A control system is described for a base supporting a telescoping articulated boom assembly indicated generally at 15, comprising long telescopic boom 17 and telescopic stick 19. Mounted to the remote end 21 of the stick 19 is an end effector in the form of a head 23 that supports a 6 axis robot arm 25 that moves a further end effector 27 to manipulate the items. The robot arm 25 has a robot base 31, and mounted above the robot base 31 is a first target in the form of a 6 degree of freedom (6 DOF) high data rate position sensor 33, that provides 6 DOF position coordinates, relative to a fixed ground reference 35, to a control system. Mounted on the end of the robot arm 25 immediately above the end effector 27 is a second target in the form of a 6 degree of freedom (6 DOF) high data rate position sensor 37, that provides 6 DOF position coordinates, relative to the fixed ground reference 35, to the control system. The fixed ground reference 35 tracks the sensor 33 and feeds data to the control system to move the head with slow dynamic response within range of work for the robot arm, and tracks the sensor 37 to control movement of the robotic arm 25 and end effector 27 with fast dynamic response.

A multi-use block including a block body having at least a first leg. The blocks can be placed in different orientations with respect to each other to form multiple interlocking structures. The block can be a variety of materials, including concrete, and when concrete, used for making walls and columns. Methods of making and methods of use are provided.

A multi-use block including a block body having at least a first leg. The blocks can be placed in different orientations with respect to each other to form multiple interlocking structures. The block can be a variety of materials, including concrete, and when concrete, used for making walls and columns. Methods of making and methods of use are provided.

The disclosure discloses a method for preparing a multifunctional ecological exterior wall, including: preparing a ceramic board of a ceramic thermal insulation waterproof layer; preparing a ceramic sound-absorbing board of a sound-absorbing layer; and installing a ecological exterior wall: leveling a surface of the wall of a building with cement slurry, and applying a cement bonding layer thereon; laying the ceramic thermal insulation waterproof board on the cement bonding layer, and applying the cement bonding layer on the ceramic board; laying the ceramic sound-absorbing board on the cement bonding layer and reserving a gap used to place a pipe; driving the screw-thread steel bolt from the surface of the ceramic sound-absorbing board into the wall obliquely; installing and fixing the pipe in the gap, which is reserved at the upper of the ceramic sound-absorbing board; planting a green plant on the surface of the ceramic board of the sound-absorbing layer.

The disclosure discloses a method for preparing a multifunctional ecological exterior wall, including: preparing a ceramic board of a ceramic thermal insulation waterproof layer; preparing a ceramic sound-absorbing board of a sound-absorbing layer; and installing a ecological exterior wall: leveling a surface of the wall of a building with cement slurry, and applying a cement bonding layer thereon; laying the ceramic thermal insulation waterproof board on the cement bonding layer, and applying the cement bonding layer on the ceramic board; laying the ceramic sound-absorbing board on the cement bonding layer and reserving a gap used to place a pipe; driving the screw-thread steel bolt from the surface of the ceramic sound-absorbing board into the wall obliquely; installing and fixing the pipe in the gap, which is reserved at the upper of the ceramic sound-absorbing board; planting a green plant on the surface of the ceramic board of the sound-absorbing layer.

Computer aided design software for designing a building or other structure of brick construction, where in addition to the usual three dimensional modelling and rendering typical of CAD software, tabular data describing the spatial location and orientation of each brick is provided, including information regarding which bricks are cut to length so as to be shortened, and where they are located along each course, and which bricks are machined, drilled or routed for services or other special fittings. Data pertaining to this is compiled in a database for access by control software to control a brick laying machine to build a building or other structure from bricks. The database may receive via interface with a scanner data being a measure of the elevation of the footings and/or concrete pad that has been constructed according to the building plan and for each brick of the first course, to determine how much material must be machined off the bottom of each brick so that when the first course is laid, the tops of the bricks of the first course are at the same level. This machining data is stored for each brick with the tabular data produced by computer aided design software, so that the control software can control the brick laying machine to machine and cut each brick as per the stored data, and convey each brick to the stored position on the footing, pad or previously laid course of bricks, with application of adhesive prior to positioning of the brick.

The invention comprises a product. The product comprises a first foam panel having an edge, a first primary surface and an opposite second primary surface and a second foam panel having an edge, a first primary surface and an opposite second primary surface, wherein the first and second foam panels are disposed such that their edges are adjacent each other and define a joint therebetween. The product also comprises an elongate metal strip having a body portion and a projection extending outwardly from the body portion, the metal strip being disposed such that at least a portion of the projection is disposed in the joint between the foam panels and at least a portion of the body portion covers a portion of the second primary surface of the first foam panel and a portion of the second primary surface of the second foam panel. A method of making and using the composite panel is also disclosed.

The invention comprises a product. The product comprises a first foam panel having an edge, a first primary surface and an opposite second primary surface and a second foam panel having an edge, a first primary surface and an opposite second primary surface, wherein the first and second foam panels are disposed such that their edges are adjacent each other and define a joint therebetween. The product also comprises an elongate metal strip having a body portion and a projection extending outwardly from the body portion, the metal strip being disposed such that at least a portion of the projection is disposed in the joint between the foam panels and at least a portion of the body portion covers a portion of the second primary surface of the first foam panel and a portion of the second primary surface of the second foam panel. A method of making and using the composite panel is also disclosed.

A system for performing interactions within a physical environment including a robot base that undergoes movement relative to the environment, a robot arm mounted to the robot base, the robot arm including an end effector mounted thereon and a tracking system that measures a robot base position indicative of a position of the robot base relative to the environment. A control system acquires an indication of an end effector destination, and repeatedly determines a robot base position using signals from the tracking system, calculates an end effector path extending to the end effector destination at least in part using the robot base position, generates robot control signals based on the end effector path and applies the robot control signals to the robot arm to cause the end effector to be moved along the end effector path towards the destination.

A multi-use block including a block body having at least a first leg. The blocks can be placed in different orientations with respect to each other to form multiple interlocking structures. The block can be a variety of materials, including concrete, and when concrete, used for making walls and columns. Methods of making and methods of use are provided.