Computer-Assisted Dry Stone Wall Construction (with optional Augmented Reality)

Making the ancient art of dry stone wall construction accessible to anyone with arms and legs

Why?

Anyone for Tetris?

Why not?

Ingredients

• Pile of rocks
• Two cameras
• A laser, computer controlled
• A computer
• Some clever software
• A bunch of hippies
• Head-up display (optional)

Recipe

1. Fix the two cameras overlooking the pile of rocks from two different perspectives, e.g. at 60 degrees to each other
2. Set the laser somewhere between the two cameras
3. The laser should pan to create a horizontal line across the pile of rocks
4. The cameras should capture an image for each horizontal line - this provides a contour line as if slicing through the pile
5. Repeat to complete a contour map of the pile of rocks, a partial 3D model
6. Computer calculates best fitting rock to place, and laser (or head-up display) points it out
7. Hippie collects it, turns it upside down, and places it onto wall, with assistance from head-up display or laser /voice guidance
8. The laser and camera are also scanning the wall as it's being built, tracking rocks as they move, and updating next optimal rock selection & placement
9. Repeat from step 3
10. Feed hippie spinach until robots take over and put us in the zoo (those of us who aren't there already)