US 12,139,279 B1
Visual inspection posable invertebrate robot (VIPIR) system
Jonathan Kraeuter, Beltsville, MD (US); Matthew Ashmore, Beltsville, MD (US); Michael Cortina, Beltsville, MD (US); Syed-Ali Husain, Beltsville, MD (US); Ross Henry, Greenbelt, MD (US); James Biesinger, Beltsville, MD (US); and Edward Cheung, Beltsville, MD (US)
Assigned to United States of America as represented by the Administrator of NASA, Washington, DC (US)
Filed by United States of America as represented by the Administrator of NASA, Washington, DC (US)
Filed on May 19, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/877,713.
Int. Cl. B64G 4/00 (2006.01); B65H 75/44 (2006.01); G02B 23/24 (2006.01); H04N 23/54 (2023.01); A61B 1/00 (2006.01); A61B 1/005 (2006.01); A61B 1/008 (2006.01); A61B 1/05 (2006.01); H04N 23/50 (2023.01)
CPC B64G 4/00 (2013.01) [B65H 75/4471 (2013.01); B65H 75/4486 (2013.01); G02B 23/2484 (2013.01); H04N 23/54 (2023.01); A61B 1/0005 (2013.01); A61B 1/005 (2013.01); A61B 1/008 (2013.01); A61B 1/05 (2013.01); B65H 2403/42 (2013.01); H04N 23/555 (2023.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A visual inspection posable invertebrate robot (VIPIR) system, comprising:
a reel system comprising a main housing, a rotating assembly comprising a spool and a reel gear, and a tendon management system (TMS);
a video borescope assembly (VBA) that is operably connected to, and deployable by, the reel system, the VBA comprising a camera and a plurality of tendons; and
a seal system operably connected to the reel system, the seal system configured to engage with a service port and allow the VBA to pass therethrough.