Abstract: A manipulator configured for transferring a block having a core, the manipulator includes an end effector including an elongated member including a tip; and a resilient member configured for assuming a first state in which the resilient member has a first hardness and first size and a second state in which the resilient member is configured for assuming a second state in which the resilient member has a second hardness and second size, the resilient member is disposed on the tip, wherein the elongated member is configured to be disposed such that the tip is disposed within the core and the resilient member is disposed in the first state before the resilient member is disposed in the second state to engage the core and the elongated member is moved to transfer the block.

Abstract: A rectangular block having a front surface, a rear surface, a bottom surface, a top surface defined by a pair of lengthwise edges and a pair of side edges connecting the lengthwise edges, the rectangular block including: a first channel disposed along a left side surface, the first channel extending in a direction from the front surface to the rear surface; and a second channel along a plane parallel to the left side surface, the plane disposed at an offset distance from the left side surface, the second channel extending in a direction from the front surface to the rear surface, wherein the left side surface is configured to be positionable so as to mate with a left side surface of an adjacently disposed block to form a full channel to receive a rebar, whereby walls are constructible from a plurality of such blocks.

Abstract: A method for laying a plurality of objects to form a polyhedron, the method including: determining a pattern for each of a plurality of courses constituting the polyhedron based on the type of the polyhedron and the frequency of the polyhedron; determining a unique group from each of the plurality of courses; determining members of the unique group and orientation of each the member of the unique group from the plurality of objects; and laying the plurality of objects as determined from the above steps to form the polyhedron.

Abstract: A floating base comprising a shell constructed from a plurality of blocks reinforced using a plurality of tensile elements. The shell includes an inner space, a length, a width and at least one bulkhead disposed across the width along the length of the shell within the shell to strengthen the shell. In one embodiment, the shell further includes a spine disposed substantially at right angle to the at least one bulkhead to further strengthen the shell.

Abstract: An architectural building block system including a block having three side walls, each having an inside surface and an outside surface, the three side walls cooperate to form a triangular tube, the outside surface of each of the three side walls extending from the inner surface to the outer surface and the inside surface of each of the three walls is disposed substantially at right angle to each of the inner surface and the outer surface; and three channels, each channel disposed on one of the three side walls on the inner surface, wherein each channel extending from the inside surface to the outside surface of one of the three side walls and each pair of the three channels configured to receive a rebar.

Abstract: An architectural building block system including a block having three side walls, each having an inside surface and an outside surface, the three side walls cooperate to form a triangular tube having three corners, the outside surface of each of the three side walls extending outwardly from the inner surface to the outer surface and the inside surface of each of the three walls is disposed substantially at right angle to each of the inner surface and the outer surface; and three channel pairs, each configured to receive a rebar, each channel pair including a first channel disposed on one of the three side walls on the inner surface and a second channel disposed on a corner of the three corners that is opposingly disposed from one of the three side walls.

Abstract: An architectural building block including a generally triangular block having an outer wall, an inner wall disposed in substantially parallel configuration with respect to the outer wall and three side walls, each adjoining the outer wall and the inner wall. One of the side walls includes dual inverse mirror planes and each of the other two of which includes a single inverse mirror plane. At least one the side walls is configured to be positionable so as to mate with a side wall of an abuttingly disposed block, whereby curved structures may be constructed from a plurality of such blocks to form a dihedral angle between each set of two blocks. In one embodiment, the inner wall further includes at least one depression disposed on the inner wall of the block.

Abstract: An architectural building block including a front terminal wall, a rear terminal wall disposed substantially parallel to the front terminal wall, a pair of side walls adjoining the front terminal wall and the rear terminal wall, a top wall and a bottom wall. The side walls lean toward one another. The pair of side walls converge from the rear terminal wall to the front terminal wall. The bottom wall is disposed substantially parallel to the top wall, wherein each of the top wall and bottom wall adjoins the front terminal wall, the rear terminal wall and the pair of side walls.