Automated plumbing, wiring, and reinforcement

Abstract

An apparatus may include a nozzle assembly configured to extrude material through an outlet; and a controllable robotic arm coupled to the nozzle assembly, the robotic arm having at one end a gripper configured to pick up an element and deposit the element at a desired position relative to the extruded material. The element may be one of: a reinforcement member for a structure being constructed; a segment of a plumbing pipe; an electric network component; and a tile.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a nozzle assembly configured to extrude material through an outlet;   a controllable robotic arm coupled to the nozzle assembly;   a painting mechanism attached to one end thereof, the painting mechanism configured to controllably paint a surface of extruded material, in accordance with a desired specification.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the painting mechanism comprises one of a controllable spray nozzle, and a controllable inkjet printer head. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle assembly includes a nozzle configured to extrude material through the outlet, and a trowel configured to shape material extruded from the nozzle. 
   
   
       4 . A three-dimensional structure, comprising:
 a set of spaced apart rims, each comprised of a stacked set of separately extruded layers;   a filler between the rims comprised of a stacked set of separately-extruded layers; and   one or more elements installed on or within one or more of the extruded layers.   
   
   
       5 . The three-dimensional structure of  claim 4  wherein the elements comprise a plurality of reinforcement staples secured across the spaced apart rims along the length of the rims. 
   
   
       6 . The three-dimensional structure of  claim 4 , wherein the elements comprise a first vertical member disposed within an extruded layer and including an external threaded portion, and a second tubular vertical member screwed onto the threaded portion of the first vertical member. 
   
   
       7 . The three-dimensional structure of  claim 4 , wherein the elements comprise a first rigid vertical member disposed within an extruded layer, a second rigid vertical member disposed within the extruded layer and spaced apart from the first rigid vertical member, and a rigid horizontal link disposed between the first and the second rigid vertical member. 
   
   
       8 . The three-dimensional structure of  claim 4 , further comprising one or more openings within the wall. 
   
   
       9 . The three-dimensional structure of  claim 8 , wherein the elements comprise one or more segments of a plumbing pipe, and wherein the plumbing pipe segments are installed within at least some of the openings. 
   
   
       10 . The three-dimensional structure of  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of components of an electric network, and wherein the network components are installed within at least some of the openings and are connected to each other. 
   
   
       11 . The three-dimensional structure of  claim 10 , wherein each network component comprises a plurality of conductive segments encapsulated within a block of nonconductive material. 
   
   
       12 . The three-dimensional structure of  claim 4 , further comprising one or more sensors embedded on or within one or more of the extruded layers, the sensors configured to sense information relating to the three-dimensional structure. 
   
   
       13 . The three-dimensional structure of  claim 12 , wherein the information pertains to at least one of ambient temperature, ambient humidity, and structural deformation. 
   
   
       14 . The three-dimensional structure of  claim 4 , wherein the three-dimensional structure is one of a wall and a column. 
   
   
       15 . A method of installing tiles for a construction structure, the method comprising:
 manipulating a robot to induce the robot to apply a layer of adhesive material on a surface of material extruded and shaped by a nozzle assembly; and   operating the robot to cause the robot to pick up one or more tiles and to deposit the tiles at respective desired locations on the surface.