Research on Hot Spot Defect Detection in Photovoltaic Modules Based on UAV Remote Sensing Technology and Deep Learning

The increasing deployment of photovoltaic (PV) systems necessitates advanced methodologies for defect detection to ensure operational efficiency and longevity. Traditional inspection techniques often fall short in scalability and precision, particularly for localized anomalies such as hot spot defects. These limitations highlight the need for innovative solutions rooted in computer vision and theoretical computer science. Conventional approaches, including manual inspections and basic image processing, lack the adaptability and computational efficiency for real-time analysis, leading to delayed maintenance and increased costs. They also struggle with accurate localization of defects, critical for effective remediation. To address these challenges, we propose a framework integrating Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) remote sensing with deep learning techniques. Our solution comprises two core components: the Neural-Symbolic Defect Mapper (NSDM) and the Dynamic Routing and Reweigh (DRR) strategy. The NSDM leverages a hybrid architecture combining spatial attentiveness with symbolic abstraction, enabling precise localization through a dual-phase pipeline. It adapts across defect granularities and remains effective under weak supervision or noisy labels. Meanwhile, the DRR strategy introduces an adaptive inference mechanism that dynamically switches between a lightweight detector and a high-resolution refinement stage, based on the input’s statistical characteristics. This enhances detection fidelity while optimizing computational resources, achieving real-time performance. Experimental results show that our integrated approach outperforms traditional methods in detection accuracy and runtime efficiency, marking a significant advancement for PV system defect detection.

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Publication Details

Journal
Unmanned Systems
Published
2025-11-20
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1142/s2301385027500439
Primary Topic
Photovoltaic System Optimization Techniques
Type
article
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article

Research on Hot Spot Defect Detection in Photovoltaic Modules Based on UAV Remote Sensing Technology and Deep Learning

Jinke Bai, Qingbo Lu, Huiming Zhang, Huifeng Kang et al.
Unmanned Systems
Photovoltaic System Optimization Techniques
article

Research on Hot Spot Defect Detection in Photovoltaic Modules Based on UAV Remote Sensing Technology and Deep Learning

Jinke Bai, Qingbo Lu, Huiming Zhang, Huifeng Kang, ShangCheng Huang
article en

Abstract

The increasing deployment of photovoltaic (PV) systems necessitates advanced methodologies for defect detection to ensure operational efficiency and longevity. Traditional inspection techniques often fall short in scalability and precision, particularly for localized anomalies such as hot spot defects. These limitations highlight the need for innovative solutions rooted in computer vision and theoretical computer science. Conventional approaches, including manual inspections and basic image processing, lack the adaptability and computational efficiency for real-time analysis, leading to delayed maintenance and increased costs. They also struggle with accurate localization of defects, critical for effective remediation. To address these challenges, we propose a framework integrating Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) remote sensing with deep learning techniques. Our solution comprises two core components: the Neural-Symbolic Defect Mapper (NSDM) and the Dynamic Routing and Reweigh (DRR) strategy. The NSDM leverages a hybrid architecture combining spatial attentiveness with symbolic abstraction, enabling precise localization through a dual-phase pipeline. It adapts across defect granularities and remains effective under weak supervision or noisy labels. Meanwhile, the DRR strategy introduces an adaptive inference mechanism that dynamically switches between a lightweight detector and a high-resolution refinement stage, based on the input’s statistical characteristics. This enhances detection fidelity while optimizing computational resources, achieving real-time performance. Experimental results show that our integrated approach outperforms traditional methods in detection accuracy and runtime efficiency, marking a significant advancement for PV system defect detection.

Unmanned Systems
Dalian University of Technology (CN), Dalian University (CN)
Openalex Percentile: Top 75%
Photovoltaic System Optimization Techniques
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