Pressure rigidization apparatuses and methods

A system for rigidizing an elongate rigidizing device at a target pressure, the system comprising:

• a pressure line configured to couple to a pressure inlet of the elongate rigidizing device;
• a pressure sensor configured to detect pressure within the pressure line;
• a vent valve in fluid communication with the pressure line;
• a supply valve in fluid communication with the pressure line;
• a controller coupled to the supply valve and configured to open the supply valve to apply a high-pressure pulse of pressurized fluid through the pressure line to rigidize the elongate rigidizing device, wherein the high-pressure pulse has a pressure that is higher than the target pressure, further wherein the controller is configured to detect a drop in pressure within the pressure line that is below a threshold and to apply one or more additional pulses of pressure through the pressure line.

A system for rigidizing an elongate rigidizing device at a target pressure, the system comprising:

• a pressure line configured to couple to a pressure inlet of an elongate rigidizing device, wherein the elongate rigidizing device is configured to be rigidized from a flexible configuration to a rigid configuration;
• a pressure sensor configured to detect pressure;
• a vent valve in fluid communication with the pressure line;
• a supply valve in fluid communication with the pressure line;
• a controller in communication with the pressure sensor and configured to open the supply valve to apply a pulse of pressurized fluid through the pressure line to rigidize the elongate rigidizing device, wherein the pulse of pressurized fluid is pressured to between about 2 and 10 atmospheres.