A short review on recent advances in automated fiber placement and filament winding technologies

Recent advances in Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) and Filament Winding (FM) are driving steady improvements in technological understanding, enabling the production of more precise, cost- and material-efficient layups that pave the way for new applications. Evolving from automated Tape Laying Technology (ATL), AFP is a technology that not only mimics the manual laying process but also allows tailored fiber and tow alignment to deliver load-optimized patterns, stacking sequences and part structures leading to improved mechanical performance and significant waste reduction. The filament winding evolution towards automated Robotic Filament Winding put the technology in a position to manufacture highly complex lightweight structures in architecture. In this short review, recent developments in both automated fiber alignment technologies are presented and discussed, including the main advantages and materials used. Regarding the ATL and AFP process, developments in non-aerospace applications are considered. Besides a short overview of new placement technologies, advances in Tailored Fiber Placement (TFP) in the field of dry fiber placement are reported. Finally, new robotic filament winding applications in free-form and Coreless Filament Winding (CFW) in architecture are presented.