Intelligent forming technology: State-of-the-art review and perspectives

The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology makes it possible for achieving intelligent forming. It will bring great breakthrough of material forming technology, realizing the unmanned watching, intelligent processing design and intelligent control during forming process. Moreover, it can greatly improve the forming accuracy, mechanical properties, forming efficiency and economic benefits, and promote the continuous emergence of new forming technology. Thus, the intelligent forming technology, integrating AI technology and advanced forming technology, has become an international research focus. This paper reviews the recent developments of intelligent forming technology from four kinds of common forming technology, i.e., intelligent casting, intelligent plastic forming, intelligent welding, and intelligent additive manufacturing. Moreover, the current research issues and future trends of intelligent forming technology are put forward at the end of the paper.