A device that compensates for abrupt variations in fluid flow rate for a pump line is described. One or more aspects pertain to a system to accomplish automated in-situ placement of a concrete wall or embankment, where a fluid concrete is pumped into place, consolidated, and screeded to a finished surface, with remotely controlled or automated equipment.

Embodiments of positioning systems and methods are disclosed herein. Embodiments of such positioning systems may include a hierarchy of positioning systems. Each of the positioning systems in the hierarchy may be adapted to move each positioning system lower in the hierarchy along with one or more end-effectors. A control system may control the positioning systems of the hierarchy using a control method comprising a coarse step, a refinement step, or an adaptive step.

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for additive manufacturing of objects by molding or casting materials using a dynamically configurable form. A head for dispensing material includes an adjustable form configurable to define a forming chamber into which the material is dispensed. A method for additive manufacturing includes moving the head to a plurality of positions corresponding to a plurality of dispense locations in a build volume, configuring the adjustable form to shape the forming chamber for each of the plurality of dispense locations; and casting a three-dimensional object. Casting the three-dimensional object comprises dispensing a portion of the material into the forming chamber at each of the plurality of dispense locations.

Embodiments of positioning systems and methods are disclosed herein. Embodiments of such positioning systems may include a hierarchy of positioning systems. Each of the positioning systems in the hierarchy may be adapted to move each positioning system lower in the hierarchy along with one or more end-effectors. A control system may control the positioning systems of the hierarchy using a control method comprising a coarse step, a refinement step, or an adaptive step.

Embodiments of positioning systems and methods are disclosed herein. Embodiments of such positioning systems may include a hierarchy of positioning systems. Each of the positioning systems in the hierarchy may be adapted to move each positioning system lower in the hierarchy along with one or more end-effectors. A control system may control the positioning systems of the hierarchy using a control method comprising a coarse step, a refinement step, or an adaptive step.

The present invention provides a hammer drill attachment for contacting external walls of formwork for imparting external vibration to concrete poured into the formwork, the attachment comprising: an input shaft configured to receive motion from an output of a hammer drill; an output shaft configured to contact the external walls of the formwork for imparting the external vibration, the output shaft being arranged transversely relative to the input shaft to output pulsed percussions in a transverse direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the output shaft, a connecting portion for connecting the output shaft with the input shaft to transmit motion from the input shaft to the output shaft when the input shaft is receiving motion from the output of the hammer drill. In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for smoothing concrete contained within external walls of formwork.