HYDRO
This collaborative project between EDP and Alisys aims to develop new knowledge and technologies that enable the autonomous execution of various tasks in a hydropower plant, such as operational rounds, surveillance tasks, and more. This will help optimize plant efficiency while maximizing the availability and output of these 100% renewable electricity generation facilities.
To achieve this, the project proposes the use of a new class of robots inspired by the biomechanics of quadruped animals, featuring enhanced mobility and environmental access capabilities. The goal is to evolve traditional operation, maintenance, and monitoring tasks into high value-added activities through the application of Artificial Intelligence.
Additionally, the project will explore existing technologies to design a computer vision system capable of reading various measurement instruments within the plant. A prototype will be developed and tested at EDP’s hydropower plant in Tanes, which has a capacity of 124.17 MW.
The selected quadruped robot for this research project is the SPOT model, ENTERPRISE version, by Boston Dynamics, for which ALISYS is the official partner in Spain and Portugal.
Main Objectives:
Research into hardware and implementation of technology to enable autonomous navigation of a robot within a hydropower plant.
Implementation of intelligence and management software to detect issues and autonomously communicate with the control center.
Enable the robot to perform basic tasks in a semi-autonomous or remotely supervised manner.
Automate low-value tasks, allowing plant operators to focus on higher-level operation and maintenance duties.
Optimize efficiency and maximize availability and power generation in hydropower plants.
T1 – Requirements Definition and System Scope
This phase included a state-of-the-art analysis and the collection of technical and functional requirements, which defined all features to be implemented in order to achieve the project’s goals.
T2 – Research on Sensors and Data Capture Devices
This task involved research into control and automation systems, particularly high-frequency systems, including signal conversion and high-speed data capture and processing adapted to the demands of robotic operations in complex, dynamic environments. It included the selection of physical components, proper design (hardware, firmware), logical integration of peripherals, and research on communication elements with mesh routing capabilities for underground environments. This also included analysis and design of connectivity and power systems, physical supports, and other necessary mounting elements, as well as calibration and configuration.
T3 – Research on Automation, Control, and Communication Algorithms
This task focused on researching algorithms that provide the system with the executive capabilities needed to perform missions in the complex environment proposed. Many existing robotic control algorithms cannot be directly applied to highly dynamic robots due to the unpredictable operational environment and the device’s dynamic instability.
T4 – Prototype System Construction
Hardware and software developments were progressively integrated to ensure coordinated functionality. The integration strategy was iterative, with each step evaluated in line with technical progress.
T5 – Validation and Testing
The first validation phase involved testing the system at Alisys’ facilities in a simulated environment. In the second phase, tests were conducted at the actual hydropower plant to detect and address potential real-world issues. Finally, the system was validated in the real operational environment of the Tanes hydropower plant.
Project Stages
The outcomes based on the proposed use cases are as follows:
The robot successfully navigated autonomously throughout the plant. It was also able to carry out various missions involving autonomous routing and specific assigned tasks.
The robot was able to identify both analog and digital measuring equipment in all their forms and successfully read data from them across all variations.
Regarding the use case of identifying spills and leaks—given the high complexity of this task—research and development are ongoing through future projects by EDP and Alisys. This highlights the potential for continued evolution and application of the project in other areas.
