Visual Inspection Posable Invertebrate Robot (VIPIR)

Initially developed as a close quarters inspection tool capable of accessing hard to reach, tight, or visibly restricted, areas of satellites, the VIPIR system can be used to remotely inspect inaccessible locations such as behind a sheet of thermal blanketing material, into a satellites plumbing, or perhaps even deep inside the otherwise unreachable crevasses of a spacecraft bus. The VIPIR system incorporates a number of subassemblies for incredible operational freedom and capabilities for imaging and dissemination of componentry. VIPIR’s Video Borescope Assembly (VBA) is a flexible snake-camera capable of multidirectional articulations, making steering and control simple and intuitive for an operator. The VBA also includes at least one imaging sensor and lighting to see in dark, confined spaces. Real-time, high-resolution visual information can be fed back to an operator for live analysis. A reel system extends and retracts the VBA with the use of a spool, and includes position indicators for deployment tracking. The Tendon Management System (TMS), not unlike human tendons, utilizes pulleys and tensioners to articulate the VBA in the confined spaces. A seal system ensures the VBA is free of contamination. VIPIR underwent space-based testing on the ISS during the Robotic Refueling Phase 2 (RRM-2) mission designed to showcase and test several NASA advanced robotic satellite servicing technologies. During this mission, VIPIR demonstrated state-of-the-art near and midrange inspection capabilities. NASA’s VIPIR system is available for licensing to industry, and may be desirable to companies focused on satellite servicing, on-orbit assembly, and other applications requiring detailed inspection of assets in space. On-orbit spacecraft maintenance and repair of components are critical for extending mission lifespans and ensuring operational safety. Traditional inspection methods, like astronaut extravehicular activities (EVAs), are risky and resource-intensive, while fixed cameras offer limited views. To address these challenges, innovators at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center developed the Visual Inspection Posable Invertebrate Robot (VIPIR) system, a tele-operated robotic imaging system offering advanced capabilities for visual assessments of space-based assets. VIPIR is a significant leap forward in the realm of on-orbit robotic inspection, evaluation, and servicing systems. Integrating a dexterous, flexible video borescope with advanced articulation mechanisms, VIPIR allows NASA to remotely inspect spacecraft components that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to view, enabling subsequent repairs and maintenance.