METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IN-PROCESS MONITORING OF A COMPACTION ROLLER OF A COMPOSITE LAYUP MACHINE

There is provided a method (200) that includes directing (202) one or more infrared cameras (60) at a compaction roller (14) of a composite laying head (36) of a composite layup machine (18). The one or more infrared cameras (60) are mounted aft of the compaction roller (14). The method (200) includes applying (204) heat (40) to a substrate (42) by a heater (38). The heater (38) is mounted forward of the compaction roller (14). The method (200) further includes using (206) the one or more infrared cameras (60), to obtain one or more infrared images (62) of the compaction roller (14), during laying down of one or more composite tows (32a) of a composite layup (30) onto the substrate (42) by the compaction roller (14). The method (200) further includes identifying (208), based on the one or more infrared images (62), one or more temperature profiles (24) of the compaction roller (14), and analyzing (210) identified temperature profiles (24a), to determine one or more of, a layup quality (26) of the composite layup (30), and a heat history (28) of the composite layup (30).