OTOMcomposite web-based platform enhances AFP process modeling

OTOMcomposite (Enschede, Netherlands), a company that provides engineering services and software for automated fiber placement (AFP), is advancing AFP process modeling with its OTOM web-based platform, which has become more flexible and user-friendly when handling robot G-code path planning.

The company’s latest platform is able to:

Read and process robot path data directly to the process model.
Streamline planning workflows with an intuitive interface.
Reduce setup complexity and manual intervention.
Enable faster iteration and optimization of paths.

The evolution of AFP process modeling is rapidly shifting from traditional, rigid numerical models toward a dynamic, AI-integrated ecosystem. The foundational OTOM engine debuted in a 2018 European Horizon project. While it established a benchmark for AFP physics-based simulation, its inherent complexity often hindered seamless industrial adoption.

The industry is now racing with AI to bridge this gap, pivoting from traditional FEM-based approaches to a high-performance, fully web-based platform. This transition transforms OTOM from a passive tool into an AI agent that provides real-time, intuitive analysis and advice, ensuring the composite industry leads the global industrial revolution.

Built for performance and extreme flexibility, this new iteration outperforms previous Windows-based versions in speed and responsiveness. A key highlight is the platform’s direct integration with AFP systems, enabling smoother communication with the robot and more efficient execution of planned paths. By leveraging AI-powered features to support smarter decision-making, the system adapts to the high demand for accessible, cross-platform solutions. Extensive testing is currently being prepared across multiple environments and system setups to ensure the technology remains at the forefront of industrial adaptability.

OTOMComposite continues to look forward, including establishing a standardized Digital Twin AFP solution compatible with a wide variety of robotic platform systems. The architecture of this platform prioritizes three core operational pillars:

Seamless UX integration,
Real-time process physics,
AI-driven predictive autonomy.

By integrating cutting-edge AI functionalities with the structural and robotic expertise of partners like FIDAMC (Getafe, Spain), Fraunhofer IGCV (Augsburg, Germany), Layway (Jiangsu, China), TU Delft (Delft, Netherlands) and UC San Diego (Calif., U.S.), the project is paving the way for a "Right-First-Time" manufacturing philosophy.