Model Based Predictive Control for the Tow-Placement Technique

Automated thermoplastic tow-placement is a non-autoclave, composite manufacturing technique developed for aerospace structures where processing of high temperature composites is required. It promises improved and reliable final part quality as well as cost reduction using an automated robot system. At the Center for Composite Materials a lab-scale workcell consists of an ABB robot, a tow-placement head and an AGEMA thermal camera where process models and control systems can be developed and validated