METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ASSEMBLING A STRUCTURE

Systems and methods are provided for assembling a structure (12) from preforms (150) including discrete preforms (154) and one or more large preform (156), each preform (150) comprising unhardened fiber-reinforced material (152), the method (400) comprising:moving (402) a mandrel (140) in a process direction (14) relative to a placement station (100) that comprises multiple pick-and-place (PNP) machines (130);identifying (422) a tray (190) that stores the one or more large preforms (156) and the discrete preforms (154), the discrete preforms (154) arranged for placement at locations (781) in which a frame (780) is to be installed relative to the large preforms (156);placing (428) a strong back (180) at the tray (190) via at least one of the PNP machines (130); applying (406) vacuum pressure (160) to hold (444) the one or more large preforms (156) and the discrete preforms (154) in contact with the strong back (180);transporting (460) the one or more large preforms (156) and the discrete preforms (154) to the mandrel (140) via the at least one PNP machine (130) while maintaining an arrangement of the one or more large preforms (156) and the discrete preforms (154); andplacing (472) the one or more large preforms (156) and the discrete preforms (154) onto the mandrel (140), preferably wherein the discrete preforms (154) are frame filler preforms (158) and the large preform (156) is a stringer preform (159).