Ann: FBR completes outdoor pilot build for Wienerberger, page-38

ALso of note, following patent is probably very important. Without a gripping apparatus for handling blocks, maybe copycats will have to wait till 2039, or use say suction cups?

GRIPPING APPARATUS

Publication number: 20210323171

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a gripping apparatus for controllably placing an object, the gripping apparatus including: a gripper assembly mounted to a robot arm via a connector body, the gripper assembly including a housing that supports one or more gripper drive assemblies operatively coupled to a pair of opposing gripping clamps, and in use the robot arm is configured to drive the gripper assembly along a placement axis towards a placement surface via the connector body; a sensor configured to either measure a relative movement between the gripper assembly and the connector body or to measure a force between the gripper assembly and the connector body, wherein the sensor generates a sensor output signal based on the measurement; and, a controller configured to send a stop signal to the robot arm to stop further drive of the gripper assembly along the placement axis when the sensor output signal indicates the measured relative movement or measured force exceeds a predefined threshold.

Type: Application

Filed: August 29, 2019

Publication date: October 21, 2021

Inventors: Mark Joseph PIVAC, James Gary ROBERTSON