# US 12,604,096 B2 · Adaptive borescope inspection > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,604,096 B2 - Document ID: US12604096B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/828,174 - Filed: 2024-09-09 - Published: 2025-04-10 - Granted: 2026-04-14 - Earliest claimed: 2020-10-28 - Assignees: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC - Applicants: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC - Inventors: Sheldon McCrackin; Jeremy Vandam; Carlneil Domkam; Samvid Jhaveri; Brice Kim; Kevin Coombs; Matthew Pankow; Tom Lambdin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12604096B2 ## CPC - G06T 7/0006: {using a design-rule based approach} - H04N 23/695: Control of camera direction for changing a field of view, e.g. pan, tilt or based on tracking of objects - G06T 1/0014: {Image feed-back for automatic industrial control, e.g. robot with camera (robots B25J19/023)} - G06T 7/0004: {Industrial image inspection} - H04N 23/64: {Computer-aided capture of images, e.g. transfer from script file into camera, check of taken image quality, advice or proposal for image composition or decision on when to take image} - H04N 23/67: Focus control based on electronic image sensor signals - H04N 23/69: Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming - H04N 23/74: by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means - G06T 2207/10016: Video; Image sequence - G06T 2207/10068: Endoscopic image - G06T 2207/30164: Workpiece; Machine component - H04N 23/555: {for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes} - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A method of adaptive inspection includes receiving data characterizing one or more images of an inspection region of an industrial machine acquired by an inspection system operating based on a first set of operating parameters. The inspection region includes a site feature. The method also includes determining, by an analytical model, one or more characteristics of the inspection region from the received data characterizing the one or more images of the inspection region. The method further includes generating a control signal based on the one or more characteristics of the inspection region and/or a user input. The inspection system is configured to perform a new inspection of the inspection region based on the control signal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: receiving data characterizing one or more images of an inspection region of an industrial machine acquired by an inspection system operating based on a first set of operating parameters, wherein the inspection region comprises a site feature; determining, using an analytical model, one or more characteristics of the inspection region from the data characterizing the one or more images of the inspection region, wherein determining one or more characteristic comprises one or more of: determining an identity of the site feature by an image recognition algorithm in the analytical model, wherein the image recognition algorithm receives data characterizing the one or more images of the inspection region and historical images of inspection region as inputs; determining image quality characteristics of the one or more images of the inspection region, wherein the image quality characteristics comprise one or more of resolution of the one or more images, illumination of the site feature in the one or more images, size of an image of the site feature relative to the size of the image of the inspection region; and determining site feature characteristics comprising one or more of size, shape, and depth of the site feature; determining that a new inspection of the inspection region is needed, wherein the new inspection of the inspection region comprises acquiring a new image based on at least one of the identity of the site feature and the image quality characteristics of the image of the inspection region; generating a control signal based on the one or more characteristics of the inspection region; determining a second set of operating parameters associated with the inspection system for an acquisition of the new image, wherein the control signal is based on the second set of operating parameters; and activating, using the control signal, the inspection system to capture new images for a new inspection of the site feature, using the second set of operating parameters different from the first set of operating parameters. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: generating a notification comprising one or more of data characterizing the one or more images of an inspection region, the one or more characteristics of the inspection region, the identity of the site feature, image quality characteristics, site feature characteristics, and the second set of operating parameters; presenting the notification to a user; receiving an input from the user in response to the notification; and generating the control signal based on the input, wherein the new inspection of the inspection region by the inspection system is based on the control signal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the site feature is a site defect in the inspection region of the industrial machine, wherein identifying the site feature comprises determining a defect type associated with the site defect. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: comparing the image quality characteristics with predetermined image quality characteristics comprising one or more of a predetermined image resolution, a predetermined image illumination, a predetermined ratio of size of the image of the site feature relative to the size of the image of the inspection region. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the control signal is configured to vary at least one of a position of a lighting device, an orientation of the lighting device and an intensity associated with the lighting device in the inspection system to a new position, a new orientation, and a new intensity, respectively, wherein the second set of operating parameters comprise at least one of the new position, the new orientation and the new intensity. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the control signal is configured to vary at least one of a position and an orientation of a camera in the inspection system to a new position and a new orientation, respectively, wherein the second set of operating parameters comprise values for at least one of the new position and the new orientation. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the new images comprise a high-fidelity image, and wherein acquiring the new images is based on comparing the identity of the site feature with a predetermined list of site features requiring high-resolution images. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the high-fidelity image can comprise one or more of a high-resolution image, a stereoscopic image, a panoramic image, a high-dynamic range image, a 3D point cloud image, a flash mode image, and a live image. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the control signal is configured to activate a high-resolution camera in the inspection system to capture the new image. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the control signal is configured to activate one or more cameras in the inspection system to capture the new images, wherein the new images are used to generate one or more of the panoramic image, the stereoscopic image and the 3D point cloud image. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining that the new inspection of the inspection region comprises acquiring a video of the inspection region, the determining based on comparing the identity of the site feature with a predetermined list of site features requiring videos. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the control signal is configured to activate a video camera in the inspection system to capture a video. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining that the new inspection of the inspection region comprises acquiring the one or more of images of the inspection region during a predetermined time period; and determining the second set of operating parameters associated with a turning tool of the inspection system, wherein the turning tool is coupled to the inspection region and is configured to move the inspection region. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the control signal is configured to vary a state of the turning tool, wherein the control signal is based on the second set of operating parameters of a camera. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the control signal is configured to vary a speed of rotation associated with the turning tool and the inspection region relative to the camera. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the control signal is configured to move the turning tool back and forth resulting in a back and forth motion of the inspection region relative to the camera. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the control signal is configured to move the turning tool such that the back and forth motion of the inspection region matches a motion of the camera. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a data file comprising one or more of data characterizing the one or more images of an inspection region, the one or more characteristics of the inspection region, the identity of the site feature, image quality characteristics, site feature characteristics, and the second set of operating parameters. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the control signal is configured to vary at least one of a position of a lighting device, an orientation of the lighting device and an intensity associated with the lighting device in the inspection system to a new position, a new orientation, and a new intensity, respectively, wherein the second set of operating parameters comprise at least one of the new position, the new orientation and the new intensity. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the control signal is configured to activate a high-resolution camera in the inspection system to capture a new image. ### Claim 21 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising determining that the new inspection of the inspection region comprises acquiring a video of the inspection region, the determining based on comparing the identity of the site feature with a predetermined list of site features requiring videos, wherein the notification comprises a recommendation for acquiring the video of the inspection region. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the input from the user comprises data characterizing acceptance of the recommendation for acquiring the new images, and wherein the control signal is configured to activate a video camera in the inspection system to capture the video. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, further comprising: determining that the new inspection of the inspection region comprises acquiring a plurality of images of the inspection region during a predetermined time period; and determining a second set of operating parameters associated with a turning tool of the inspection system, wherein the turning tool is coupled to the inspection region and is configured to move the inspection region, wherein the notification comprises a recommendation for acquiring the plurality of images of the inspection region and the second set of operating parameters associated with the turning tool. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the input from the user comprises data characterizing acceptance of the recommendation for acquiring the plurality of images. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein the control signal is configured vary a state of the turning tool, wherein the control signal is based on the second set of operating parameters. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein the control signal is configured to vary a speed of rotation associated with the turning tool and the inspection region relative to a camera. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein the control signal is configured to move the turning tool back and forth resulting in a back and forth motion of the inspection region relative to a camera. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, wherein the control signal is configured to move the turning tool such that the back and forth motion of the inspection region matches a motion of a camera. ### Claim 29 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the data characterizing the one or more images is associated with a video of the inspection region. ### Claim 30 A system comprising: at least one data processor; non-transitory memory coupled to the at least one data processor, the non-transitory memory storing instructions to cause the at least one data processor to perform operations comprising: receiving data characterizing one or more images of an inspection region of an industrial machine acquired by an inspection system operating based on a first set of operating parameters, wherein the inspection region comprises a site feature; determining, using an analytical model, one or more characteristics of the inspection region from the data characterizing the one or more images of the inspection region, wherein determining one or more characteristic comprises one or more of: determining an identity of the site feature by an image recognition algorithm in the analytical model, wherein the image recognition algorithm receives data characterizing the one or more images of the inspection region and historical images of inspection region as inputs; determining image quality characteristics of the one or more images of the inspection region, wherein the image quality characteristics comprise one or more of resolution of the one or more images, illumination of the site feature in the one or more images, size of an image of the site feature relative to the size of the image of the inspection region; and determining site feature characteristics comprising one or more of size, shape, and depth of the site feature; determining that a new inspection of the inspection region is needed, wherein the new inspection comprises acquiring a new image based on at least one of the identity of the site feature and the image quality characteristics of the image of the inspection region; generating a control signal based on the one or more characteristics of the inspection region; determining a second set of operating parameters associated with the inspection system for an acquisition of the new image, wherein the control signal is based on the second set of operating parameters; and activating, using the control signal, the inspection system to capture new images for a new inspection of the site feature, using the second set of operating parameters different from the first set of operating parameters. ### Claim 31 A computer program product comprising a non-transitory machine-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one programmable processor that comprises at least one physical core and a plurality of logical cores, cause the at least one programmable processor to perform operations comprising: receiving data characterizing one or more images of an inspection region of an industrial machine acquired by an inspection system operating based on a first set of operating parameters, wherein the inspection region comprises a site feature; determining, using an analytical model, one or more characteristics of the inspection region from the data characterizing the one or more images of the inspection region, wherein determining one or more characteristic comprises one or more of: determining an identity of the site feature by an image recognition algorithm in the analytical model, wherein the image recognition algorithm receives data characterizing the one or more images of the inspection region and historical images of inspection region as inputs; determining image quality characteristics of the one or more images of the inspection region, wherein the image quality characteristics comprise one or more of resolution of the one or more images, illumination of the site feature in the one or more images, size of an image of the site feature relative to the size of the image of the inspection region; and determining site feature characteristics comprising one or more of size, shape, and depth of the site feature; determining that a new inspection of the inspection region is needed, wherein the new inspection comprises acquiring a new image based on at least one of the identity of the site feature and the image quality characteristics of the image of the inspection region; generating a control signal based on the one or more characteristics of the inspection region; determining a second set of operating parameters associated with the inspection system for an acquisition of the new image, wherein the control signal is based on the second set of operating parameters; and activating, using the control signal, the inspection system to capture new images for a new inspection of the site feature, using the second set of operating parameters different from the first set of operating parameters.