Non-contacting temperature measurement system for automated fiber placement

A method for measuring temperatures of materials during a high-temperature composite process comprising:

• measuring a temperature of a material being heated in a process while the material is being placed by an Automated Fiber Placement machine via:
• inducing a current within the material via an electromagnetic coil within a carbon fiber material being placed by the Automated Fiber Placement machine;
• placing at least one antennae at a distance from the material and at a predetermined distance along the material from the electromagnetic coil;
• receiving a signal generated by the current with the at least one antennae positioned along the material from the electromagnetic coil, the signal being generated by current carried along the material;
• wherein the at least one antennae is coupled to a device for measuring a strength of the current via the signal generated by the current, the device comprising an ammeter or galvanometer coupled to the at least one antennae;
• processing the signal generated by the current via a micro-controller device to interpret the strength of the current, wherein the strength of the current is proportional to a distance the current must travel through the material between the electromagnetic coil and the at least one antennae, wherein a strength of the signal generated by the current indicates the temperature of the material in the process;
• and
• all performed without physically contacting the material being measured for temperature, while the material is being heated with a heating element during an Automated Fiber Placement process.