Inspection robot with removeable interface plates and method for configuring payload interfaces

An inspection robot, comprising:

• a housing defining an interface opening, the housing comprising a mount;
• a first payload comprising at least one first sensor mounted thereon, the first payload configured to selectively couple to the mount;
• a second payload comprising at least one second sensor mounted thereon, the second payload configured to selectively couple to the mount;
• a first removeable interface plate configured to mount to the housing over the interface opening, the first removeable interface plate having a first I/O interface compatible with the first payload on a first side, and a first electrical interface on a second side;
• a first electronic board compatible with the first electrical interface and configured to mount within the housing;
• a second removeable interface plate configured to mount to the housing over the interface opening, the second removeable interface plate having a second I/O interface compatible with the second payload on the first side, and a second electrical interface compatible on the second side;
• and
• a second electronic board compatible with the second electrical interface and configured to mount within the housing.

A method, comprising:

• swapping a first payload of an inspection robot to a second payload of the inspection robot, the first payload comprising a first sensor package, the second payload comprising a second sensor package, wherein the first sensor package is distinct from the second sensor package;
• swapping a first removeable interface plate mounted on a housing of the inspection robot over an interface opening to a second removeable interface plate mounted on the housing of the inspection robot over the interface opening, wherein the first removeable interface plate comprises a first I/O interface compatible with the first payload, and wherein the second removeable interface plate comprises a second I/O interface compatible with the second payload;
• operating the inspection robot to interrogate at least a portion of an inspection surface with the second payload;
• and
• swapping a first electronic board compatible with a first electrical interface of the first payload to a second electronic board compatible with a second electrical interface of the second payload.

An inspection robot, comprising:

• a payload mounted to a housing of the inspection robot, the payload comprising at least one sensor mounted thereon;
• the housing comprising a removeable interface plate, the removeable interface plate coupled to the at least one sensor on a first side, and coupled to an electronic board on a second side, wherein the electronic board is positioned within the housing;
• and
• the removeable interface plate defining an electrical coupling interface compatible with the payload,
• wherein the removeable interface plate further defines a couplant connection fluidly coupled to the payload on the first side and to a couplant source on the second side, and
• wherein the electronic board comprises an electrical processing configuration compatible with the payload.

An inspection robot, comprising:

• a payload mounted to a housing of the inspection robot, the payload comprising at least one sensor mounted thereon;
• the housing comprising a removeable interface plate, the removeable interface plate coupled to the at least one sensor on a first side, and coupled to an electronic board on a second side, wherein the electronic board is positioned within the housing;
• and
• the removeable interface plate defining an electrical coupling interface compatible with the payload,
• wherein the removeable interface plate comprises a high temperature plastic, and
• wherein the electronic board comprises an electrical processing configuration compatible with the payload.