A method of making a multi-axial integral geogrid suitable for stabilizing aggregate includes providing a polymer sheet, providing a patterned plurality of holes or depressions in the polymer sheet, and biaxially orienting the polymer sheet having the patterned plurality of holes or depressions therein to provide a plurality of interconnected oriented strands and partially oriented junctions forming a repeating pattern of outer hexagons having an array of openings. Oriented ribs extending inwardly from each of the outer hexagons support and surround a smaller inner hexagon having oriented strands, thus forming a plurality of trapezoidal openings and a single hexagonal opening. The oriented strands and partially oriented junctions of the outer hexagons form a plurality of linear strong axis strands extending continuously throughout the geogrid and forming triangular openings. The method provides a geogrid having a geometry configured to engage with, confine, and stabilize a large variety and quality of aggregates.

Netting (100) comprising an array of polymeric strands (101, 102), wherein the polymeric strands (101, 102) are periodically joined together at bond regions (105) throughout the array with spaces (103, 109) between adjacent strands, wherein at least a plurality (i.e., at least two) of the strands are hollow polymeric strands (i.e., a hollow core (106) with a sheath (107) surrounding the hollow core), and wherein at least 50 percent by number of the strands do not substantially cross over each other. In some embodiments, the core comprises fluid. Embodiments of nettings described herein are useful for example, for thermal transport in thermal interface articles used to control the temperature of and/or dissipate heat for electronic components and batteries or mechanical devices.

An embodiment for handling scrap material with swarm robots in a multi-machine environment is provided. The embodiment may include receiving images of scrap material in a multi-machine environment. The embodiment may also include dividing the scrap material into a plurality of zones. The embodiment may further include identifying one or more characteristics of the divided scrap material in at least one zone of the plurality of zones. The embodiment may also include in response to determining the divided scrap material is in a target location in the at least one zone: printing a net around the divided scrap material in the at least one zone in accordance with the one or more characteristics of the divided scrap material; and transporting the net containing the divided scrap material in the at least one zone to a final destination.