Answering a need from the wind energy industry, Persimia has developed the world’s first drone for non-destructive testing (NDT). NDT plays a significant role in inspection and maintenance regimes for wind turbine blades. However, blades are difficult for personnel to access, leading to longer inspection times and higher costs. Using funding from a US Department of Energy Grant, Persimia built TurbInsight – the world’s first drone equipped with NDT capability. TurbInsight takes off from a location near the turbine, attaches to the blade via a suction anchor, folds down onto the blade surface, and performs an area inspection using an NDT payload such as ultrasound or microwave. Once the inspection is complete, the drone detaches from the blade and lands autonomously at the desired location.