Inspection robots with independent, swappable, drive modules are described. An example inspection robot may have a center body with a plurality of power interfaces, a plurality of communication interfaces, and a plurality of cooling interfaces. The example inspection robot may have a plurality of drive modules, where each drive module is structured to be coupled to a power interface, a communication interface, and a cooling interface.

Methods and inspection robots with on body configuration are described. An example inspection robot may have a center body with a plurality of connected drive modules, each drive module having a sensing circuit to measure a drive module operating characteristic, and a visual indicator circuit to output a first visual indicator corresponding to the drive module operating characteristic. The visual indicator circuits of each of the plurality of drive modules are positioned to be simultaneously visible at a point of view.

Inspection robots and methods for inspection of curved surfaces are described. An example inspection robot may include a housing, and at least one drive module operative linked to the housing and including a wheel and motor. An example inspection robot may further include two sleds, each with a sensor, the sled connectable to a payload. An example payload may include multiple rail components with intervening connectors, the connectors are able to connect two rail components at a plurality of discrete engagement positions.

High temperature compliant wheels for an inspection robot are described. An example wheel may have a first non-ferrous wheel enclosure including a first outer surface having a serration texture, a second non-ferrous wheel enclosure including a second outer surface having the serration texture, and a magnetic hub interposed between the first non-ferrous wheel enclosure and the second non-ferrous wheel enclosure

Methods and apparatus for verifiable inspection operations are described. An example apparatus may have an inspection description circuit to interpret an inspection definition value and a payload status circuit to provide a payload identification value in response to at least one of a payload specific configuration or signals from a payload. The example apparatus may also have an inspection integrity circuit to determine an inspection description value in response to the inspection definition value and the payload identification value and an inspection reporting circuit to communicate the inspection description value to an external device.

Inspection robot and methods utilizing coolant for temperature management are described. An example inspection robot may include a housing with a couplant retaining chamber, and an electronic board selectively thermally coupled to the couplant retaining chamber. The inspection robot may include a couplant input port coupling a couplant source to a couplant flow path, a drive module coupled to the housing, and a payload with at least one sensor, where the payload is coupled to the housing. The couplant flow path is fluidly coupling the couplant input port to the couplant retaining chamber.

Inspection robots with independent drive module suspension are described. An example inspection robot may have a housing with a first connector on a first side of the housing, and a second connector on a second side of the housing. A first drive module, having at least one wheel and a first motor, may be operatively coupled to the first connector, and a second drive module, having at least one wheel and a first motor, may be operatively coupled to the second connector. The first and second drive modules may be coupled by a drive connector.

Systems, methods, and apparatus for temperature control and active cooling of an inspection robot are disclosed. An example apparatus may include a temperature determination circuit to interpret an inspection temperature value, a temperature management circuit to determine a temperature management command in response to the inspection temperature value, and a temperature response circuit to provide the temperature management command to a temperature management device associated with an inspection robot.

Systems and methods are described, and an example system includes a transport bin configured to carry a baggage item and having spatial reference frame marking detectable by electromagnetic scan and by machine vision. The system includes a robotic arm apparatus at an inspection area, and includes a switched path baggage conveyor that, responsive to electromagnetic scan detection of an object-of-interest (OOI) within the baggage item, conveys the transport bin to the inspection area. The electromagnetic scan generates OOI geometric position information indicating geometric position of the OOI relative to the spatial reference frame marking. The robotic arm apparatus, responsive to receiving the transport bin, uses machine vision to detect orientation of the spatial reference frame marking, then translates OOI geometric position information to local reference frame, for robotic opening of the baggage item, and robotic accessing and contact swab testing on the OOI.

Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for preparing a robotic system for surgery. In one aspect, the method includes a robotic arm, a sensor configured to generate information indicative of a location of the robotic arm, a processor, and at least one computer-readable memory in communication with the processor and having stored thereon computer-executable instructions. The instructions are configured to cause the processor to receive the information from the sensor, determine that the robotic arm is located at a first position in which a first axis associated with the robotic arm is not in alignment with a second axis associated with a port installed in a patient, and provide a command to move the robotic arm to a second position in which the first axis associated with the robotic arm is in alignment with the second axis.