PROCESS FOR FABRICATING A COMPOSITE UNDERBODY PANEL

A process for fabricating a fiber composite underbody panel for a vehicle begins by laying-up a first fiber composite sheet on a suitable form or tool. Current carrying wiring that is normally carried by the floor is laid in place on the first sheet, with the ends of the wires extending beyond the edges of the sheet. The wires are shielded to prevent the radiation of fields therefrom into the interior of the vehicle. Fiber optic cable is used to carry signals. A second fiber composite sheet is then laid-up on the first sheet. The two sheets with the embedded wires are placed in a heated mold to form the sheets into the desired finished shape and configuration. The ends of the copper wires and the fiber optic cables are then terminated by connectors so that they may be later coupled to the circuitry of the vehicle.