A&P Technology overbraiding process advances U.S. Air Force defense composites
SNAPSHOT: AI-driven, in-line inspection system successfully validates the quality of complex 3D multilayer composite preforms to support AAM, hypersonics and other platforms.
Source | Department of Defense Manufacturing Technology Program
The Air Force ManTech program, part of OSW ManTech’s Joint Defense Manufacturing Technology Panel (JDMTP), has developed an AI-powered, in situ inspection system for validating the quality of complex 3D multilayer composite preforms. The effort featured an additional milestone: expedited development of A&P Technology’s (Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.) in-line inspection of overbraided preforms for hypersonic and defense composite components.
AFWERX, the innovation arm of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) devoted to developing emerging technologies for defense, identified A&P’s overbraiding technology as a key technology for meeting the demands of high-rate, high-quality composite production.
Key benefits of this in-line inspection system include:
- Increased production rates and reduced costs by automating defect detection and enabling immediate response to non-conformance.
- Enhanced reliability and accuracy — outperforming manual inspection in precision and defect identification.
The inspection system supports U.S. Air Force and advanced air mobility (AAM) initiatives, including next-gen defense platforms like hypersonic vehicles.
Learn more about the program on LinkedIn. Visit A&P Technology’s page on CW for more examples of its braided reinforcement products and various application features.
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