Abstract: A method of using an extended reality (XR) system includes capturing, with a visual capture device of the XR system, imagery of real-world objects associated with a gas turbine engine. The method further includes identifying, with a computing system of the XR system, at least partially based on the imagery of the real-world objects, an area-of-interest (AOI) corresponding to a portion of the real-world objects. The method further includes displaying, with a visual display of the XR system, XR content that includes a mixture of the imagery of the real-world objects and virtual objects. The virtual objects include at least one of a virtual indicator, a virtual position, or a virtual alignment indicator.

Abstract: A method of using an extended reality (XR) system includes capturing imagery of real-world objects within a field of view of the visual capture device. The method includes identifying the one or more components of the gas turbine engine based on the imagery. The method includes receiving an input from one or more input devices of the XR system with the computing system. The method includes retrieving data associated with the one or more components of the gas turbine engine based on the input with the computing system. The method includes displaying XR content that includes a mixture of the imagery and virtual objects that are descriptive of the data associated with the one or more component of the gas turbine engine.

Abstract: A method of using an extended reality (XR) system includes displaying, with a visual display of the extended reality (XR) system, XR content that includes imagery of real-world objects and virtual objects within a field of view. The first virtual object includes a digital-twin model in a first state. The method further includes determining, with a computing system of the XR system, an interaction between the digital-twin model and one of a second virtual object or a first real-world object. The method further includes providing, with a feedback system, a force feedback in response to determining the interaction between the digital-twin model and one of the second virtual object or the first real-world object. The method further includes modifying, with the visual display, the digital-twin model to a second state based on the interaction between the digital-twin model and one of the second virtual object or the first real-world object.

Abstract: A method of using an extended reality (XR) system includes capturing, with a visual capture device of the XR system, imagery of the real-world objects within the field of view of the visual capture device. The real-world objects are a component of a gas turbine engine. The method further includes identifying, with a computing system of the XR system, the component of the gas turbine engine based on the imagery. The method further includes displaying, with a visual display of the XR system, XR content that includes a mixture of the imagery and virtual objects. The virtual objects are descriptive of the component of the gas turbine engine.

Abstract: A method of using a supervisory system is provided. The supervisory system includes a remote system and an XR system in communication with the remote system. The method includes capturing inputs to the XR system with the one or more input devices during a servicing operation to a gas turbine engine. The inputs include imagery captured with a visual capture device of the one or more input devices. The inputs further include one of an audio input, an eye movement input, a force input, or a movement input. The method further includes providing the inputs to a remote computing system of the remote system. The method further includes displaying, with a remote display of the remote system, remote XR content that includes the imagery and remote virtual objects illustrative of the inputs.

Abstract: An insertion tool is provided. The tool includes an insertion portion, a telescoping link, a joint actuation assembly, and an extension actuator. The telescoping link having a base part and an extension part, the extension part being configured to slide longitudinally relative to the base part from a retracted state to an extended state. The joint actuation assembly is configured to change an angle between the base part of the telescoping link and the insertion portion via a joint. The extension actuator is configured to actuate the extension part of the telescoping link from the retracted state to the extended state.

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: 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 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: 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.