8 Amazing Uses of The Digital Twin Technology
As the world’s automation transformation moves forward creating Industry 4.0, new technology like immersive technology has become a vital part of daily business operations and logistics. Industries such as Medical, Architecture, Construction, Retail, Manufacturing, and Travel and Tourism are leveraging AR and VR to improve processes and supply-chains.
In the next decade and beyond, a new technological tool will take center stage of today’s electronic transformation. This innovation is digital twin (DT) technology. A digital twin is an interactive technology that replicates physical assets, devices, products, systems, processes, people, and places. It aims to create efficient simulations to help optimize the operations and logistics of businesses and governments.
With the introduction of 5G, the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud-based services, and advanced analytics, the uses of this innovation are boundless. For instance, when virtual reality innovation and digital twin technology combine, organizations can visualize and interact with real-time input.
Organizations can utilize this technological combination at machine scale, factory-scale, or any scale. In other words, VR and this innovation can handle large volumes of information at the required size to solve any size problem. These technological combinations can:
- Effectively monitor systems
- Analyze data
- Enhance collaborations with decision-makers from around the world
- Optimize operations and improve performance in the interactive world
- Prevent downtime
This list of uses is not exhaustive, but it provides an idea of the possibilities of this new technology. Here are some of its fascinating applications.
Highlight Future Capabilities of 5G
Digital twin technology can create smart city real-time data visualization. Real-time weather and traffic information and 5G combined with this new technology can create a 3D smart city. This kind of visualization highlights the combined power of these two technologies to develop smart cities.
Understand and Prevent Cyber Attacks
When it comes to complex, high-dimensional data, traditional data visualization in 2D cannot manipulate this input at scale. This kind of information is too big for 2D visualization to handle. 2D visualization also makes it difficult for humans to digest and understand the input in one viewing.
Immersive technology such as AR and VR combined with interactive innovation provide an additional interactive dimension that unleashes the full potential of immersive data visualization. This technological combination can handle large volumes of complex, high-dimensional data at any scale. Such an application helps when dealing with cyber-attacks.
Cybersecurity involves databases of systems and research reports that contain large amounts of input interspersed across various tables and charts.
Immersive technology and data visualization can create an intangible digital twin to visualize all the information. This kind of data storytelling gives non-specialists an enhanced understanding of the logic behind a cyber-attack. More importantly, it provides precautions for preventing cyber-attacks.
Quality Assurance
The digital twin can continually track and model every part of the production process. That means it can identify where quality issues happen. Also, it can analyze the components creating the product. This analysis can determine the availability of better materials and production processes.
Logistics
The DT can optimize supply chains. It can provide a clearer picture of the usage of materials. It can also show opportunities to automate the restocking process.
Product Development
VR already helps with the development of new products and their variants. It also collects data on product use to develop and enhance version control. The DT combines input from production systems with information from enterprise platforms. This combination allows for incorporating real-world feedback on product use. This feedback is helpful during the product re-design process.
Product re-design
During product re-design, operators can run conversions of production through the digital twin. It can also run a smaller series. This capability can model how product customization affects the production process. It can also adjust the process to accommodate any customization. For instance, it can inform the production equipment with exact product data. This ability allows it to build a different product variant without massive re-tooling.
Systems Planning
The digital twin can predict the performance of unconstructed systems. It can analyze historical comparative data of similar methods to reach its conclusions. It uses this information to model diverse situations for new equipment. Then it can identify improvements based on previous production systems.
Remote Troubleshooting
The digital twin allows remote technicians to fix malfunctioning machines or devices. In other words, technicians can troubleshoot and fix problems without leaving their office.
Furthermore, this technology lets remote technicians collaborate with in-house technicians. For example, a remote copy machine tech can show the on-site tech how to fix a particular model. On the whole, problems get resolved faster.
Digital twin technology will make a powerful impact on the operations and logistics of both business and government. While this innovation is still evolving, it promises to empower organizations and enhance the marketplace.
