Bladeranger (TASE: BLRN), a provider of services and solutions for the solar market, has successfully completed a Proof of Concept (PoC) project with German rail infrastructure company DB InfraGO AG, a wholly owned subsidiary of national railway company Deutsche Bahn.
As part of the project, drone payload solutions designed for cleaning solar panels in complex areas – a solution developed by Solar Drone, which was recently integrated into the company – have proven their effectiveness and applicability in cleaning the glass surfaces of railway stations across Germany. Bladeranger won a prestigious competition organised by Mindbox – the innovation department of German railway company Deutsche Bahan (DB) – and demonstrated its added value over competing companies in a 100-day project. If the cooperation becomes commercial, the German national railway company could become a very important customer for Bladeranger.
“Cleaning the roofs of stations and other DB properties presents our partner with significant challenges,” explains the German national railway company, explaining the challenge that led them to choose the BladeRanger solution. “The difficulty of accessing the roofs, the associated safety risks for industrial climbers, ensuring uninterrupted train services, changing weather conditions and the different types of dirt that accumulate from stubborn fine dust, abrasive debris, bird droppings and scale deposits, make cleaning at high altitudes a particular challenge,” explains DB.
As part of the “Operation and Maintenance of the Future 2024” technology innovation programme, the company tested the Solar Drone cleaning solution in various tests in Stuttgart and Karlsruhe, the company added. “The focus of the 100-day programme was to conduct test flights at DB facilities to determine and analyse the degree of dirt and initiate the cleaning process using the drone. The Solar Drone software was adapted and trained to the requirements of DB’s railway stations.
DB Blade Ranger’s management said: “The innovative approach to cleaning glass surfaces at railway stations by leveraging its expertise in cleaning solar panels has proven to be effective and efficient. We are very pleased with the results and the collaboration during the proof of concept process. The expertise from the company’s team has been invaluable and we are excited about the potential of this technology to improve maintenance and operations on our railway network.”
Following the successful proof of concept, DB said the two parties will discuss further cooperation to implement Solar Drone solutions in railway station maintenance projects in Germany.
Blade Ranger recently completed a major strategic move by merging with Solar Drone, which developed a payload specifically designed for drones to clean solar panels in complex locations. Founded in 2021, the company is a global pioneer and leader in developing advanced technology-based systems including artificial intelligence and machine learning that significantly increase the efficiency of solar energy facilities, improve asset operation, save manpower, and thus reduce costs and increase profitability. Following the merger, Blade Ranger held a public offering, raising NIS 6.4 million.
“Completing the proof of concept with the German national railway creates significant commercial potential for us in a new market. We have received excellent feedback on the success of the project, which opens up new possibilities for us in this field, in other countries outside Germany,” said Bladeranger CEO Oded Fruchtman.
This article was published in Globes, Israeli Business News – en.globes.co.il – on July 21, 2024.
© Copyright Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd., 2024.
