A worm-like robot developed by GE Aerospace has been designed to assist with on-wing jet engine inspections.

Sensiworm, which stands for Soft ElectroNics Skin-Innervated Robotic Worm, is an untethered soft inchworm-like robot that can move through the crevasses and curves of jet engines to locate corrosion, cracks, defects, gas leaks or to determine the thickness of thermal barrier coatings, for instance.

Source: GE AerospaceSource: GE Aerospace

Expanding the capabilities of humans performing routine inspections, the robot moves thanks to sticky suction cups. Further, the inchworm-like robot can manipulate its form, squishing itself to fit within crevices and it can attach itself to spinning turbines.

Enabling the Sensiworm to perform inspection tasks is a series of onboard sensors and cameras, GE Aerospace explained.

For more on the Sensiworm, watch the accompanying video that appears courtesy of GE Aerospace.

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