Soft robot for non-destructive testing
US20250297993A1
Abstract
A non-destructive testing (NDT) system including: a flexible ultrasound array including an array surface; a controller for controlling the flexible ultrasound array; and an actuatable soft robot system comprising an actuator mechanism for actuating the flexible ultrasound array to modify a shape of the array surface of the flexible ultrasound array.
Description (excerpt)
Pursuant to 37 C.F.R. § 1.78(a)(4), this application claims the benefit of and priority to prior filed co-pending Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/569,378, filed Mar. 25, 2024, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. RIGHTS OF THE GOVERNMENT The disclosure described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States for all governmental purposes without the payment of any royalty. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to robotics for inspection and, more particularly, to soft robotic systems with integrated ultrasound for non-destructive testing. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Current non-destructive testing (NDT) (also referred to as non-destructive evaluation (NDE)) equipment may be insufficient for accessing necessary portions of a tested article, object, or system. Hence, these inaccessible areas may be difficult or impossible to sufficiently test. Moreover, NDT is often implemented to evaluate systems of utmost criticality. For example, military aircraft, maritime, and other applications (e.g., oil and gas pipelines, nuclear components, medical inspection, integrated circuits, windmills, etc.) are often tested with NDT systems. Marine and aircraft applications, for example, can require NDT-tested systems to operate under extreme circumstances in austere environments. Because NDT testing of such systems is a critical capability, any aspects that are capable of increasing the flexibility and accessibility of NDT systems ought to be explored. Additionally, flexible and more useful systems may enable testing of systems in situ, which can reduce cost and time of testing. Making testing systems more flexible or adaptable to the systems that they will test may maximize the chances of identifying and correcting deviations and deformities in components and systems. Additionally, because of the high cost and difficulty of operation of current NDT systems, new robust but cost-effective systems may be required. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes the foregoing problems and other shortcomings, drawbacks, and challenges of NDT for critical systems. While the invention will be described in connection with certain embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to these embodiments. To the contrary, this invention includes all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the present invention. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a non-destructive testing (NDT) system includes a flexible ultrasound array including an array surface; a controller for controlling the flexible ultrasound array; and an actuatable soft robot system comprising an actuator mechanism for actuating the flexible ultrasound array to modify a shape of the array surface of the flexible ultrasound array. According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a flexible ultrasound robot for non-destructive testing includes a head including: a coupler for coupling the flexible ultrasound robot to a controller; a fluid interface for coupling the flexible ultrasound robot with a fluid supply and fluid return for controlling a motion of the flexible ultrasound robot, a body comprising: a flexible ultrasound array including an array surface; and an actuatable soft robot system comprising an actuator mechanism for actuating the flexible ultrasound array to flex the array surface of the flexible ultrasound array. Additional objects, advantages, and novel features of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the disclosure. The objects and advantages of the disclosure may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with a general description of the disclosure given above, and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure. FIG. 1 shows non-destructive testing (NDT) system including a flexible ultrasound array and an actuatable soft robot system, according to one or more embodiments shown and described herein. <div id="p-0012" num="0011" c
Filing details
- Inventors
- Abigail Juhl
- Assignee
- Government Of The United States As Represented By The Secretary Of The Air …
- Filed
- Feb 19, 2025
- Granted
- Application pending
Bibliographic data and excerpted text sourced from Google Patents (public record) as part of IP TechMatch's current-filings monitor. This filing is not part of the 2019 historical archive. For the authoritative full text, drawings, and legal status, see the source links above or consult USPTO records directly.