Communication system for pipeline inspection

A method of tracking an inline tool that is traveling along and through a pipe or conduit, said method comprising:

• detecting an inline tool as the inline tool passes generally at or near a detection and communication device;
• generating a detection output via said detection and communication device, said detection output including data indicative of the detection of the inline tool and a geographical location of said detection and communication device;
• providing a control;
• said control receiving said detection output of said detection and communication device and processing said detection output;
• said control generating a control output responsive to said processing, said control output being indicative of the detection of the inline tool and the geographical location of said detection and communication device;
• providing at least one tracking vehicle movably disposed at a geographical region associated with the pipe or conduit and at least one display device associated with said at least one tracking vehicle, said display device receiving an input indicative of said control output and, responsive at least in part to receipt of said input, displaying information indicative of the detection of the inline tool and the geographical location of said detection and communication device for viewing by a user of said at least one tracking vehicle while the inline tool is traveling along and through the pipe or conduit;
• and
• driving said tracking vehicle towards said detection and communication device at least in part responsive to said display device displaying the information indicative of the detection of the inline tool and the geographical location of said detection and communication device.

An inline tool tracking system for tracking an inline tool traveling along and through a pipe or conduit, said tracking system comprising:

• a plurality of detection and communication devices disposed along a pipe or conduit and operable to detect an inline tool as the inline tool passes generally at or near a respective one of said detection and communication devices, wherein each of said detection and communication devices, responsive to detection of an inline tool at or near the respective detection and communication device, generates a respective detection output, said respective detection output including data indicative of the detection of the inline tool and a geographical location of the respective detection and communication device;
• a plurality of controls and a plurality of display devices associated with respective ones of a plurality of tracking vehicles movably disposed at a geographical region associated with the pipe or conduit, wherein said controls wirelessly receive said detection outputs of said detection and communication devices and process said detection outputs, and wherein each of said controls generates a respective control output responsive to said processing, said respective control output being indicative of the detection of the inline tool and the geographical location of the respective detection and communication device that detected the inline tool and generated said respective detection output;
• wherein each of said display devices receives an input indicative of a control output of a respective one of said controls, and wherein said display device is operable, responsive at least in part to receipt of said input, to display information indicative of the detection of the inline tool and the geographical location of the detection and communication device that generated said respective detection output for viewing by a user of the respective display device while the inline tool is traveling along and through the pipe or conduit;
• and
• wherein the driver of a respective tracking vehicle drives said tracking vehicle towards a detection and communication device at least in part responsive to said display device of the respective tracking vehicle displaying the information indicative of the detection of the inline tool and the geographical location of the detection and communication device that generated the respective detection output.