摘要： In this article, we present a novel stochastic algorithm called simultaneous sensor calibration and deformation estimation (SCADE) to address the problem of modeling deformation behavior of a generic continuum manipulator (CM) in free and obstructed environments. In SCADE, using a novel mathematical formulation, we introduce a priori model-independent ?ltering algorithm to fuse the continuous and inaccurate measurements of an embedded sensor (e.g., magnetic or piezoelectric sensors) with an intermittent but accurate data of an external imaging system (e.g., optical trackers or cameras). The main motivation of this article is the crucial need of obtaining an accurate shape/position estimation of a CM utilized in a surgical intervention. In these robotic procedures, the CM is typically equipped with an embedded sensing unit (ESU) while an external imaging modality (e.g., ultrasound or a ?uoroscopy machine) is also available in the surgical site. To evaluate the ef?cacy of the SCADE algorithm, we performed two different sets of experiments in free and obstructed environments. In these experiments, we utilized a CM speci?cally designed for orthopedic interventions equipped with an inaccurate ?ber Bragg grating (FBG) ESU and an overhead camera. The experimental results demonstrated the successful performance of the SCADE algorithm in simultaneous estimation of unknown deformation behavior of the utilized unmodeled CM together with realizing the time-varying drift of the poor-calibrated FBG sensing unit. Moreover, the results showed the phenomenal out-performance of the SCADE algorithm in estimation of the CM’s tip position as compared to FBG-based position estimations.