A precise digital replica of something in the real world – a process, machine, factory or even an entire city. Internet of Things (IoT) sensors gather data from the physical world and send it to computers to reconstruct. The digital twin is continuously updated to mirror the state of its physical counterpart.
Creating a digital twin gives a deeper understanding of real-time processes. It offers valuable insights into how to improve efficiency and product quality or reduce maintenance and waste. Digital twins also enable virtual support, without an engineer having to be on site. Experiments can be carried out with much less risk and a lot more return on investment.
The concept of ‘pairing’ goes back to early space travel, when NASA built analogue models on the ground to monitor and modify spacecraft that were thousands of miles above the earth. As computer power increased, these models became digital. The term digital twin was attributed to University of Michigan’s Michael Grieves in 2002, but didn’t become more commonly used until the widespread adoption of IoT technology.
Digital twin technology is being applied in a wide variety of uses:
