US 12,474,008 B2
System and method including sensor array for characterization of conduits
Yew Teck Tan, Schenectady, NY (US); Deepak Trivedi, Halfmoon, NY (US); Steven Robert Gray, San Mateo, CA (US); Pei-Hsin Kuo, Alplaus, NY (US); and Alexander Kyle Duncan, Niskayuna, NY (US)
Assigned to GE Infrastructure Technology LLC, Greenville, SC (US)
Filed by General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US)
Filed on Nov. 7, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/981,955.
Prior Publication US 2024/0151344 A1, May 9, 2024
Int. Cl. F16L 55/48 (2006.01); F16L 55/38 (2006.01); F16L 101/30 (2006.01)
CPC F16L 55/48 (2013.01) [F16L 55/38 (2013.01); F16L 2101/30 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
a navigation apparatus comprising:
a body assembly comprising a plurality of pneumatic or artificial muscles that are configured to interact with a sidewall of a conduit and move said body assembly through the conduit, wherein said plurality of pneumatic or artificial muscles are independently actuated to steer said body assembly;
a tip coupled to said body assembly including an outer surface defining a circumference; and
a sensor array comprising a plurality of sensors arranged circumferentially around said tip and positioned to extend radially outward from said outer surface of said tip, wherein at least one sensor of said plurality of sensors is positioned to contact the sidewall of the conduit and provide signals representing the contact between the sidewall and said at least one sensor as said body assembly moves through the conduit; and
a controller communicatively coupled to said sensor array and configured to determine a characteristic of the conduit based on the signals provided by said sensor array.