Control system and methods for adjusting traction of a pipe navigation apparatus

1 . A control system for controlling a pipe navigation apparatus in a pipe, said control system comprising:

a tether sensor configured to detect release of a tether from a tether guide device, the tether extending from the tether guide device to the pipe navigation apparatus;

a traction sensor configured to detect a detected traction force between the pipe navigation apparatus and the pipe; and

a controller in communication with said tether sensor and said traction sensor, said controller configured to automatically control the pipe navigation apparatus to adjust a traction force between the pipe navigation apparatus and the pipe based on the detected release of the tether from the tether guide device.

2 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein adjustment of the traction force is further based on the detected traction force.

3 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein the detected traction force is a first detected traction force, and wherein said controller is further configured to:

receive, after adjusting the traction force, a second detected traction force from said traction sensor;

determine whether the second detected traction force is within a predetermined range; and

automatically control the pipe navigation apparatus based on the determination.

4 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein said traction sensor is configured to measure compression of an elastic element of the pipe navigation apparatus, and wherein said controller is further configured to determine the detected traction force based on the measured compression of the elastic element.

5 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein said controller is further configured to:

determine a length of the tether released from the tether guide device based on the detected release of the tether from the tether guide device; and

determine a loading of the released tether on the pipe navigation apparatus based on the length of the tether released from the tether guide device.

6 . The control system of claim 5 , wherein said controller comprises a memory storing a predetermined weight of the tether, and wherein the determining the loading of the released tether is based on the predetermined weight.

7 . The control system of claim 5 , wherein said tether guide device comprises a spool and said tether sensor comprises a rotary position sensor configured to measure rotation of the tether guide device.

8 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein controlling the pipe navigation apparatus to adjust the traction force includes controlling a traction control assembly of the pipe navigation apparatus to pivot an arm of the pipe navigation apparatus, the arm coupling a wheel of the pipe navigation apparatus to a body of the pipe navigation apparatus.

9 . The control system of claim 8 , wherein the arm includes a compression spring, and wherein pivoting the arm compresses the compression spring and increases the traction force at the wheel.

10 . The control system of claim 1 further comprising an inertial sensor configured to detect whether the pipe navigation apparatus is moving, wherein said controller is further configured to:

provide a drive command to the pipe navigation apparatus;

determine, after providing the drive command, that the pipe navigation apparatus is not moving based on readings from the inertial sensor; and

control the pipe navigation apparatus to increase the traction force based on the determination.

11 . The control system of claim 1 , wherein said controller is further configured to maintain the pipe navigation in at least one of a predefined orientation and predefined position within the pipe while the traction force is adjusted.

12 . A pipe navigation system for use in navigating a pipe, said pipe navigation system comprising:

a tether assembly comprising a tether guide device and a releasable tether coupled to said tether guide device, said tether assembly further comprising a tether sensor configured to detect release of said tether from said tether guide device;

a navigation apparatus coupled to said tether, said navigation apparatus comprising a body, a wheel, and a traction control assembly coupling said wheel to said body, said traction control assembly configured to adjust a traction force applied by said wheel on the pipe, said navigation apparatus further comprising a traction sensor configured to detect a detected traction force of said navigation apparatus; and

a controller in communication with said tether sensor and said traction sensor, said controller configured to automatically control the traction control assembly based on the detected release of said tether from said tether guide device.

13 . The pipe navigation system of claim 12 , wherein adjustment of the traction force is further based on the detected traction force.

14 . The pipe navigation system of claim 12 , wherein the detected traction force is a first detected traction force, and wherein said controller is further configured to:

receive, after adjusting the traction force, a second detected traction force from said traction sensor;

determine whether the second detected traction force is within a predetermined range; and

automatically control said traction control assembly based on the determination.

15 . The pipe navigation system of claim 12 , wherein said traction control assembly comprises an elastic element, and wherein said controller is further configured to determine the detected traction force based on the measured compression of said elastic element.

16 . The pipe navigation system of claim 12 , wherein said controller is further configured to:

determine a length of said tether released from said tether guide device based on the detected release of said tether from said tether guide device; and

determine a loading of said tether on said navigation apparatus based on the determined length, wherein said controller comprises a memory storing a predetermined weight of said tether, and wherein the determining the loading of said tether is based on the predetermined weight.

17 . The pipe navigation system of claim 16 , wherein said tether sensor comprises a rotary position sensor configured to measure rotation of said tether guide device.

18 . A method for controlling a pipe navigation apparatus in a pipe, said method comprising:

detecting, by a tether sensor, release of a tether from a tether guide device, the tether extending from the tether guide device to the pipe navigation apparatus;

detecting, by a traction sensor, a detected traction force between the pipe navigation apparatus and the pipe;

transmitting the detected traction force and the detected release of the tether to a controller; and

controlling, automatically by the controller, the pipe navigation apparatus to adjust a traction force between the pipe navigation apparatus and the pipe based on the detected release of the tether from the tether guide device.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the detected traction force is a first detected traction force, the method further comprising:

receiving, after said adjusting the traction force, a second detected traction force from said traction sensor;

determining whether the second detected traction force is within a predetermined range; and

controlling, automatically, the pipe navigation apparatus based on the determination.

20 . The method of claim 18 further comprising:

determining a length of the tether released from the tether guide device based on the detected release of the tether from the tether guide device; and

determining a loading of the released tether on the pipe navigation apparatus based on the length of the tether released from the tether guide device.