Question

Which sensor technology is specifically chosen for shape-sensing in flexible robots because it is immune to electromagnetic interference in an MRI suite?

Accepted Answer

The sensor technology specifically chosen for shape-sensing in flexible robots within an MRI suite is Fiber Bragg Grating sensing. An MRI suite contains a powerful magnetic field that generates electromagnetic interference, which would cause errors or malfunctions in standard electronic sensors like strain gauges or potentiometers. Fiber Bragg Gratings, or FBGs, are optical sensors inscribed into the core of a flexible optical fiber. These sensors operate by measuring changes in the wavelength of light reflected through the fiber. When the optical fiber bends or stretches along with the flexible robot, the grating structure physically deforms, which shifts the specific wavelength of light that is reflected. Because this technology relies entirely on light pulses traveling through glass fiber rather than electrical currents flowing through metal wires, it is inherently immune to electromagnetic interference. This allows the sensor to provide precise, real-time data on the robot&#x27;s shape and curvature while the MRI scanner is operating without causing image artifacts or being affected by the scanner&#x27;s intense magnetic environment.

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Which sensor technology is specifically chosen for shape-sensing in flexible robots because it is immune to electromagnetic interference in an MRI suite?