1. A method for automatically recovering a failed video tool in a precision machine vision inspection system wherein the video tool fails based on an initial set of feature inspection parameters used for acquiring a workpiece feature image and operating the video tool to inspect the workpiece feature in the image, the method comprising: (a) upon detecting the video tool failure, evaluating at least one feature inspection parameter based on an analysis of the workpiece feature image; (b) for the at least one feature inspection parameter evaluated based on the analysis of the workpiece feature image, determining whether the feature inspection parameter falls within a predefined acceptable range for that feature inspection parameter; and (c) if in step (b) it is determined that the feature inspection parameter falls outside the predefined acceptable range, automatically adjusting at least one member of the initial set of feature inspection parameters to provide a replacement set of feature inspection parameters that cause the video tool to operate successfully.