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 robotic system includes one or more end-effectors that combine, according to a production process, at least one object and structure(s) at a production site. Sensor(s) generate, from the production site, sensor data relating to the production process. A control system stores specifications for the production process based on a model of the production site and/or the at least one object. The control system: receives, from the sensor(s), the sensor data; determines, from the sensor data, properties of at least one of: the production site or the at least one object; determines difference(s) between the properties and the model; determine(s) adjustment(s) to the production process based on the difference(s); and sends, for the end-effector(s), instruction(s) for combining the at least one object and the structure(s) based on the specifications and the one or more adjustments to the production process.

An intuitive control system for lifting equipment is described. The intuitive control system translates user defined inputs into machine expressions of movement that are in turn used to control a construction lift or similar piece of construction equipment. Orientation and relative position sensors may be incorporated into the translation and control system for correct user control of the lifting equipment in various operating conditions.

The present disclosure relates to a system for installing a floor finishing material using an autonomous driving robot. According to the present disclosure, there is provided a system for installing a floor finishing material using autonomous driving including: a floor surface cleaning and adhesive application robot that cleans a floor surface and applies adhesive while moving with autonomous driving; a finishing material installation robot that installs the floor finishing material on an upper side of the adhesive surface; a finishing material loading robot that loads the floor finishing material loaded in an installation site, on a pallet; a finishing material transport robot that transports and delivers the loaded floor finishing material to the finishing material installation robot; and a 3D positioning device that sets a position thereof as an origin and recognizes positions of a plurality of active markers installed in a work site.

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.

A robotic system includes one or more end-effectors that combine, according to a production process, at least one object and structure(s) at a production site. Sensor(s) generate, from the production site, sensor data relating to the production process. A control system stores specifications for the production process based on a model of the production site and/or the at least one object. The control system: receives, from the sensor(s), the sensor data; determines, from the sensor data, properties of at least one of: the production site or the at least one object; determines difference(s) between the properties and the model; determine(s) adjustment(s) to the production process based on the difference(s); and sends, for the end-effector(s), instruction(s) for combining the at least one object and the structure(s) based on the specifications and the one or more adjustments to the production process.

An automated brick laying system is provided including platform means, mortar application means for allowing mortar to be applied to a brick in use, and brick gripping means for allowing at least one brick to be gripped in use. At least one of the mortar application means and the brick gripping means is movably mounted on or to the platform means and is arranged to be independently movable relative to the platform means in use. At least one of the mortar application means and the brick gripping means is capable of or is arranged to undergo linear and/or sliding movement along at least three separate and pre-defined axes of movement in use.

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 modular bricklaying system comprises a control system and work unit(s). A method comprises receiving or determining reference marker(s) associated with a digital representation of a building site that keep the same position relative to the building site during building; receiving or determining digital representations of the work unit(s), a building plan defining a target position and laying order for each brick, and an initial position for some bricks; receiving position and pose information from one work unit, relative to the reference markers or the building site, and updating the digital representation of the work unit and the building site based on the received position and pose information; transmitting, by the control system, commands configuring the work unit(s) to apply mortar and lay bricks based on the digital representation of the building site and respective work units, the initial position of some of the bricks and building plan.

A method and system for performing work from a suspension work platform incorporating a work tool attached to an articulating arm system.