Abstract: A feed mechanism for inserting and/or retracting a flexible robotic arm from an area, the feed mechanism including a housing, a passageway extending about a central longitudinal axis through the length thereof, a drive portion and rotational portion, the drive portion not being fixedly connected within the housing and having at least a pair of drive wheels coupled to a drive motor, the drive wheels are connected to a mounting frame with the mounting frame being connected to pivotable linkages with at least one of the linkages being connected to a spring, such that the expansion or contraction of the spring allows the drive wheels to move relative to the longitudinal axis, and the rotational portion being coupled to a motor, the rotational motor having a gear system that connects to the drive portion and causes a rotation of the drive portion about the central longitudinal axis within the housing.

Abstract: A system for inserting a flexible robotic arm into a workspace, the system having: a feed mechanism having a housing containing a drive mechanism, the drive mechanism gripping the flexible robotic arm using at least one drive wheel which is coupled to a drive motor, the feed mechanism is provided with at least one force sensor; and a haptic controller coupled to the feed mechanism, the haptic controller having input controller for instructing the drive motor within the feed mechanism to activate in response to the signal from the input controller, and wherein the input controller is provided with haptic feedback to provide an operator an indication of the state of operation of the feed mechanism based on signals output from signals provided by the force sensors.

Abstract: A system for inspecting a complex component, the system comprising: a flexible inspection device having a driver for controlling the motion of the flexible inspection device by manipulating the relative positions of a plurality of joints within the device, the flexible device having a sensor on its distal end; a feed mechanism for controlling the insertion or retraction of the flexible device into or from the complex component; a component driver for driving the movement of an aspect of the complex component from at least a first position to a second position; and a computer running a computer program, the computer interfacing with the flexible inspection device, the feed mechanism, and the component driver, so as to link the operation of the flexible inspection device, the feed mechanism and the component driver through a single program.

Abstract: A section of a continuum arm robot including a pair of pivot points at a first and second end of the joint, the section further having a first and second connecting rod connected to the section and joining at the centre of the section, the connecting rods has a plurality of gear teeth at the peripheral ends of the connecting rod that intermesh at a central point on the section.

Abstract: A connection plate for a continuum arm robotic, the connection plate having a collar for connecting to a continuum arm robot and a cut out section from one end and which extends to a plurality of apertures that are present within a face of the connection plate. A continuum arm robot including a robotic arm and a connection plate wherein the robotic arm includes a connection plate that connects to the end of the distal end of the continuum arm robot through a collar, the connection plate having a cut out section that extends from one end into a plurality of apertures that the distal end of the tendons passes through.

Abstract: An actuator pack for a continuum arm robot, the actuator pack including a plurality of actuator pack sections, with each section having a housing and an interface plate, each section further containing a bank consisting of a plurality actuators that are connected to their own respective drive electronics and the actuators being mounted to the housing or the interface plate and having their drive heads exposed through a hole in the interface plate, and wherein the sections of the actuator pack are configured to coupled together in one state.