A mobile platform uses a charge accumulation control system to control a charge accumulation while the mobile platform is in the tank. Alternatively or additionally, the mobile platform includes a retrieval system having a buoyant body, a primary tether, and a secondary tether. Alternatively or additionally, an electrical cable is used to reduce a voltage difference between the mobile platform and the tank or other structure by electrically connecting to an electrically conductive member on the mobile platform.

An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup module in which an image pickup device is laminated, a relay board having a plurality of flying leads which are electrically connected to a proximal end face of the image pickup module through ultrasonic wire bonding, and a plurality of cables electrically connected to a plurality of connection lands of the relay board, and a bent portion is formed on the relay board so that the plurality of cables are fitted within a projection surface of the proximal end face of the image pickup module.

An electronic visual food probe for viewing the interior of a body of food being cooked. The probe has a food-safe, heat resistant and elongated stem designed for insertion into the body of food. A thermally insulated cavity formed in one end of the stem has a window that allows light into and out of the cavity. A light source illuminates the interior of the food exposed to the window. An electronic image sensor receives the light reflected from the interior surfaces of the food proximate the window and generates an elongated color image of the reflected light. An electronic display system receives the elongated color image from the image sensor and displays it on an electronic display for viewing.

A hermetic seal between an optical element and a metal mount or housing using a fluoropolymer. The fluoropolymer is dispersed along the interior edge of the metal mount. The metal mount and fluoropolymer are then heated to a temperature exceeding the melting point of the fluoropolymer. Once heated the optical element is pressed into the metal mount and allowed to cool. The metal mount, optical element and thickness of fluoropolymer are sized to provide an interference fit between the metal mount and optical element.

A mobile platform uses a charge accumulation control system to control a charge accumulation while the mobile platform is in the tank. Alternatively or additionally, the mobile platform includes a retrieval system having a buoyant body, a primary tether, and a secondary tether. Alternatively or additionally, an electrical cable is used to reduce a voltage difference between the mobile platform and the tank or other structure by electrically connecting to an electrically conductive member on the mobile platform.

A lightfield otoscope includes a housing with a tip configured to receive a disposable speculum. The otoscope also includes a microlens array, a sensor array and an optical train contained within the housing. The optical train includes an objective lens and a relay lens. The objective lens is positioned at least partially within the tip. The relay lens is used to relay an image plane of the objective lens to the microlens array and to relay a pupil plane of the objective lens to the sensor array. An active heating element is also contained within the housing and positioned to heat the front surface, thereby reducing fogging and/or condensation on the front surface.

A method of performing a selected task in a tank containing an energetic substance uses an inherently safe mobile platform that includes a marker detector, a control unit, a power supply, a propulsion system, and an inherently safe enclosure. The inherently safe enclosure prevents a spark occurring inside the inherently safe enclosure from passing to an exterior of the inherently safe enclosure. All spark-generating components of the mobile platform are positioned inside the inherently safe enclosure. The method includes lowering the mobile platform into the tank, at least partially submerging the mobile platform in the energetic substance, and detecting a marker using the marker detector. No active physical carrier connects the mobile platform to an object exterior of the tank while the mobile platform is in the tank.

A true-seeing infrared industrial endoscope endoscope includes an external shell protective unit including a housing and an electrical appliance component box connected to a rear end of the housing. A cavity of the housing is provided with a dual capturing-imaging unit including at least two capturing-imaging subunits. Each of the capturing-imaging subunits includes a light splitter, an image capturing lens, an infrared imaging tube, and a visible light imaging tube. The electrical appliance component box is provided with a communication module and a power supply electrically connected to the dual capturing-imaging unit and the communication module. The communication module is communicatively connected to the dual capturing-imaging unit and an upper computer via a communication bus, and the power supply is electrically connected to the dual capturing-imaging unit via a power bus.

An insertion tool can include: a housing having proximal and distal ends with a sealed chamber therebetween, the distal end having a flange configured to engage with a flange of a valve assembly coupled to a pressurized vessel to allow the sealed chamber to fluidly communicate with the pressurized vessel; a hollow inner shaft slidably disposed through a proximal opening in the proximal end of the housing, through the sealed chamber, and through a distal opening in the distal end of the housing such that the inner shaft is operable to be advanced distally into the valve assembly toward an interior portion of the pressurized vessel, the inner shaft having an inner lumen that is sealed from the sealed chamber of the outer housing and that is configured to receive an inspection tool therein; and an optically transparent member disposed at a distal end of the inner shaft.

An insertion apparatus includes an insertion end positionable within a cavity and configured to travel through the cavity, a steering end opposite the insertion end, and a body extending from the insertion end to the steering end and sized to fit within the cavity. The body includes a plurality of members flexibly coupled together and individually actuated. Each member of the plurality of members includes at least one actuator strand. At least one member of the plurality of members has a first configuration in which the at least one member of the plurality of members has a first stiffness and a second configuration in which the at least one member of the plurality of members has a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness. At least a portion of the body is flexible to facilitate travel of the body through the cavity when the at least one member of the plurality of members is in the first configuration. The at least a portion of the body is configured to maintain a selected shape when the at least one member of the plurality of members is in the second configuration.