General Electric Company
Probe Insertion System

Abstract:

Systems for inserting and orienting a soft robotic probe into an apparatus and capturing images and methods of using the same are generally disclosed. For example, the system includes a cable, an actuation assembly, and a camera at the tip of the probe. The cable includes an adjustable sheath at an exterior of the cable defined around a probe centerline extending the length of the probe. The adjustable sheath extends and contracts the cable between a first length and a second length different from the first length and is defined within the adjustable sheath. The actuation assembly extends or contracts the cable between the first length and the second length and further adjusts an orientation of the cable, an orientation of the tip of the probe, or both along at least one axis. The camera captures images at least partially around a circumferential direction relative to a camera centerline.