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.

A monitoring probe is for monitoring a fluid inside a process system. The probe has a first portion comprising a plurality of optical sensors provided along a waveguide for monitoring a plurality of measurands from the fluid, wherein each optical sensor is configured to monitor at least one measurand from the fluid. The first portion of the probe is elongate and is configured to be inserted through an aperture of the process system into a chamber of the process system such that the optical sensors are in communication with the fluid. The probe further has an attachment element for securing the probe to the process system.

Coaxial video push-cables are disclosed. One embodiment includes a central conductor and a multi-dielectric stack of multiple concentric tubular layers disposed around the central conductor having one or more structural layers and one or more impedance tuning layers where the thickness of materials of each layer are selected to provide a pre-defined elastic modulus and electromagnetic impedance, an electromagnetic shielding layer, and a jacket enclosing the shielding layer, multi-dielectric stack layers, and central conductor.

An inspection system for inspecting an internal component of a machine includes a remote controlled vehicle constructed to fit inside a desired portion of the machine; a controller operative to control an operation of the remote controlled vehicle; a tether coupled to the controller and to the remote controlled vehicle, wherein the tether is operative to transmit control signals from the controller to the remote controlled vehicle; and an imaging device extending from a front portion of the remote controlled vehicle and operative to view the internal component. The imaging device has a flexible articulating tip spaced apart from the front portion of the body.

An inspection system (1) includes: a probe (12) that is hollow, extends in a rod shape along a center axis (11), and rotates around the center axis; an optical system (30) that, through the probe, supplies laser light for inspection purposes along the center axis and receives reflected light from a surface of an inspection target that has returned along the center axis; an optical element (50) that, through an opening at a front end of the probe, emits the laser light for inspection purposes toward the inspection target with respect to the center axis and guides the reflected light in the direction of the center axis; and a gas supplying system (80) that discharges gas (89) from the opening through the probe.

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.

There is described an inspection device for inspecting a slot of a gas turbine engine. The inspection device comprises: an insert for insertion into the slot; a plurality of imaging devices coupled to the insert; and a processor. The insert is movable along a longitudinal axis of the slot. Each of the plurality of imaging devices is positioned adjacent an external surface of the insert and is configured to capture an image of a portion of the slot adjacent the imaging device. The processor is configured to receive data corresponding to the images captured by the plurality of imaging devices. There is also described a method of inspecting a slot using the inspection device.

Coaxial video push-cables are disclosed. One embodiment includes a central conductor and a multi-dielectric stack of multiple concentric tubular layers disposed around the central conductor having one or more structural layers and one or more impedance tuning layers where the thickness of materials of each layer are selected to provide a pre-defined elastic modulus and electromagnetic impedance, an electromagnetic shielding layer, and a jacket enclosing the shielding layer, multi-dielectric stack layers, and central conductor.

An inspection probe is configured by inserting a cylindrical hollow glass pipe configured by quartz glass into a cylindrical exterior member configured by stainless steel or the like. The glass pipe transmits a laser beam from a laser light emission device as irradiation light to a leading end part through a hollow region. In the inspection probe, the irradiation light is transmitted to the leading end part through the hollow region of the glass pipe and is reflected by a reflection mirror provided at the leading end part, whereby the inner face of an inspection target is irradiated by the irradiation light, and reflected light reflected from the inner face of the inspection target is reflected by the reflection mirror and transmitted to a photoelectric conversion unit via a region other than the hollow region of the glass pipe.

A method for capturing an image of a moving object in a rotary system, for example, an image of a rotating blade in a gas turbine, uses an endoscope to form an image of a moving object. One-dimensional line images are captured with a line scan image sensor which is oriented to lie orthogonal to the direction of movement of the image of the moving object past the image sensor. Successive line images are combined to form a composite two-dimensional image of the moving object. A second image may be detected using a second line scan image sensor oriented orthogonal with respect to the direction of movement of the image, to the first line scan image sensor.