ABSTRACT
A qualitative process automation system for the autoclave cure of epoxy aerospace composites is described, including contributions from material science, computational intelligence, and automatic control. This system senses internal product properties online during processing and employs a rule-based ex situ planner programmed by cure experts’ domain knowledge describing ideal process curing. In situ process sensor fusion information accordingly is interpreted for cure state determination with feedback execution to attain product goals while attenuating unmodeled processing dynamics. Concurrent engineering provides a framework that captures the essential implementation methods utilized in this application example, wherein A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft leading edge structures, shown in Figure 10.1, are successfully manufactured. Demonstrated is a product-directed qualitative process automation system that includes the elements for self-improvement through an autonomy to execute nonprescriptive control-path changes during processing. A-10 aircraft composite leading edges. https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-u.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9781315220543/297455bd-0c62-41b9-a1ed-23d63bb8199e/content/fig10_1.tif"/>
