Abstract: A crawler robot has a proximal end section, a distal end section and a core section. Each of the proximal end section, the distal end section and core section has a hollow core. The core section has a flexible body and is surrounded by at least one balloon that is supplied by a fluid carrying conduit. The proximal end section and the distal end section are connected to fluid carrying conduits and have at least three thrust vents each for venting the supplied fluid to generate a thrust force.

Abstract: A crawler robot comprising a proximal end section, a distal end section and a central core section, through each section passes a central channel; the distal end section comprises a rigid core surrounding a deformable foot, the proximal end section comprises a rigid core surrounding a deformable foot, and the central core section comprises a deformable annular body surrounding an extension spring, surrounding the annular body is at least one balloon, and wherein fluid carrying conduits are connected to the balloon in the central core section, and to the deformable foot in the distal end section and the deformable foot in the proximal end section.

Abstract: An inspection system for inspecting a surface includes a macromanipulator including an inspection end configured to be disposed proximal to the surface. The inspection system further includes a micromanipulator coupled to the inspection end. The. micromanipulator includes a housing, a pair of guide rails at least partially disposed within and fixedly coupled to the housing, a probe support slidably coupled to the pair of guide rails, an actuating arm disposed within the housing and coupled to the probe support via a scotch yoke mechanism, and an actuating mechanism configured to rotate the actuating arm relative to the housing. The inspection system further includes a probe coupled to the probe support for inspecting the surface.

Abstract: A sensing system for a continuum arm robot, the sensing system comprising at least one camera ring system mounted to the continuum robot, the camera ring system having at least two forward-facing cameras that face along the axis of the robot towards the tip.

Abstract: A micromanipulator for mounting on the end of a macromanipulator, the micromanipulator comprising: a connection plate with a at least a first and second motor connected to a rigidly mounted base section, a first rotational section connected to the base section about a pivotable axis, the first rotational section being further connected to a slider rod which is connected to the first motor, and a second rotational section connected to the first rotational section about a pivotable axis, the second rotational section being further connected to a slider rod which is connected to the second motor and wherein the rotational joints between the base section and first joint section and the rotational joint between the first and second rotational sections are offset by 90°.

Abstract: A control system for a compliant robotic system including at least two compliant robots having actuator packs, the control system including: an individual local control system associated with each actuator pack, the local control system providing control signals to the actuator causing movement within the robots, an overall control system controlling the overall motion of robots when proximate within a workspace, the overall control signal providing signals to the actuators associated with the robots, so as to cause linked movement of the continuum arm robots, and wherein each individual control system is provided with a clock synchronized with the other, and wherein the overall control system is provided with a redundancy control system that limits the motion of the compliant robots within certain degrees of freedom, so that the motion of the at least two complaint robots does not conflict when operating under the overall control system.

Abstract: A probe for non-destructive testing of a component. The probe includes a head configured to transmit a signal or a wave to a surface of the component for non-destructive testing of the component. The head includes a first head end facing away from the component and an opposing second head end facing the component. The probe further includes a tube spaced apart from the head and including a first tube end distal to the head and an opposing second tube end proximal to the head. The tube defines an internal passage therein extending between the first tube end and the second tube end. The probe further includes a flexible actuator disposed between the head and the tube. The flexible actuator is configured to be actuated between a non-actuated state and an actuated state.

Abstract: A method for determining a location of an object relative to a component includes providing a frame. The method further includes coupling a plurality of encoders to the frame. The plurality of encoders is configured to generate a plurality of encoder signals. Each encoder signal from the plurality of encoder signals is representative of a location of the object relative to the respective encoder. The method further includes removably attaching the frame to the component. The method further includes receiving the plurality of encoder signals from the plurality of encoders. The method further includes determining a location of the object relative to the component based on the plurality of encoder signals.

Abstract: A micromanipulator for mounting on the end of a macromanipulator, the micromanipulator comprising: a connection plate with a at least a first and second motor connected to a rigidly mounted base section, a first rotational section connected to the base section about a pivotable axis, the first rotational section being further connected to a slider rod which is connected to the first motor, and a second rotational section connected to the first rotational section about a pivotable axis, the second rotational section being further connected to a slider rod which is connected to the second motor and wherein the rotational joints between the base section and first joint section and the rotational joint between the first and second rotational sections are offset by 90°.

Abstract: A sensing system for a continuum arm robot, the sensing system comprising at least one camera ring system mounted to the continuum robot, the camera ring system having at least two forward-facing cameras that face along the axis of the robot towards the tip.

Abstract: A control system for a compliant robotic system including at least two compliant robots having actuator packs, the control system including: an individual local control system associated with each actuator pack, the local control system providing control signals to the actuator causing movement within the robots, an overall control system controlling the overall motion of robots when proximate within a workspace, the overall control signal providing signals to the actuators associated with the robots, so as to cause linked movement of the continuum arm robots, and wherein each individual control system is provided with a clock synchronized with the other, and wherein the overall control system is provided with a redundancy control system that limits the motion of the compliant robots within certain degrees of freedom, so that the motion of the at least two complaint robots does not conflict when operating under the overall control system.