Path optimization for open-contoured structures in Robotic Fibre Placement

Robotic Fibre Placement (RFP) is widely used in manufacturing composites and path planning is essential to produce high-quality composites during the process. However, there is a lack of evaluation of path accuracy before laying, thus it's hard to optimize path under theoretical guidance and the quality of composites cannot be theoretically guaranteed. To solve this problem, this article establishes a theoretical evaluation model of path based on its error and proposes a corresponding optimization method to improve the accuracy of path. By calculating the distance between the roller and the mould along the direction perpendicular to the path, a path error distribution model is acquired and its maximum, mean and variance are used to evaluate the path. Then, the orientation of the roller along path is optimized to minimizing the path error. Some simulation experiments are conducted and the optimization leads to a 63.4% and 69.0% reduction in the maximum and average path error respectively, which will improve the quality of composites.