecessary curtailment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical detection methods (acoustic sensors, radar) with optical imaging technology (cameras) to detect and identify birds and bats. This substitution enables visual confirmation of species identity, allowing operators to distinguish between protected and non-protected species, thereby reducing unnecessary curtailment while maintaining effective risk mitigation for protected species.
2Device complexity
If existing mitigation methods cannot specifically identify protected species, then detection simplicity is maintained, but curtailment frequency increases leading to operational loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces simple detection methods with optical imaging technology that captures visual data of birds and bats. The imaging system provides detailed visual information including species-specific characteristics, enabling positive identification of protected species without requiring complex mechanical or electronic identification systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates visual copies (images) of birds and bats using cameras. These images serve as records that can be analyzed to identify species characteristics, providing a replicable method for species identification that maintains detection simplicity while enabling accurate distinction between protected and non-protected species.
3Measurement precision
If existing mitigation methods use high capital cost systems, then detection capability is improved, but investment requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive mechanical detection systems (acoustic arrays, radar) with relatively inexpensive optical imaging technology. Standard digital cameras and image analysis software provide sufficient species identification accuracy at a fraction of the cost of alternative systems, making precise species identification economically viable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs relatively low-cost optical imaging equipment compared to alternative detection systems. The use of standard cameras and image processing techniques provides a cost-effective solution that achieves species identification accuracy without requiring expensive, specialized hardware or complex system infrastructure.
Data Source
AI summary
An automated system for mitigating risk from a wind turbine includes a plurality of optical imaging sensors. A controller receives and analyzes images from the optical imaging sensors to automatically send a signal to curtail operation of the wind turbine to a predetermined risk mitigating level when the controller determines from images received from the optical imaging sensors that an airborne animal is at risk from the wind turbine.