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.