Vision-Based Artificial Intelligence for Adaptive Peen Forming: Sensing Architectures, Learning Models, and Closed-Loop Smart Manufacturing

Peen forming is a dieless manufacturing process used to shape large, thin aerospace panels through controlled shot impacts that induce residual stresses and curvature. Despite long-standing industrial use, process monitoring still depends largely on indirect proxies such as Almen intensity and coverage, limiting spatially resolved deformation assessment and hindering closed-loop control. In parallel, vision-based artificial intelligence (AI) has enabled adaptive monitoring and feedback in smart-manufacturing domains such as welding, additive manufacturing, and sheet forming. This review examines how such sensing and learning strategies can be transferred to adaptive peening forming. We compare six vision sensing modalities and assess major AI model families for surface mapping, temporal prediction, robustness, and deployment maturity. The synthesis shows that progress is primarily constrained by limited validated datasets, harsh in-cabinet sensing conditions, scarce closed-loop demonstrations, and weak validation on curved aerospace geometries. We conclude that the sensing and AI foundations for adaptive peen forming are already emerging, but industrial translation now depends on stronger experimental validation, standardized benchmarking, robust multi-sensor integration, and edge-capable feedback pipelines.