Rope Robotics
EUDP & Innovation Fund Denmark – Grand Solutions
Rope Robotics ApS, founded in 2016, is a Danish company on a mission to revolutionize wind turbine blade maintenance through automation. Their flagship innovation, the BR-8 robot, is a patented, remote-controlled system designed to perform leading edge repairs on wind turbine blades – reducing the cost, downtime, and safety risks associated with traditional maintenance.
Initially tested and proven on onshore turbines, the technology has shown strong potential for reducing downtime and operational costs. Rope Robotics is now extending the solution to the offshore wind sector, where logistical challenges are even greater and cost savings even more critical.
In parallel, the company is developing a next-generation solution that integrates Non-Destructive Testing (NDT), AI, and robotics to detect sub-surface damages in turbine blades directly on-site—eliminating the need for disassembly and preventing costly shutdowns across entire wind farms. This new approach is set to deliver significant value across the wind industry’s maintenance and manufacturing supply chains.
1st Mile’s Work with Rope Robotics
EUDP
In 2018, Rope Robotics partnered with 1st Mile to apply for funding from the Danish Energy Agency’s EUDP programme. The project aimed to adapt their BR-8 robot for use on offshore wind turbines, addressing new technical and logistical challenges and expanding the robot’s capabilities to cover a broader range of blade repairs.
1st Mile worked closely with CEO Hans Lauberg and CFO Martin Huus Bjerge to craft the application and provided strategic support during the interview phase. As a result of this strong collaboration, the project received DKK 16.1 million in funding. Read the EUDP’s official press release and watch the project covered by TV2 Østjylland.
Grand Solutions (Innovation Fund Denmark)
In 2020, 1st Mile and Rope Robotics collaborated again to prepare an application for Innovation Fund Denmark’s Grand Solutions programme. The project, titled “AINDT: AI-based NDT for reduced service costs for wind turbine blades”, was developed in partnership with FORCE Technology and DTU Wind Energy.
The goal is to create a robotic system capable of detecting sub-surface damages using NDT and AI, directly on wind turbine blades in the field—without dismantling them. This would enable earlier detection of critical faults, reduce costly production shutdowns, and improve asset transparency for operators and insurers.
The project was awarded DKK 16.9 million in 2021 and is running for three years, aiming to reach TRL 7 and deliver a commercial-ready solution for both manufacturing and in-field maintenance stages.