Krakul, an Estonian developer of IoT and autonomous systems, is partnering with Latvian company Aerones to develop a prototype device that detects open circuits in wind turbine lightning protection systems. This development is funded by a €80,000 grant from the European Union’s “Silicon Eurocluster” project.
The “Silicon Eurocluster” initiative aims to strengthen micro- and nanoelectronics sectors in Europe and promote environmentally friendly, sustainable, and digital solutions. Krakul teamed up with Latvian company Aerones, known for developing wind turbine maintenance robots, in a competition. In October, 12 projects were selected from 61 European consortia, each of which will receive €80 000 for development.
Kristjan Tozen, the CEO of Krakul, stated that the collaboration began following an initiative by Aerones, which was seeking a development partner. “Krakul’s engineering team impressed us, especially with their work on the ESTCube-1 Estonian satellite project,” commented Lauma Blūmentāle, Aerones’ project manager.
For Krakul, which has realized over 100 smart product development projects, the decision to join was straightforward. “Aerones is an exciting company in an important sector, and the work is intriguing for our engineers,” added Tozen.
The Estonian-Latvian joint project aims to develop a device that can detect open circuits in lightning protection systems with 500 mm accuracy using radio communication technology. The completed prototype will be tested, validated, and demonstrated in a working environment, enabling efficient repair of wind turbine rotor blades and potentially benefiting other industries using lightning protection systems. The development process focuses on environmental sustainability and component recyclability.
Krakul’s role in the project involves preparing the prototype’s test plan, conducting accuracy tests for fault detection, and ensuring compliance with European Union standards. The project is expected to conclude by June 2024.
Following the solution’s validation, Tozen indicated that the Latvian partner plans to launch the developed system in the market. Aerones, a world leader in robot-based maintenance and inspection services for wind turbines, currently serves over 50% of the global wind turbine market. “The new solution will not only strengthen Aerones’ position in the field but will also allow them to cover an even broader spectrum of tasks in wind turbine maintenance,” said Tozen.
Both Latvian and Estonian teams are optimistic about future collaborations. Blūmentāle found the partnership with Krakul’s development team very productive and is open to future joint projects. Tozen echoes this sentiment, adding, “Continuous innovation is in the DNA of both companies. I believe we can support Aerones with our engineering expertise in future projects as well.”
The ‘Silicon Eurocluster’ project was born last year to contribute to the maintenance of European leadership in the fields of microelectronics, components, and systems. The EU-funded project aims to place Europe in a leading position in development and production of Micro- and Nanoelectronics by harnessing the teamwork of existing high-potential clusters in Austria, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. The project ambitions provide direct support to SMEs with funding, to support them in new projects, internationalization, innovation, networking, and training. The project will run until February 2025 and has a budget of more than 1.5 million euros with funding of about 1.4 million coming from the European Union. 1.05 million will be addressed to financially support European Small and Medium Enterprises.
Krakul, a subsidiary of Bercman Technologies, which is listed on Nasdaq Baltic First North, stands out as a leading Estonian developer specializing in IoT and autonomous systems. The company excels in delivering end-to-end product solutions, encompassing everything from the initial concept stage to the creation of prototypes, and further advancing from prototype development to full-scale production. Krakul’s role as a development partner is bolstered by its vast and varied expertise, enabling it to aid various companies in crafting innovative IoT solutions. Additionally, Krakul offers a suite of services including product certification, manufacturing support, and expert consultations.
Aerones is a world-leading robot-enabled wind turbine maintenance and inspection service provider from Latvia. Leveraging patented robotics technology, Aerones service teams deliver faster, safer and more effective services for wind operators worldwide. The innovations that Aerones delivers to the wind industry promote intelligent predictive maintenance of wind turbine blades and towers, helping to maximise the efficiency of wind assets and lower operating costs. Aerones serves customers that represent over 50 per cent of the world’s wind power capacity, including leading operators such as NextEra, GE, Vestas, Enel and Siemens Gamesa.