23rd, April 2023
Digital Twin
A digital twin is a virtual representation of a physical product used to assess the performance of a physical product. One of the first definitions of digital twin was given by NASA in their integrated technology roadmap in 2010 - "A Digital Twin is an integrated multiphysics, multiscale, probabilistic simulation of an as-built vehicle or system that uses the best available physical models, sensor updates, fleet history, etc., to mirror the life of its corresponding flying twin".
Digital twin can exist even before there is a physical entity. It can be broadly classified into three categories such as Product Design Twin, Performance (Service) Twin, Production Twin
Product Design Twin: It allows design engineers to create virtual replica of a product during design phase before the physical prototype is built. It is used to test and refine the designs and explore various design alternatives to optimize the performance of physical product. The benefits of using a Product Design Twin include reduced development costs, faster time-to-market, efficient product performance and enhanced design optimization.
Performance (Service) Twin: It is a virtual representation of a service-based system. It collects data from sensors and devices embedded in physical product and it can provide insights into key performance metrics. Purpose of this type of digital twin is to predict failures and reduce operational cost. This is very useful for product end user and maintenance & service department.
Production Twin: A Production Twin provides manufacturers a digital representation of their production processes. The insights obtained from a Production Twin can help identify areas for improvement and optimization within the production process, predict yield & quality and subsequently reduce cost. It also helps optimize resource utilization, such as machine allocation, workforce planning, and inventory management. This information is very useful for plant managers, line managers and operators.