In 2023, the aerospace sector reached a critical maturity level regarding Automated Fiber Placement (AFP). While the hardware had existed for decades, the integration of Real-Time Digital Inspection and AI-driven defect recognition transformed it into a modern “best practice.” This shift moved the industry from time-consuming manual inspections to “inline” quality control, where machine-learning algorithms identify gaps, overlaps, or twists as they occur. For my research, this era is a vital reference point; it represents the moment when high-rate production finally gained the “digital eyes” necessary to ensure structural integrity without sacrificing speed.
There was a really good post on the Bristol Composites Institute blog (Part of the University of Bristol).
I am fascinated by the current trend in using AI in new and exciting ways in composites construction. It seems that AI is slowly revolutionizing many aspects of the aviation industry