GE Aerospace introduced Sensiworm, a future on-wing inspection and repair tool, for jet engines.
GE Aerospace's Sensiworm
GE recently demonstrated its Aerospace SoftElectroNics Skin-Innervated Robotic Worm or Sensiworm. The intelligent robot is designed for providing extra set of eyes and ears for service operators inside the engine.
Before Sensiworm, operators use a video borescope which is a highly advanced inspection instrument. However, data from inspection are often limited due to gravity since it can cause the to naturally settle if not braced against a structure within the engine.
"With their soft, compliant design, they could inspect every inch of jet engine transmitting live video and real-time data about the condition of parts that operators typically check," principal robotics engineer for GE Aerospace Research Deepak Trivedi explained.
Sensiworm's Development
According to GE Aerospace, the robot's development was funded and supported through SEMI Flex Tech, an industry-led public/private partnership. Moreover, the project was also funded by the US Army Research Lab.
During its demonstrations, Sensiworm was able to "accurately inspect and measure the thickness of thermal barrier coatings." GE Aerospace hopes that Sensiworm will help expand the coverage and inspection capabilities inside an engine.
GE Aerospace did not mention the exact timetable for the Sensiworm's development. The company is yet to announce its launch in the field.
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