Abstract: Eddy current sensors are provided herein that are stretchable. In some aspects, the stretchable eddy current sensors have a sensor element array that is designed to act as an eddy current inspection sensor and multiaxial strain sensor to enable distortion compensation for measurement signals. Using strain detected by the eddy current sensors and, in some aspects, combining information about the geometry of a component and position information of the sensor on the component, corrections can be determined to make the eddy current sensor readings invariant to deformations of sensor elements of the eddy current sensors. In other aspects, the stretchable eddy current sensors can be installed on a component to be inspected for health monitoring. A baseline measurement can be acquired after installation, for example, after the stretchable eddy current sensor is initially stretched, and defects detected based on changes from the baseline measurement.

Abstract: A sensor assembly may include at least one stretchable layer including a stretchable substrate having a modulus of less than about 60 megapascals (MPa) and an elongation of break of greater than about 25 percent about at least one axis, and at least one flexible layer including a flexible substrate having an elongation of break of greater than about 10 percent about at least one axis, the at least one flexible layer having a plurality of cuts formed therein. The sensor assembly may include an actuation layer including at least one contact pressure actuator for adjusting contact pressure of a target surface on the sensor assembly.

Abstract: Provided herein are conformable sensor assemblies and methods for manufacturing conformable sensor assemblies. In some embodiments, a method of manufacturing a conformable sensor assembly includes printing a high-resolution sensor element on a first layer using at least one of an electrohydrodynamic inkjet or an ultra-high resolution micro-dispensing process. The first layer comprises a flexible or a stretchable substrate. The method also includes printing a mid-resolution sensor element on a second sensor layer using at least one of an aerosol, inkjet jet, screen-printing, or copper etching process. The second sensor layer is made from a flexible or a stretchable substrate. The mid-resolution sensor element having a trace spacing in the range of about 20 microns to about 100 microns. The high-resolution sensor element has a trace spacing of less than about 20 microns. The first layer is coupled with the second sensor layer to form a sensor assembly.

Abstract: A sensor probe may include at least one ultrasound transducer and a controller. The controller may be configured to: receive, via the at least one ultrasound transducer, ultrasound signals from a component surface of a component; detect a pattern indicative of a communication from an other sensor probe, associated with the component, based on the received ultrasound signals; decode the received ultrasound signals to retrieve a message from the other sensor probe, in response to detecting the pattern indicative of the communication from the other sensor probe; obtain, via the at least one ultrasound transducer, ultrasound data indicative of ultrasound waves in the component, in response to the retrieved message; and cause data analysis for detecting defects in the component to be performed based on the obtained ultrasound data.

Abstract: Provided herein are systems and methods for preforming tactile profilometry. In some aspects, a system for performing tactile profilometry includes a probe with a profilometry sensor apparatus. The profilometry sensor apparatus comprises a touch medium having a first side adjacent to the surface being inspected and a second side opposite the first side, the second side having a reflective layer. The profilometry sensor apparatus also includes alight source coupled to a deformable waveguide to illuminate the reflective layer of the touch medium with a light beam at a incidence angle and a light sensor to detect reflected light. A shaping actuator is operatively coupled to the deformable waveguide to displace the deformable waveguide. A controller is configured to receive optical data from the light sensor and operate the shaping actuator to adjust the incidence angle based on the optical data.

Abstract: A sensor probe may include a plurality of sensor elements, wherein a sensor element, of the plurality of sensor elements includes an ultrasound transducer. The sensor probe includes a body formed at least in part from a flexible material. The flexible material provides acoustic coupling between the ultrasound transducer and a component surface, and wherein the flexible material establishes a conformal surface between the plurality of sensor elements and the component surface. The sensor probe may further include a locomotion actuator operable to move the sensor probe along the component surface; a controller configured to control operation of the plurality of sensor elements and the locomotion actuator. .

Abstract: An apparatus to reduce vibration of seal segments for a gas turbine engine is disclosed. An example apparatus includes a rotor, a stator, and a radial seal positioned between the rotor and the stator, the radial seal including a plurality of seal segments spanning a circumference of the rotor, a quantity of the plurality of seal segments corresponding to a prime number.

Abstract: A cleaning system for a gas turbine engine includes a foam supply unit for generating cleaning foam that is injected into the gas turbine engine, and an air blower that is operably coupled to a core flowpath of the gas turbine engine, the air blower being configured to draw a flow of air through the core flowpath at a flow rate that induces rotation of the gas turbine engine at a target rotational speed.

Abstract: A rotary machine seal assembly includes seal segments configured to circumferentially extend around a rotor between a stator and the rotor of a rotary machine. One or more seal segments include a shoe plate, a seal base, and at least one intermediate member. The shoe plate is disposed along the rotor. The seal base is disposed radially outward of the shoe plate. At least one intermediate member is coupled to and disposed between the seal base and the shoe plate. The at least one intermediate member includes an actuator portion having a first coefficient of thermal expansion and a constrictor portion having a different, second coefficient of thermal expansion. The at least one intermediate member is configured to move the shoe plate from a radially outward position to a radially inward position with respect to the rotor responsive to the at least one intermediate member undergoing a temperature change.

Abstract: A navigation apparatus for use in navigating a pipe having a sidewall defining an interior cavity is provided. The navigation apparatus includes a body assembly having a first end and a second end and configured to move through the interior cavity of the pipe. The navigation apparatus also includes a channel defining a fluid passageway extending at least partly between the first end and the second end of the body assembly, an inlet for fluid from the interior cavity of the pipe to enter the fluid passageway, and an outlet for the fluid to exit the fluid passageway and return to the interior cavity of the pipe. The channel is configured to allow the fluid to flow through the fluid passageway and from the first end of the body assembly to the second end of the body assembly as the body assembly moves through the interior cavity of the pipe.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to reduce vibration of a radial seal in a gas turbine engine are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a seal segment of a radial seal positioned between a rotor and a stator of a gas turbine engine, the seal segment including a first seal body adjacent the rotor and a first surface of the stator, a second seal body adjacent a second surface of the stator, the second surface opposite the first surface, the second seal body pivotable relative to the first seal body, and a pivot bar extending between the first seal body and the second seal body, and a damper operatively coupled to the pivot bar.

Abstract: An insertion tool for inspection includes a tube with a flexible section having at least two joints for articulating the flexible section into different shapes, the flexible section selectively configurable between an unrigidized state and at least a first rigid state having a first non-linear shape. The tool includes an end effector coupled to the tube with a sensor head to direct a beam toward a target area to perform a profilometry operation. The tool includes a waveguide extending through the tube, to transmit the beam from an electromagnetic source to the end effector and transmit electromagnetic signals from the end effector to a profilometry detecting device, and an end effector actuator to move the beam at the target. The end effector is axially spaced from an insertion axis of the tool when the flexible section is in the first rigid state to obtain off-axis profilometry measurements at the target.

Abstract: An insertion tool for performing an operation on equipment, the insertion tool including: a plurality of segments, each segment of the plurality of segments including a body including: a first hinge; a second hinge, the first and second hinge members pivotally coupling adjacent segments of the plurality of segments together; and a cavity extending along the body of the segment, the cavity exiting the body at a plurality of exit locations, wherein at least one of the plurality of exit locations is disposed adjacent to the first hinge; and a selectively rigidizable strength member disposed within the cavity.

Abstract: A seal monitoring apparatus is provided. The seal monitoring apparatus includes a temperature sensor and a controller in communication with the temperature sensor. The temperature sensor is mounted at a seal of a device. The controller is configured to receive measured temperature data from the temperature sensor and calculate expected temperature data for the seal based at least in part on operating conditions of the device. The controller is configured to determine a condition of the seal based at least in part on a temperature difference of the measured temperature data from the expected temperature data.

Abstract: A sensor system may include a sensor array comprising a plurality of eddy current sensor elements, the sensor array having a contact side and a mounting side opposite the contact side. The sensor system may include a sensor mount coupled to the mounting side of the sensor array. The sensor system may include a biasing element configured to bias the contact side of the sensor array against an inspected surface of a component and secure the sensor array to the component while the inspected surface moves relative to the sensor array during data capture.

Abstract: A system includes a navigation apparatus and controller. The navigation apparatus includes a body assembly that includes a plurality of pneumatic or artificial muscles that are configured to interact with a sidewall of the conduit and move the body assembly through the conduit. The plurality of pneumatic or artificial muscles are independently actuated to steer the body assembly. The navigation apparatus also includes a sensor array coupled to the body assembly. The sensor array is positioned to interact with the sidewall of the conduit and provide signals as the body assembly moves through the interior cavity. The controller is communicatively coupled to the sensor array and configured to determine a characteristic of the conduit based on the signals provided by the sensor array.

Abstract: An insertion tool for performing an operation on equipment, the insertion tool including: a plurality of segments, each segment of the plurality of segments including a body comprising: a first hinge; and a second hinge, the first hinge of a first segment being coupled to the second hinge of a second segment adjacent to the first segment through an interface, wherein the interface comprises a powder gap, a multi-modal interface, a compliance feature, a displace-to-lock configuration, an interference fit, or any combination thereof, wherein the insertion tool is configured to be selectively rigidizable using a strength member interfacing with the plurality of segments.

Abstract: An insertion tool is provided. The tool includes a flexible section comprising a plurality of rigidizable links, an end effector actuator, and an end effector coupled to the flexible section. A flexible is shaft inserted through the flexible section, wherein torque is transferred from the end effector actuator to the distal end via the flexible shaft to cause a rotation of the end effector. A tool may include a tool-less disconnect interface between the end effector and the flexible shaft.

Abstract: An insertion tool is provided. The tool includes a flexible section a rigidization actuator configured to actuate the flexible section between a rigidized state and a relaxed state, wherein in the rigidized state, a fluid path is formed within the flexible section, an end effector coupled to the flexible section, and an end effector actuator comprising at least one pneumatic turbine configured to transform fluid force of a fluid from the fluid path into torque to drive a rotation of the end effector.

Abstract: A system includes a tunneling device including a body assembly configured to move through an interior cavity of a tunnel. The system also includes a distributed communication and sensing system and a controller. The distributed communication and sensing system includes a first beacon coupled to the body assembly, and a second beacon positioned outside of the tunnel. The second beacon is communicatively coupled to the first beacon. The controller is configured to compare a first signal transmitted by the first beacon to a second signal transmitted by the second beacon, determine an environmental characteristic of the tunnel based on the first signal and the second signal, and determine an operating parameter for the tunneling device based on the environmental characteristic.