Digital Twin Technology: Active And Virtual Simulation Of The Real World
A digital twin is an active and virtual replica of a real object, process, system or environment. Something's digital twin looks exactly like its real-world counterpart and functions in exactly the same way.
Digital Twin Technology: Active And Virtual Simulation Of The Real World
A digital twin of a product, process, system or environment is created in such a way that its structure and behavior completely match the original copy. This digital twin can take data from the real environment and create precisely real objects on a virtual platform.
Through digital twin, it is possible to predict how a product or system will perform in different conditions in the future.
How Digital Twin Works
A digital twin works by connecting real-world data to a real-world object. This makes the digital twin behave in the same way as the real option. And using it, any imaginary situation can be observed directly.
A digital twin enables multiple teams working on the same project to design, build, test and operate any complex system. This helps the teams to understand their previous work. At the same time gets a realistic idea of the current situation and possible problems that may occur in the future.
With this concept, it is possible to make more accurate business decisions using sales marketing data, data analysis, 3D visualization, simulation and estimation.
How Digital Twins Are Created
To create a digital twin, a conceptual or “conceptual model” of the original object is first created. “BIM” (Building Information Modelling), “CAD” (Computer Aided Design) or “GIS” (Geographical Information System) software is used to do this. Or the entire object is scanned into a computer model.
Then the data collected about the object is combined with the data obtained from the 'IoT' (Internet of Things) device and input into the digital twin. A digital twin instantly acts as a 3D model that mimics the real world. That's why the digital twin is changing faster than human imagination using computer graphics technology.
Once created, the digital twin actually works to properly store, organize and present data from various sources. And so that people can easily understand these data, the digital twin is presented on the screen.
The digital twin of the object being created works in the virtual platform just as it would in the real world.
How the object might react in the real world, how its motion or force might be, all these are simulated in the digital twin.
Users get 3D dynamic content in digital twin, which shows results as soon as input is given. In essence, it is possible to simulate real-world situations in this virtual environment. Any “what-if” situation or scenario can be visualized on a computer screen through a digital twin.
And this visualization of digital twin can be seen on different platforms like mobile device, computer, augmented, mixed or virtual device.
The method of creating each digital twin is different. Sometimes the construction process has to be completed step by step. As the steps go up, the complexity of construction increases and more elaborate models are created. This increases the importance of the digital twin to the organization.
Digital twins of various objects or systems can be created. From a 3D model of a product to a perfect representation of a network or system or a digital twin of a large and complex object like an entire city, it is possible.
Such large-scale digital twins are made dynamic by adding engineering, construction and operational data. By doing this, changes to the input show the result in the virtual copy as well.
Multiple teams working in different locations and on different topics can easily handle the creation, management and maintenance of complex digital twins. This makes it easier for them to take decisions at every stage of their work.
History Of Digital Twin Technology
In the 1960s, the US space agency NASA first came up with the idea of creating a digital twin to observe a physical object. A digital twin of the spacecraft is created on Earth, similar to NASA's mission spacecraft. This technology was particularly successful in the "Apollo 13" mission.
Interlocking twins allow mission control strategies to be adjusted in different situations. Especially if the spacecraft is damaged or has a problem, the digital twin can be used to understand its actual condition. And this eventually allowed the astronauts to land safely on Earth.
In the early 1970s, mainframe computers were used to monitor digital twin systems in large systems such as power plants. Then, in the 1980s, two-dimensional CAD systems such as AutoCAD became popular for technical drawing. As a result, anything can be designed with a simple computer. As a result, designers and engineers started reaping its benefits within a few days.
By the 2000s, three-dimensional cad (CAD) software became available that could do relatively more modeling and simulation. Using this software it is possible to create more complex drawings, which can be linked to various databases.
Then in the mid-2010s, most of the big three-dimensional CAD companies started bringing cloud-based technology. This technology is brought in keeping in mind multi team working and project management. Later on it is also possible to create designs using artificial intelligence. But so far the work of CAD software is limited to the desktop.
In the current era we are seeing the use of 3D digital twins in real time. Now data is not only available from dashboards and 3D models, but numerous sources of data have been created. It enables better visualization, collaboration and decision making.
Relationship Between Digital Twin And Internet Of Things
A digital twin is a visualization of a product or system, created through different models such as BIM, CAD or GIS. Or a digital twin is created by scanning directly.
Internet of Things, on the other hand, is a network made up of different devices, each with a different identity. This identity is called “Unique Identifier or ‘UID’”. Internet of Things or IoT devices or devices are connected to the Internet and can communicate themselves. Devices can also send their own data to other locations and receive data from others.
And when digital twins are connected to IoT data, they can provide information about a task's performance over time. Thus users are able to evaluate their future work results and work plans.
By having IoT sensors and data, a digital twin can show the overall state of a digital model, which is very useful when making complex decisions. For example, an engine's digital twin contains a lot of important information about its performance. This makes it possible for engineers to test new designs or run simulations of the future impact of design changes.
Although there are many types of digital twins, they all have a common feature. That is, each twin has its own 'UID'. Through this ID, various devices connected to the Internet can easily find the specific twin. As a result, its two-way communication with various devices is possible and other IoT devices can coordinate tasks and exchange information among themselves.
Using Data Effectively Is One Of The Biggest Challenges In Implementing The Digital Twin
Collecting detailed data on a subject is a difficult task. But the more difficult task is to use this data intelligently. We need to use data to make a sound decision. But data is valuable only when you can bring the data to life through simulation and make accurate predictions about the future dynamics of the business.
Companies that undergo digital transformation are at risk of accumulating excess data. Later, it becomes difficult to use this data if we cannot determine how to use the data in the right way.
At present collecting primary data or 'Raw Data' is not a big challenge. Rather, the big challenge is to understand in which process it can be used.
3 things need to be done to make data actionable. The tasks are to prune the redundant parts from the collected data; making connections between different data; and turning data into information. Data collected in this way can be used for operational purposes.
So the real challenge is to harness the power of information. We have a lot of data from different businesses and different IoT devices in databases, spreadsheets or models like BIM, CAD or GIS. A 3D digital twin that can be acted upon in real time makes this data actionable.
The Future Of The Digital Twin
Nothing in today's world is limited to mere physical existence. Most things created in today's world have a virtual copy. It can be products, machinery, factories, buildings and even cities.
Even humans have digital twins. We will see in the post-internet generation that many things like people, machines or any system are connected to each other. It will be a kind of "real-time three-dimensional metaverse."
The metaverse could create enormous economic potential. For example, 3D marketing can give potential customers a real-world experience. This hybrid reality will work in different places and in different mediums. With its help, just as a system can be easily updated, a product can also be easily customized. And all this will be possible due to the advancement of technology like digital twin.