Abstract: A pick and place end effector configured to form a kink in a composite laminate. The pick and place end effector comprises a vacuum lift face configured to hold the composite laminate and move from a flat configuration to a forming configuration with an angle in the vacuum lift face to form the kink in the composite laminate; a number of motors configured to move the vacuum lift face between the flat configuration and the forming configuration; and a number of restraints configured to clamp portions of a composite laminate on opposite sides of the kink on the vacuum lift face during movement between the flat configuration and the forming configuration.

Abstract: A forming end effector and methods of use are presented. Methods of forming a composite material onto a mandrel are presented. A forming end effector carrying the composite material is positioned over the mandrel. The forming end effector is connected to the mandrel. The composite material is swept onto the mandrel using sweepers of the forming end effector.

Abstract: Methods of peeling a protective film from the composite material are presented. A second protective film on a second face of the composite material sheet is held against a plurality of gripping points of an end effector. The composite material sheet is positioned at an angle relative to the manufacturing floor using the end effector. A first protective film on a first face of the composite material sheet is gripped by a film removal end effector. The first protective film is peeled away from the first face of the composite material sheet by movement of the film removal end effector.

Abstract: A forming area for automated composite processing and methods of maintaining workability of a ceramic matrix composite material in a forming area are presented. It is determined if a humidity within the forming area is in a desired range. In response to a determination that the humidity is not in the desired range, at least one of a heater or a humidifier is activated by an environmental controller to maintain a desired humidity for forming the ceramic matrix composite material within the forming area.

Abstract: A ceramic matrix composite part and methods of locating a composite ply on a layup tool are presented. A composite ply comprising a fiducial is placed onto the layup tool. A position of the fiducial of the composite ply is determined relative to the layup tool. An actual position of the composite ply on the layup tool is determined. A difference between the actual position of the composite ply and a designed position for the composite ply is determined.

Abstract: A pick and place end effector configured to form a kink in a composite laminate. The pick and place end effector comprises a vacuum lift face configured to hold the composite laminate and move from a flat configuration to a forming configuration with an angle in the vacuum lift face to form the kink in the composite laminate; a number of motors configured to move the vacuum lift face between the flat configuration and the forming configuration; and a number of restraints configured to clamp portions of a composite laminate on opposite sides of the kink on the vacuum lift face during movement between the flat configuration and the forming configuration.

Abstract: A forming end effector and methods of use are presented. Methods of forming a composite material onto a mandrel are presented. A forming end effector carrying the composite material is positioned over the mandrel. The forming end effector is connected to the mandrel. The composite material is swept onto the mandrel using sweepers of the forming end effector.

Abstract: A forming end effector and methods of use are presented. Methods of forming a composite material onto a mandrel are presented. A forming end effector carrying the composite material is positioned over the mandrel. The forming end effector is connected to the mandrel. The composite material is swept onto the mandrel using sweepers of the forming end effector.

Abstract: A pick and place end effector configured to form a kink in a composite laminate. The pick and place end effector comprises a vacuum lift face configured to hold the composite laminate and move from a flat configuration to a forming configuration with an angle in the vacuum lift face to form the kink in the composite laminate; a number of motors configured to move the vacuum lift face between the flat configuration and the forming configuration; and a number of restraints configured to clamp portions of a composite laminate on opposite sides of the kink on the vacuum lift face during movement between the flat configuration and the forming configuration.

Abstract: Systems for forming composite parts, methods of forming composite parts, and methods of precisely performing a plurality of operations on a composite part. The systems include a layup mandrel that includes a mandrel body and a plurality of regions of isotropic surface finish. The methods of forming the composite part include positioning a plurality of plies of composite material on a layup mandrel, conforming the plurality of plies of composite material to a layup surface shape of the layup mandrel, and curing the plurality of plies of composite material. The methods of precisely performing the plurality of operations on a composite part include detecting a corresponding imprinted feature of a plurality of imprinted features, aligning an operating assembly of an end effector relative to the corresponding imprinted feature, and performing a corresponding operation of the plurality of operations on the composite part.

Abstract: Metrology supported tomography systems and methods of use are presented. A metrology supported tomography system comprises an imaging system comprising a radiation source and a radiation detector; an independent tracking system comprising a first tracking target connected to the radiation source and a second tracking target connected to the radiation detector; and a tomography computation program configured to create a three-dimensional reconstruction utilizing data from the imaging system in combination with locations of the first tracking target and the second tracking target determined by the independent tracking system.

Abstract: A composite manufacturing system is provided. The composite manufacturing system comprises a robotic arm and a trimming and scrap removal system connected to the robotic arm. The trimming system and scrap removal comprises an ultrasonic knife, an ultrasonic parting horn, and a web support. The parting horn is configured to push scrap away from a trimmed part before the scrap has a chance to heat weld back to the trimmed part.

Abstract: Systems for forming composite parts, methods of forming composite parts, and methods of precisely performing a plurality of operations on a composite part. The systems include a layup mandrel that includes a mandrel body and a plurality of regions of isotropic surface finish. The methods of forming the composite part include positioning a plurality of plies of composite material on a layup mandrel, conforming the plurality of plies of composite material to a layup surface shape of the layup mandrel, and curing the plurality of plies of composite material. The methods of precisely performing the plurality of operations on a composite part include detecting a corresponding imprinted feature of a plurality of imprinted features, aligning an operating assembly of an end effector relative to the corresponding imprinted feature, and performing a corresponding operation of the plurality of operations on the composite part.

Abstract: The magnetic handling systems comprise a bladder and a magnetic carriage system. The bladder is configured to be received within a stringer interior volume of a hat stringer and comprises a magnetic insert having a plurality of magnetic walls, each configured to align with a respective wall portion of the hat stringer. The magnetic carriage system comprises a carriage having a magnetic head that comprises a bracket and a plurality of magnetic sources supported by the bracket. Each magnetic source is configured to magnetically couple with a respective magnetic wall of the magnetic insert to produce an attractive magnetic force therebetween. The methods comprise disposing a bladder having a plurality of the magnetic inserts within the hat stringer, magnetically engaging a plurality of the magnetic heads with the plurality of magnetic inserts, and conforming the hat stringer by moving at least one magnetic head relative to another magnetic head.

Abstract: In a radio network that includes at least one base station and at least one remote station, signals are modulated for transmission from the remote stations by embedding known information throughout the signal in a predetermined pattern and a group of sample vectors of a signal received by at least one base station of the network are collected and processed to detect a said received signal that resulted from propagation of a signal from a remote station of the network. The group of sample vectors is collected from (a) signals that are received by more than one base station of the network; and/or (b) signals that are received simultaneously at different frequencies by at least one base station of the network.

Abstract: An electronic presentation system and method provides multiple display screens for presentation materials as well as permits dynamic annotations to presentation materials that do not permanently alter the presentation materials. The presentation materials can easily be directed to any one of the display screens and any annotations can be saved for future use or simply deleted.

Abstract: An electronic presentation system and method provides multiple display screens for presentation materials as well as permits dynamic annotations to presentation materials that do not permanently alter the presentation materials. The presentation materials can easily be directed to any one of the display screens and any annotations can be saved for future use or simply deleted.