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Technology is making everyday life easier with newer and improved innovations. The human labor burden has been reduced a lot by incorporating technology into everyday lives. The latest technology of digital twins is making jobs in various sectors way more convenient and easier. You might have come across videos or real-life shows or events in which people demonstrate things through a virtual representation of models, but have you thought of the advantages of such representations other than a visual wonder? Such virtual replicas of real-life models are called digital twins and this article is a guide on what digital twin technology is and how it is revolutionizing industries.
What Is Digital Twin Technology?
Digital twin technology is a technology that creates a virtual replica of a process, physical object, or even a person that can copy the movements and behavior in real-time. The technology uses sensors, machine learning technology, simulation, reasoning, and artificial intelligence to create real-life replicas of objects or ideas that can predict, develop, or improve the performance of the real concept or object. The movements of the replica will be updated in real-time to the original one.
The digital replica can be of various types from monitoring equipment data as an image to a whole production line simulation model. The technology emerged as a concept in the early 2000s and has evolved with the development of other technologies. The term has expanded from product lifecycle management to an entire manufacturing process. Ever since the Industry 4.0 revolution, digital twin technology also has accelerated in usage as machine learning, real-time data, and automation have increased.
Technologies That Complement Digital Twin Technology
Digital twin technology does not work on its own, rather it is supported by various other technologies. The following are some of the most used technologies for creating digital twins.
- Internet of Things (IoT): The Internet of Things comprises various physical objects that connect and exchange data with other devices through the Internet. These devices can connect in real-time and complete tasks on their own. IoT devices like sensors and other connected devices provide the digital twin technology with real-time data for a proper analysis that can be mirrored to create the replica.
- AI and ML: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) can automate information regarding provided data. Other than that, when a digital twin is created, these technologies can provide predictions and insights to help the manufacturing process.
- Virtual Reality (VR): For the digital twin to be more interactive, virtual reality can help in giving a real-life experience to the developers and manufacturers.
Advantages Of Digital Twin Technology
The major advantage of digital twin technology is the opportunity it brings to view a real-life replica of an idea or object virtually that has the ability to comprehend the real-life implications and predict the possible outcomes. The possibilities of its advantages can be increased based on the project it is integrated into as well as the growth of the incorporated technologies.
Another advantage is process optimization and monitoring. As replicas are created without actually manufacturing a product, the cost of manufacturing and re-manufacturing can be reduced. The project can be optimized and monitored as many times to check and ensure the desired result.
Digital twin technology can bring increased productivity and efficiency in every aspect which can bring the desired results in a better form. The speed of productivity can also be increased as errors can be corrected by testing the products virtually using digital twin technology. Strategic planning can be done using the detailed information provided and the digital model acts as a catalyst for internal improvements. Decision-making is made easier with this technology.
Manufacturers can attract investors and stakeholders by creating a compelling narrative with the digital model, as many such investors are reluctant at the initial stage of production because of a lack of understanding. Using digital twin technology also showcases the company’s advancements in technology.
As more and more companies have already adopted this technology into various sectors, the reason to adopt this technology is becoming a necessity to lead in any market.
Application Of Digital Twin Technology
Several advantages to digital twin technology make it apt in several use cases. The most used case of digital twins is in equipment monitoring. Equipment monitoring makes use of real-time data analysis, predictive maintenance, and optimization of operations. To understand the use cases of digital twin technology, it is better to navigate through some of the most used fields of this technology.
Some Of The Most Widely Used Digital Twin Technology Cases Are:
- Product Development and Prototyping: Designers and engineers can visualize real-time 3D images of prototypes while developing a product to predetermine the final product.
- Simulation and Training: Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) create interactive 3D training experiences to propagate knowledge easily in workspaces.
- Maintenance and Operations: Maintenance and operations are simplified by models created using digital twins.
- Sales and Marketing: The models created can build confidence in investors to invest in the product.
- Design Review: AR and VR can be made useful to create real-time visual representations of designs and images.
- Human-Machine Interfaces (HMI): Interactive user experience can also be created for In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) and other similar use cases.
Examples Of Digital Twin Technology
- Aerospace: It is really expensive, time-consuming, and complex to build aerospace systems and aircraft. As they are expensive to build, checking and trialing might not be financially possible and hence digital twin technology can be made use of. Designing, engineering, assembling the components, and even maintenance can be done through real-time visualization of 3D models and computer-aided design models.
- Architecture: Creating designs and conveying them to the clients are made easier with 2D and 3D models with digital twin technology. Before implementing costly architecture, designers can review them.
- Automotive: Designing and testing new vehicles are easier and maintain and optimize even the mistakes. Human-machine interaction and marketing can also increase the market value of the product.
- Construction: The construction of new buildings can be improved by visualizing designs in real-time, communications between engineers and construction workers can be bridged, and maintenance can be accomplished.
Conclusion
Digital twin technology is revolutionizing industries in general with aid from various technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, virtual reality, and more. The expensive and complicated way of producing products from ideas and inspiration has been changed as the concept can be easily visualized and tested prior to actually manufacturing them. This technology is getting improvised along the other technologies in the evolving digital world.
Digital twin technology has now grown to become a necessity in various industries like aerospace and architecture to attract investors and clients. The technology is ever to be updated in the future with further use cases.
