A system includes an inspection robot for performing an inspection on an inspection surface with an inspection robot, the apparatus comprising a position definition circuit structured to determine an inspection robot position on the inspection surface; a data positioning circuit structured to interpret inspection data, and to correlate the inspection data to the inspection robot position on the inspection surface; and wherein the data positioning circuit is further structured to determine position informed inspection data in response to the correlating of the inspection data with the inspection robot position, wherein the position informed inspection data comprises absolute position data.

A pipeline sphere is shown which houses an electronics package. The sphere is formed as a hollow elastomeric body having a predetermined wall thickness and an initially void interior. A carrier tube is positioned within the initially void interior of the sphere and is supported by oppositely arranged carrier plates which are themselves embedded within oppositely arranged end openings of the sphere. A removable inflation valve is contained in one of the valve plates at a first end of the carrier tube. The carrier tube has a plurality of apertures formed through its wall to enable inflating or deflating the sphere. One electronics package that can be used is an electrical tracking device.

A pipeline sphere is shown which houses an electronics package. The sphere is formed as a hollow elastomeric body having a predetermined wall thickness and an initially void interior. A carrier tube is positioned within the initially void interior of the sphere and is supported by oppositely arranged carrier plates which are themselves embedded within oppositely arranged end openings of the sphere. A removable inflation valve is contained in one of the valve plates at a first end of the carrier tube. The carrier tube has a plurality of apertures formed through its wall to enable inflating or deflating the sphere. One electronics package that can be used is an electrical tracking device.

A system for determining the location of pipelines using at least one geopig that is introduced into a pipeline, advances therein and that has a magnetic source for generating a magnetic field, wherein at least one unmanned aerial vehicle is provided with magnetic field sensors and position determination devices, a controller is provided for determining the field strength profile of the magnetic field and for positioning the unmanned aerial vehicle at a defined distance from the at least one geopig, and a device is provided for determining the location of the at least one geopig from the position of the unmanned aerial vehicle and the defined distance between the at least one geopig and the unmanned aerial vehicle.

A system for determining the location of pipelines using at least one geopig that is introduced into a pipeline, advances therein and that has a magnetic source for generating a magnetic field, wherein at least one unmanned aerial vehicle is provided with magnetic field sensors and position determination devices, a controller is provided for determining the field strength profile of the magnetic field and for positioning the unmanned aerial vehicle at a defined distance from the at least one geopig, and a device is provided for determining the location of the at least one geopig from the position of the unmanned aerial vehicle and the defined distance between the at least one geopig and the unmanned aerial vehicle.

The present disclosure provides for a pig tracking and locating system that is able to pinpoint the exact location of a pig so that if the pig becomes stuck, it can be more efficiently located and retrieved without excessive searching. A representative system includes an unmanned underwater vehicle that travels with or very near the pig as it progresses through a pipeline, and gathers and stores information transmitted by the pig. This information may include location data that can be transmitted in the event the pig becomes stuck.

The present disclosure provides for a pig tracking and locating system that is able to pinpoint the exact location of a pig so that if the pig becomes stuck, it can be more efficiently located and retrieved without excessive searching. A representative system includes an unmanned underwater vehicle that travels with or very near the pig as it progresses through a pipeline, and gathers and stores information transmitted by the pig. This information may include location data that can be transmitted in the event the pig becomes stuck.

A method for use in connection with installing a cable into a conduit having a first conduit end and a second conduit end, comprising the steps of —providing the cable with a metallic attribute, —providing within or proximate to the conduit, sensing means for sensing the metallic attribute, —introducing the cable into the first conduit end and driving it towards the second conduit end and —detecting that the sensing means has sensed the metallic attribute by sensing a change in inductance levels of the sensing means.

A method for use in connection with installing a cable into a conduit having a first conduit end and a second conduit end, comprising the steps of —providing the cable with a metallic attribute, —providing within or proximate to the conduit, sensing means for sensing the metallic attribute, —introducing the cable into the first conduit end and driving it towards the second conduit end and —detecting that the sensing means has sensed the metallic attribute by sensing a change in inductance levels of the sensing means.

A pipeline inspection device including a housing, an antenna, an imaging device having one or more lenses, two diaphragms extending from the housing and distal to one another along the length of the housing, the two diaphragms sharing a longitudinal axis with the housing, a processor, a storage device in communication with the processor, and a memory in communication with the processor, storing a machine learning algorithm and instructions to be executed by the processor, wherein the antenna is operable to communicate with a remote transceiver, the remote transceiver being located on a pipeline through which the pipeline inspection device travels. Also disclosed herein are systems and methods for using the same.