When AI meets additive manufacturing: Challenges and emerging opportunities for human-centered products development

Nowadays, additive manufacturing (AM) has been increasingly leveraged to produce human-centered products, such as orthoses and prostheses as well as therapeutic helmets, finger splints, and other personalized devices. This study reviews the state-of-the-art research in human-centered AM with a highlight on the role of artificial intelligence (AI). Notably, AI is increasingly involved in the decision-makings throughout the three stages of AM product development, i.e., design, fabrication, and assessment, and it brings emerging opportunities for cost-effective human-centered products development. Therefore, in this paper, recent research in AI-enabled customized design, fabrication, and assessment has been summarized. Furthermore, research opportunities and challenges for broader adoptions of AI in AM applications are thoroughly discussed, particularly for human -centered AM products.

Automated summary

This paper reviews the latest research on human-centered additive manufacturing (AM) in the context of human therapy and assistance, and discusses the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in AM product development. The research shows that the application of AI in design, fabrication, and assessment stages brings new opportunities for cost-effective development of human-centered products in AM.