Perspectives on the Development of Intelligent Additive Manufacturing Technology and Equipment

Additive manufacturing (AM) has expanded manufacturing possibilities but has yet to realize its full potential for industrial-scale production. Despite significant progress, its adoption remains below early expectations. Bridging this gap requires more than increasing machine capacity: it demands consistent quality, higher productivity, and competitive costs. These interrelated challenges continue to con-fine AM’s strongest advantages to selected high-value, complex components. This talk explores how artificial intelligence can help overcome these barriers by connecting design, process understanding, and quality assurance within an integrated manufacturing framework. Drawing on the advances of our research team in AI-enabled design, process optimization, in-situ monitoring, and online quality certification, the talk examines how intelligence can be embedded throughout the AM workflow to support more predictable and reliable production. Building on these developments, it outlines key priorities for the next phase of industrial adoption including AM-specific foundation models, dedicated computational infrastructure, and application-driven demonstrations of intelligent AM. Together, these efforts offer a pathway from experience-driven trial-and-error to scalable, increasingly autonomous, and quality-assured manufacturing, turning AM technological promise into broader industrial value.

Prof. Liao Wenhe has long been engaged in the theories, technologies, and engineering applications for the design and fabrication of micro- and nano-satellites, as well as high-end advanced manufacturing equipment. He has led the development and successfully launched three generations of special micro- and nano-satellites with milestone significance, including China’s first stealth satellite, thereby pioneering the country’s satellite stealth technology. He has also successfully developed six major types of robotic high-end manufacturing equipment for complex, large-scale aerospace components, as well as China’s first excimer laser-based human eye vision correction system, breaking foreign technological monopolies. As principal investigator, he has received the Second Prize of the National Technological Invention Award, the Second Prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award, two Second Prizes of the National Teaching Achievement Award, and eight First Prizes at the provincial and ministerial levels in science and technology.