Direct answers to the questions solar asset owners, asset managers and O&M providers ask most often about Argos by Solardrone.
What is Argos by Solardrone?
Argos by Solardrone is a service that gives owners and O&M teams of solar PV portfolios a complete, current and auditable view of the physical state of every plant. It combines drone capture with visual and thermal evidence, links each finding to its component and location, sets a priority and follows the finding until the correction is verified. Solardrone, the company behind Argos, has been inspecting solar plants since 2017, analyses more than 400 plants a year and has analysed more than 15 GWp.
Who is Argos for?
Argos is built for two kinds of buyer. Owners, IPPs and asset managers of solar portfolios, in transition to operation or in operation, who need an independent and homogeneous view to supervise their providers and decide what to accept, claim, prioritise or close. And multi-plant O&M providers who must cover more assets with limited field capacity and prove to the owner that the work is done.
What does Argos detect?
Argos detects physical defects that can be seen or measured thermally from the air, within the scope and capture modality agreed for each project. Typical findings include thermal anomalies in modules (hot cells, bypass diodes, open substrings), overheated connectors, broken glass and backsheet cracks, disconnected ground cables and structural damage. Every report states the scope and any areas that were not evaluated.
How is Argos different from a one-off drone thermography inspection?
A one-off inspection gives you a report of anomalies at a single point in time. Argos keeps a living record of the physical state of each plant: every finding is linked to a component, a position, a date and its evidence, is prioritised by risk and economic impact, and stays open until new evidence shows it has been corrected. Argos also combines visual and thermal evidence, because several relevant defects, such as backsheet cracks or disconnected cables, are not thermal.
How is Argos different from drone inspection analysis software?
With analysis software, you or your drone contractor capture the data and the software processes it; flight quality, consistency between contractors and follow-up remain your responsibility. With Argos, capture follows a single protocol: it is done by Solardrone's pilots or by your own team, trained to fly to that protocol. Solardrone takes care of the analysis and the evidence trail, and the result arrives as priorities and field-ready work orders. If you run your own drone team, you can keep flying and use Argos for analysis and follow-up.
How is the data captured: piloted drone or autonomous drone?
It depends on the project. Capture can be done with piloted drones or with a drone permanently based at the plant in a docking station, flying beyond visual line of sight where the operation is authorised. Frequency, capture modality and scope are agreed for each project.
What does the customer receive, and does it integrate with our CMMS?
The customer receives a map of the physical state of each plant in which every finding is located at component level, with its visual and thermal evidence, date, priority level (urgent corrective, non-urgent corrective or preventive) and the status of its work order (open, assigned, in progress, pending validation or closed), so a repair only counts as closed once a supervisor validates it. Results can be exported to the maintenance management system (CMMS) by CSV or API; the scope of each integration is confirmed per project.
Can Argos help with module warranty claims and the final acceptance certificate (FAC)?
Yes. Argos helps detect and document defects within the applicable warranty or acceptance window, with the location and evidence a claim needs, and later helps check that corrections were made. In measured cases where the same plant was inspected on foot and by drone, the drone found between 2 and 6 times more affected modules. The value finally recovered depends on eligibility, the claim itself and its resolution.
Does Argos reduce fire risk at solar plants?
Argos helps reduce exposure to fire by locating early warning signs, such as overheated connectors, and directing their assessment and repair before they escalate. Detection supports prevention; it does not guarantee that no incident will occur.
Where does Solardrone operate?
Solardrone is based in Spain and works in Spain and the rest of Europe, with projects in other markets. Availability, flight authorisations and scope are confirmed for each project.
How much experience does Solardrone have?
Solardrone has been inspecting solar plants since 2017, analyses more than 400 plants a year and has analysed more than 15 GWp.
Can a drone see the MC4 connectors behind the modules?
Yes. A top-down view can hide them, so Argos adds close-range or side capture of the rear of the table where needed. Every hot connector is located by table, string and position, with visual and thermal evidence, so the field team can go straight to it. More in Overheated MC4 connectors: how to find them and prioritise the repair.
Can a drone detect backsheet cracks?
Top-down thermography does not always show them, because backsheet cracks are a visual defect on the rear of the module. Argos adds a visual review of the rear with close-range or side capture, and every affected module is located so it can be documented for a warranty claim. More in How to document module defects for warranty claims and FAC.
How do we get started with Argos?
Request the free personalised study at solardrone.ai/#contact. Tell us about your portfolio and Solardrone will prepare a study for your case; scope, capture modality and integrations are then defined for the project.