**3. Conclusion**


*Unidirectional Carbon Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastic Tape in Automated Tape Placement… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.101110*

density (accumulated energy per unit system per unit volume [J/m3 ]) and the short response time. The first allows the application of higher speeds when laying lanes, while the second allows laying lanes of complicated geometries, including large variations in laying speed. However, the application of lasers also has its drawbacks. The cost of the equipment is high compared to conventional heat sources, and also the laser always requires the equipment to be housed in a protected environment. In addition, the application of laser heating requires a thorough understanding of the interaction of light with fiber-reinforced thermoplastic tapes.

