Apparatus (1) for checking tyres, comprising: a support frame (2); a flange (3); and an acquisition system (4) of three-dimensional images of a surface of a tyre, the acquisition system being mounted on the support frame and comprising: a matrix camera (5), a linear laser source (7), and a reflecting surface (12) which intersects the propagation axis (9) of the linear laser beam and the optical axis (6) of the matrix camera (5), wherein a first angle (50) formed between a first section (14) and a second section (31) of the optical axis (6) mutually symmetrical with respect to a normal to the reflecting surface in the respective point of incidence to the reflecting surface, is obtuse, and wherein a second angle (51) formed between a first section (16) and a second section (32) of the propagation axis (9) mutually symmetrical with respect to a normal to the reflecting surface in the respective point of incidence to the reflecting surface, is obtuse.

An embodiment provides a method, including: obtaining, from a multi-sensor pipe inspection robot that traverses through the interior of a pipe, two or more sets of condition assessment data for the interior of the pipe collected during a single pass through the interior of the pipe; the two or more sets of condition assessment data comprising a first data type obtained using a first sensor type and a second data type obtained using a second sensor type; combining, using a processor, two or more image processing techniques to adjust imaging of a pipe feature; and forming, using the processor, an image of the interior of the pipe using the two or more image processing techniques. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

A guide system for repairing turbomachinery includes a housing; a guide tube have a hollow interior for accepting a working tool module; an axial motor for moving the guide tube axially with respect to the housing; a rotational motor for rotating the guide tube with respect to the housing; and an attachment for securing the housing with respect to a turbomachinery casing. A repair kit and method are also provided.

A viewing method and apparatus are provided for inspecting a cleaned pipeline. The method comprises providing the viewing apparatus of a cleaned pipeline and pushing the viewing apparatus to an outlet end of the pipeline. During traverse of the pipeline a camera captures pictures of the interior of the pipeline and stores the pictures on an onboard memory. The captured pictures can be viewed on a screen to show the interior of the pipeline to provide a reference for cleaning, replacement or repair of the pipeline.

An embodiment provides for storing, in a server, pipe segment data, e.g., pipe scan data derived from a pipe inspection robot that traversed through an interior of the segment of pipe. The pipe scan data may include three-dimensional (3D) and two-dimensional (2D) image data of the interior of the segment of pipe, where the 2D image data includes a flat graph formed from the 3D image data. In one example, infrastructure summary data is stored in the server, including a level of corrosion and a level of sediment buildup determined based on the pipe scan data. An infrastructure project summary report is based on the infrastructure summary data, and after receiving a request from a client device, the pipe segment data and the infrastructure project summary report are transmitted to the client device.

Systems for inserting and orienting a soft robotic probe into an apparatus and capturing images and methods of using the same are generally disclosed. For example, the system includes a cable, an actuation assembly, and a camera at the tip of the probe. The cable includes an adjustable sheath at an exterior of the cable defined around a probe centerline extending the length of the probe. The adjustable sheath extends and contracts the cable between a first length and a second length different from the first length and is defined within the adjustable sheath. The actuation assembly extends or contracts the cable between the first length and the second length and further adjusts an orientation of the cable, an orientation of the tip of the probe, or both along at least one axis. The camera captures images at least partially around a circumferential direction relative to a camera centerline.

According to an embodiment, an inspection system comprises: a moving body including a moving main body movable along a structure; a detector attached to the moving main body; a shape information storage unit for storing shape information indicating shape and size of the structure; an inspection location information storage unit for storing information of inspection locations to be inspected; an inspection item information storage unit for storing information of inspection items to be inspected; a moving body location detecting unit for detecting moving body location information indicating location of the moving body; a moving control unit for controlling movement of the moving body; and an inspection control unit for inspection.

According to one embodiment, a holding apparatus holds a moving body and changes a position of the moving body in a second direction perpendicular to a surface of a columnar body. The surface of the columnar body extends in the first direction. The moving body is movable along the first direction. The apparatus includes first and second holders separated from each other. The first holder includes first and second portions separated from each other, and a third portion. The second holder includes fourth and fifth portions separated from each other, and a sixth portion. The moving body is held by the first and second holders in a state in which the moving body is at a hold position. The hold position is where the moving body opposes the third and sixth portions and is between the first and second portions and between the fourth and fifth portions.

A probe driver may include a coupling that interfaces with a conduit section at a first position of the conduit section. A probe driver may also have one or more positioning elements to reposition the conduit section to interface with the coupling at a second position of conduit section in response to one or more commands based on a recorded inspection, where through completing the one or more commands is configured to initiate a second inspection identical to the recorded inspection.

Defined herein is a borescope, including a tube and a tip. The tube includes a first end and a second end, opposite the first end. The tip is fixed to the first end of the tube and comprises a housing and an image acquisition system. The image acquisition system is within the housing and comprises a light emitting diode ring, a micro-lens array, a main lens, and a photodetector array. The light emitting diode ring includes a plurality of light emitting diodes. The micro-lens array includes a plurality of micro-lenses. The main lens is between the light emitting diode ring and the micro-lens array. The photodetector array includes a plurality of photodetectors. The micro-lens array is between the main lens and the photodetector array.