Systems and methods for material dispensing control

An apparatus for characterizing a material dispenser, the apparatus comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory including instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• receive a model of the material dispenser;
• at a first characterization period of a material bead dispensing operation, communicate, to the material dispenser, a first characterization flow rate input;
• at a second characterization period of the material bead dispensing operation, communicate, to the material dispenser, a second characterization flow rate input;
• generate, using at least one sensor, three-dimensional data associated with a material bead corresponding to the material bead dispensing operation;
• and
• characterize at least one parameter of the model of the material dispenser using at least the first characterization flow rate input, the second characterization flow rate input, and the three-dimensional data associated with the material bead.

A system comprising:

• a material dispenser configured to dispense a material bead;
• and
• a controlling mechanism configured to:
• receive a model of the material dispenser;
• at a first characterization period of a material bead dispensing operation, communicate, to the material dispenser, a first characterization flow rate input;
• at a second characterization period of the material bead dispensing operation, communicate, to the material dispenser, a second characterization flow rate input;
• generate, using a plurality of sensors, three-dimensional data associated with a material bead corresponding to the material bead dispensing operation;
• and
• characterize at least one parameter of the model of the material dispenser using at least the first characterization flow rate input, the second characterization flow rate input, and the three-dimensional data associated with the material bead.