Nine patent applications published on 2 May 2024. Some...

Nine patent applications published on 2 May 2024.

Some interesting stuff amongst them.

WO2024086889 - SHUTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM
https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=WO2024086889

[0007] It is also desirable to simplify the overall architecture of the machine and increase the laying rate and ability of the machine to operate at more building sites. It would also be desirable for the machine to be capable of transporting other building elements such as tiles for roofing or flooring.

[0147] ...The term “block” should also be taken to include other unitary solid building elements such as roof tiles for use in constructing a roof and pavers for use in constructing an exterior flooring. Although the description below describes constructing a wall from blocks, it should be appreciated that other building elements such as roof tiles and pavers may also be transported through the machine...

[0149] The vehicle 1 is typically in the form of a rigid body truck which enables the robotic block laying machine 20 to be mobile and driven to and from building sites on roads. In examples, the vehicle 10 is an 8x8, 8x6 or 8x4 rigid body truck manufactured for example by Mack, Volvo, Mercedes, Iveco, MAN, Isuzu or Hino. The truck has a typical driver’s cabin. In an alternative arrangement, a semi-trailer intended for connection to a prime mover using a fifth wheel, may be used instead of a rigid body truck. Alternatively, the vehicle may include a trailer. In one example, the vehicle is an 8x4 Isuzu FYJ-350 XLWB which provides a wheelbase long enough to provide spacious packaging for the machine components and ease of access thereto. In another example, the vehicle is a Mack TerraPro.

[0150] The above described vehicle can be used to support and transport a robotic block laying machine, which may therefore be integrated with the vehicle. However, it will be appreciated from the following that this is not essential, and the robotic blocking laying machine described in more detail below may not be incorporated in a vehicle. For example, the robotic block laying machine could be provided in a shipping container or other similar form factor, and transported to site using a separate vehicle, with the robotic block laying machine then being positioned on a site and used as needed. Accordingly, throughout the following description, reference to a vehicle should be interpreted as one embodiment in which the robotic block laying machine is incorporated into a vehicle, but this should not be seen as an essential or the only possible implementation, and reference to a vehicle should not be construed as limiting.