Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A control system for a base supporting a boom assembly comprises long telescopic boom and telescopic stick. Mounted to the remote end of the stick is an end effector that supports a robot arm that moves a further end effector to manipulate the items. The robot arm has a robot base, and mounted above the robot base is a first target in the form of a position sensor, that provides position coordinates relative to a fixed ground reference. Mounted on the end of the robot arm immediately above the end effector is a second target that provides position coordinates relative to the fixed around reference. The fixed ground reference tracks the sensors and feeds data to the control system to move the stick with slow dynamic response and to control movement of the robotic arm and end effector with fast dynamic response.

Abstract: A self-contained truck-mounted brick laying machine can include a frame that can support packs or pallets of bricks placed on a platform. A transfer robot can pick up and move the brick(s). A carousel can be coaxial with a tower. The carousel can transfer the brick(s) via the tower to an articulated and/or telescoping boom. The bricks can be moved along the boom by, e.g., linearly moving shuttles, to reach a brick laying and adhesive applying head. The brick laying and adhesive applying head can mount to an element of the stick, about an axis which is disposed horizontally. The poise of the brick laying and adhesive applying head about the axis can be adjusted and can be set in use so that the base of a clevis of the robotic arm mounts about a horizontal axis, and the tracker component is disposed uppermost on the brick laying and adhesive applying head. The brick laying and adhesive applying head can apply adhesive to the brick and can have a robot that lays the brick.

Abstract: A foldable boom for conveying an item, said foldable boom being foldable about at least one folding axis, said foldable boom being locatable in a folded stowed position, and moveable to unfolded extended positions; said foldable boom having a near end arranged for pivotal movement about a first horizontal axis located on a turret, said turret being rotatable about a vertical axis; said foldable boom having first conveying apparatus to convey an item therealong, internally within said foldable boom, to a remote end of the foldable boom; wherein said foldable boom is foldable about a folding axis, and a pivoting shuttle equipped with a clamp to releasably hold an item is provided at said folding axis to transfer said item between said first conveying apparatus in boom elements connected about said folding axis.

Abstract: A self-contained truck-mounted brick laying machine can include a frame that can support packs or pallets of bricks placed on a platform. A transfer robot can pick up and move the brick(s). A carousel can be coaxial with a tower. The carousel can transfer the brick(s) via the tower to an articulated and/or telescoping boom. The bricks can be moved along the boom by, e.g., linearly moving shuttles, to reach a brick laying and adhesive applying head. The brick laying and adhesive applying head can mount to an element of the stick, about an axis which is disposed horizontally. The poise of the brick laying and adhesive applying head about the axis can be adjusted and can be set in use so that the base of a clevis of the robotic arm mounts about a horizontal axis, and the tracker component is disposed uppermost on the brick laying and adhesive applying head. The brick laying and adhesive applying head can apply adhesive to the brick and can have a robot that lays the brick.

Abstract: A foldable boom for conveying an item, said foldable boom being foldable about at least one folding axis, said foldable boom being locatable in a folded stowed position, and moveable to unfolded extended positions; said foldable boom having a near end arranged for pivotal movement about a first horizontal axis located on a turret, said turret being rotatable about a vertical axis; said foldable boom having first conveying apparatus to convey an item therealong, internally within said foldable boom, to a remote end of the foldable boom; wherein said foldable boom is foldable about a folding axis, and a pivoting shuttle equipped with a clamp to releasably hold an item is provided at said folding axis to transfer said item between said first conveying apparatus in boom elements connected about said folding axis.

Abstract: A self-contained truck-mounted brick laying machine can include a frame that can support packs or pallets of bricks placed on a platform. A transfer robot can pick up and move the brick(s). A carousel can be coaxial with a tower. The carousel can transfer the brick(s) via the tower to an articulated and/or telescoping boom. The bricks can be moved along the boom by, e.g., linearly moving shuttles, to reach a brick laying and adhesive applying head. The brick laying and adhesive applying head can mount to an element of the stick, about an axis which is disposed horizontally. The poise of the brick laying and adhesive applying head about the axis can be adjusted and can be set in use so that the base of a clevis of the robotic arm mounts about a horizontal axis, and the tracker component is disposed uppermost on the brick laying and adhesive applying head. The brick laying and adhesive applying head can apply adhesive to the brick and can have a robot that lays the brick.

Abstract: A foldable boom for conveying an item, said foldable boom being foldable about at least one folding axis, said foldable boom being locatable in a folded stowed position, and moveable to unfolded extended positions; said foldable boom having a near end arranged for pivotal movement about a first horizontal axis located on a turret, said turret being rotatable about a vertical axis; said foldable boom having first conveying apparatus to convey an item therealong, internally within said foldable boom, to a remote end of the foldable boom; wherein said foldable boom is foldable about a folding axis, and a pivoting shuttle equipped with a clamp to releasably hold an item is provided at said folding axis to transfer said item between said first conveying apparatus in boom elements connected about said folding axis.

Abstract: A telescoping extendable boom and a foldable telescoping extendable boom for transporting an item, are disclosed. The foldable telescoping extendable boom having tubular elements (12) and (14) and (15, 17, 18, 19) and (20) each arranged with a longitudinally extending track (25, 29) inside the tubular element. Each longitudinally extending track (25, 29) supports a single shuttle (26) and (30) respectively, internally inside its tubular element (17) and (15), respectively, for movement therealong. Each shuttle (26) and (30) is equipped with a clamp (27) and (30) to selectively clamp the item (298). The longitudinally extending tracks (25, 29) of immediately connecting telescoping tubular elements (17) and (15) are located opposite each other. The inner tubular elements inside said telescoping extendable boom are arranged at their near ends to allow their shuttles to access shuttles of outer tubular elements to enable the clamps (27) and (31) thereof to transfer a said item (298) therebetween.

Abstract: A self-contained truck-mounted brick laying machine can include a frame that can support packs or pallets of bricks placed on a platform. A transfer robot can pick up and move the brick(s). A carousel can be coaxial with a tower. The carousel can transfer the brick(s) via the tower to an articulated and/or telescoping boom. The bricks can be moved along the boom by, e.g., linearly moving shuttles, to reach a brick laying and adhesive applying head. The brick laying and adhesive applying head can mount to an element of the stick, about an axis which is disposed horizontally. The poise of the brick laying and adhesive applying head about the axis can be adjusted and can be set in use so that the base of a clevis of the robotic arm mounts about a horizontal axis, and the tracker component is disposed uppermost on the brick laying and adhesive applying head. The brick laying and adhesive applying head can apply adhesive to the brick and can have a robot that lays the brick.

Abstract: A foldable boom for conveying an item, said foldable boom being foldable about at least one folding axis, said foldable boom being locatable in a folded stowed position, and moveable to unfolded extended positions; said foldable boom having a near end arranged for pivotal movement about a first horizontal axis located on a turret, said turret being rotatable about a vertical axis; said foldable boom having first conveying apparatus to convey an item therealong, internally within said foldable boom, to a remote end of the foldable boom; wherein said foldable boom is foldable about a folding axis, and a pivoting shuttle equipped with a clamp to releasably hold an item is provided at said folding axis to transfer said item between said first conveying apparatus in boom elements connected about said folding axis.

Abstract: A self-contained truck-mounted brick laying machine (2) is described. A truck (1) supports the brick laying machine (2) which is mounted on a frame (3) on the truck chassis. The frame (3) supports packs or pallets of bricks (52, 53) placed on a platform (51). A transfer robot can then pick up an individual brick and move it to, or between either a saw (46) or a router (47) or a carousel (48). The carousel is located coaxially with a tower (10), at the base of the tower (10). The carousel (48) transfers the brick via the tower (10) to an articulated (folding about horizontal axis (16)) telescoping boom comprising first boom element in the form of telescopic boom (12, 14) and second boom element in the form of telescopic stick (15, 17, 18, 19, 20). The bricks are moved along the folding telescoping boom by linearly moving shuttles, to reach a brick laying and adhesive applying head (32).

Abstract: A telescoping extendable boom and a foldable telescoping extendable boom for transporting an item, are disclosed. The foldable telescoping extendable boom having tubular elements (12) and (14) and (15, 17, 18, 19) and (20) each arranged with a longitudinally extending track (25, 29) inside the tubular element. Each longitudinally extending track (25, 29) supports a single shuttle (26) and (30) respectively, internally inside its tubular element (17) and (15), respectively, for movement therealong. Each shuttle (26) and (30) is equipped with a clamp (27) and (30) to selectively clamp the item (298). The longitudinally extending tracks (25, 29) of immediately connecting telescoping tubular elements (17) and (15) are located opposite each other. The inner tubular elements inside said telescoping extendable boom are arranged at their near ends to allow their shuttles to access shuttles of outer tubular elements to enable the clamps (27) and (31) thereof to transfer a said item (298) therebetween.

Abstract: A self-contained truck-mounted brick laying machine (2) is described. A truck (1) supports the brick laying machine (2) which is mounted on a frame (3) on the truck chassis. The frame (3) supports packs or pallets of bricks (52, 53) placed on a platform (51). A transfer robot can then pick up an individual brick and move it to, or between either a saw (46) or a router (47) or a carousel (48). The carousel is located coaxially with a tower (10), at the base of the tower (10). The carousel (48) transfers the brick via the tower (10) to an articulated (folding about horizontal axis (16)) telescoping boom comprising first boom element in the form of telescopic boom (12, 14) and second boom element in the form of telescopic stick (15, 17, 18, 19, 20). The bricks are moved along the folding telescoping boom by linearly moving shuttles, to reach a brick laying and adhesive applying head (32).

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.