Automated inspection and cleaning of optical fiber components

A method for operating a robotic system to perform inspection and cleaning of an optical fiber connector and an optical fiber transceiver, the method comprising:

• inspecting a fiber end of the optical fiber connector by moving the fiber end to an inspection tool non-movably affixed to the robotic system;
• cleaning the fiber end of the optical fiber connector by moving the fiber end into contact with a cleaning tool non-movably affixed to the robotic system;
• inspecting a fiber end of the optical fiber transceiver by moving the fiber end of the optical fiber transceiver to the inspection tool;
• and
• cleaning the fiber end of the optical fiber transceiver by moving the fiber end of the optical fiber transceiver into contact with the cleaning tool.

A robotic system for automated inspection and cleaning of optical fiber components, the system comprising:

• a chassis;
• a transceiver positioning mechanism affixed to the chassis and configured to translate a transceiver receptacle in a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, the transceiver receptacle configured to removably retain an optical fiber transceiver;
• a clamp positioning mechanism affixed to the chassis and configured to translate a clamp in the first direction and the second direction orthogonal to the first direction, the clamp configured to remove an optical fiber connector from the optical fiber transceiver and reinsert the optical fiber connector into the optical fiber transceiver;
• an inspection tool non-movably affixed to the chassis and configured to inspect a fiber end of the optical fiber transceiver and a fiber end of the optical fiber connector;
• and
• a cleaning tool non-movably affixed to the chassis and configured to clean the fiber end of the optical fiber transceiver and the fiber end of the optical fiber connector.