Ply transporting and compacting apparatus and method therefor

A method for forming a composite structure with a desired shape, the method comprising:

• picking up a composite ply at a first location by drawing a vacuum through a ply transporting and compacting apparatus to engage the composite ply, the ply transporting and compacting apparatus comprising:
• a top-layer sheet of flexible material;
• a bottom-layer sheet of perforated flexible material;
• and
• a middle-layer sheet of flow media material disposed between the top-layer sheet and the bottom-layer sheet;
• transporting the composite ply from the first location to a second location while the composite ply is engaged with the ply transporting and compacting apparatus;
• placing the composite ply on a forming tool at the second location;
• while the composite ply is on the forming tool, urging the ply transporting and compacting apparatus against the forming tool to define a vacuum chamber between the forming tool and the ply transporting and compacting apparatus;
• and
• during the urging, drawing a vacuum in the vacuum chamber.