AUTOMATED PRE-PREG LAY-UP
The objective of the APPLY project is to automate the prepreg fabric draping process by developing robotic end-effectors and a separator removal system, as well as a defect inspection device and the simulation of fabric behaviour during draping.
Industrial Issues
In a context of increasing production rates and reducing costs, the automation of the manual draping process for prepreg fabrics represents a major challenge. Many aerostructure parts with complex geometries are produced in this way, and automating certain stages of the process would not only increase the application rate and repeatability, but also improve detection of potential defects.
Industrial Applications
The results of the project will enable industrial partners to reduce the strain on operators and prepare high-speed composite productions by concentrating manual tasks on the most complex operations. They will also reduce production costs while maintaining the conformity of the parts produced.
Innovative Features
Simulation of the process and robotic trajectories as well as the consideration of the behavior of the material.
Development of automation processes: separator removal, fabric lay-up and lay-up, material inspection and defect detection.
Partners
IRT Jules Verne, Airbus Opérations, Airbus Atlantic, Daher Aerospace, Innovamics
