I have a digital twin.
I am my own virtual version of myself online, and I’m not just sitting on Facebook all day.
My digital twin is the part of me that’s always connected to the internet – it knows what I’m doing, where I’ve been, who I know, and how much money I have in my bank account. And much more!
It sounds like something out of science fiction or even horror film but it’s happening now, with more than one billion people around the world already using their online selves to connect with friends and family as well as do business.
In this blog post we’re going to explore what a typical day might be for someone like me who lives almost entirely in cyberspace – someone who has a digital twin.
So I’ll start with the time when my eyes open, which will probably be around 7am GMT.
This is because my online self wakes up at this time – even if I’m still asleep in a real-world bed somewhere.
My digital self here gets out of bed and logs on to a breakfast news website to find out what’s going on in the world. It then chats to my colleagues from other parts of the globe via instant messaging services such as Skype, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger about what they’re doing today.
I might ask them for an update on something that happened yesterday or tell them about something interesting happening soon – or get their thoughts on news before deciding how it should be reported on the site.
I will then start planning my day ahead of me, which is mainly checking what should be covered in IoT Worlds schedule. I might also do some background research to help make sure I don’t miss anything important later – or find out more about stories that are appearing today.
This is because every person who works for IoT Worlds has their own digital versions of themselves who work around the clock (and all around the world) to update our website and distribute our content across social media. Our jobs are always done by us online – no matter where we are in real life or what time zone we happen to be in at any given moment.
So after getting up and having breakfast with my digital self over the internet, it will be time to get dressed and head out the door.
Rather than a morning commute through a busy city though I’ll probably use a video-call service such as Skype or Facetime to connect with my real self who will be waiting back at home in front of their own computer screen.
I’ll then walk out the door into a world full of people going about their business while simultaneously logged on through their digital versions too.
This doesn’t mean they should all have an identical digital twin – different people can have very different online versions of themselves working for them around the clock too.
In fact being so connected means everyone has opportunities to do whatever they want from connecting with friends, doing a spot of work while having a coffee, or even doing their shopping while getting the kids ready for school.
And while we’re all doing our own thing in cyberspace and sometimes traveling over there with friends and family to enjoy time together, the digital versions of ourselves that we created at home will be hard at work updating our websites and social media profiles. This keeps everyone online up-to-date on what other people are doing too – so it’s never been easier to find out about other events going on near you or interesting things happening around the world.
The next time I log off from my digital twin will probably be around midnight GMT when my physical self is tired and needs sleep before waking up to start all over again tomorrow.
I usually only have to use my physical self for attending live events so I won’t be waking up again until it’s time to head off somewhere new.
The most important thing about your digital twin is….
The most important thing about my digital twin is it’s “an avatar” for me. It can’t feel my feelings, see the world the way I see it, and maybe even it’s not me at all. But we still share a similar trait or two.
So in reality… my digital twin is just like me because we both use technology; no matter how differently we may use it. This makes my digital twin important because they serve as my gateway into using the internet. Without them, I wouldn’t be able to access websites and read articles like this one (not that there aren’t ways around it but still).
My digital twin is also important because I’m sure that I don’t miss a thing on the internet. It possible for me to access any website or related websites, potentially saving me a lot of time and effort. Which is always good because I don’t have much leisure time as of late.
In conclusion, my digital twin is important to me because It’s basically an extension of myself that makes it easier for me to function more efficiently in this world we live in!
A digital twin is a computer-generated replica of an actual physical system. It can be as simple as a car or as complex as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). A digital twin provides real-time data and predictions about the health, function and performance of its corresponding physical counterpart. Digital twins will play an increasingly important role in reducing operational risks associated with aging infrastructure, improving end-user experiences, and providing unprecedented levels of transparency into how systems operate on a day to day basis. The paradigm shift from analog to digital has already changed many industries–it’s time for power generation to follow suit.
Digital twins will play an increasingly important role in reducing operational risks associated with aging infrastructure, improving end-user experiences, and providing unprecedented levels of transparency into how systems operate on a day to day basis. How to create a digital twin?
A digital twin is created by instrumenting the physical assets (instrumentation) and feeding the resulting data through predictive analytics algorithms to create a virtual replica of the asset. The quality and accuracy of this replica is derived from the fidelity of the instrumentation and the sophistication of the underlying analytics used for prediction. This combination allows utility companies to take advantage of what we call “digital pathology”–the ability to predict when something should be replaced or repaired before it breaks down completely.
Digital twins also allow utilities to create highly accurate models of their physical assets. The underlying intelligence that drives the digital twin can be used to understand how an asset is performing and if there are any deviations from normal performance values. This insight allows utilities to identify equipment at risk of failure before it fails, thus preventing unplanned outages and minimizing maintenance costs.
Digital twins also allow for improved planning activities through enhanced analytics capabilities and better informed decisions derived from more accurate information on capacity, availability and capability of existing and planned infrastructure.
What my digital twin can teach me about creating an outstanding user experience
A digital twin is a hypothetical representation of a person that possesses the same attributes as a user. Digital twins allow for a more accurate understanding of a user’s needs and behaviors because they are based on the individual rather than the average customer.
For example, there are digital twins of real cars that let you explore them from every angle. This type of experience really helps people get to know their vehicle before purchasing it or even test driving it.
Another helpful application for DTs comes from the construction industry. Imagine using your phone to view hidden parts of buildings as though you were Superman. Or how about visiting products virtually before actually buying them? Yes, this could be really fun! 🙂 However, one thing that stands out most is how powerful DTs could be for user experience.
Digital twins will allow us to build more accurate and comprehensive experiences because we’ll know (and see) exactly how our users’ actions affect the rest of the world, which means we can better predict what they need at any given time!
We’re all really excited about this new technology and cannot wait to make their applications in UX a reality.
What is digital twin?
A digital twin is a virtual version of a physical production process or product. The digital twin is an interactive, 3D representation of the real-world object or process that can be queried and monitored to make ongoing adjustments in order to improve performance. Digital twin technology is used in a variety of industrial applications, including machine learning.
Why digital twins?
The digital twin represents the product design and performance in a virtual environment where data from sensor measurements can be collected, stored and analyzed to understand how well the product is performing compared to its original design requirements. The digital twin enables visualization of changes in the manufacturing process which can help predict how much an existing or planned machine will change when implemented at scale. Tools such as machine learning can help identify potential issues before they become problems. Digital twins also offer a way for companies to cut costs by avoiding building physical prototypes that may have to be dismantled afterwards or taking prototype parts through expensive testing procedures only to discard them later. This type of digital twin can be rapidly reconfigured to represent different product variations or assembly sequences.
What are some examples of digital twin?
Examples of digital twin technologies used in real industry applications include simulating wind turbines, buildings, oil rigs, electrical power grids and military-grade products. Another illustrative example is the use of a car’s digital twin for advanced telematics services that monitor location, speed and direction through an on-board unit that transmits information wirelessly to a processing center. This helps drivers find empty parking spaces. Telematics data collected from cars has been used by insurance companies to set pricing based on driver risk profiles. Another benefit of collecting telematics data is traffic flow so roadways can be adjusted, such as by adding toll lanes.
How it help in improving the product design?
Digital twins enable constant monitoring of product status, which can identify issues before they become problems. This enables users to make adjustments during the production process that improves existing products, reduces costs and recycles parts instead of throwing them away. Other benefits include lower risk for new product design investment because digital twin technologies allow builders to simulate how changes will affect a finished product compared to physical prototypes with limited life spans. The digital twin paradigm also allows companies to tinker with different variations or sequences of individual elements without having to physically build each one first. Digital twin technology is also used in machine learning applications where data collected from sensors on an actual part is used to train a machine learning algorithm that can then be used on a production line to anticipate problems before they occur.
How it make an industry more efficient?
The digital twin enables makers of complex products such as wind turbines, buildings and cars to monitor their performance in real time compared to the original design requirements. Manufacturers can make adjustments during the product building stage instead of taking costly actions later such as tearing down finished parts, which have limited life spans after being built. Companies using digital twin technology also reduce risk by making changes without having to physically build prototypes first because they can simulate how different product variations or sequences would affect the final outcome. Lastly, digital twin technologies allow companies to apply machine learning algorithms that improve quality and efficiency in industrial processes.
How it help in making decision faster?
Digital twin technologies enable users to predict how changes will affect an existing product or subsequent production runs. The information is shared with workers on the assembly line so they can make adjustments before taking costly steps such as tearing down finished parts after building, which have limited life spans compared to prototypes. For example, makers using digital twin technology can evaluate different variations or sequences of individual elements without having to physically build each one first because they can simulate how these options would affect the final product outcome. Another benefit includes predicting manufacturing problems that may occur later in the process by applying machine learning algorithms that analyze data collected from sensors on an actual part. This reduces risk when considering new design investment.
Digital twins enable constant monitoring of product status, which can identify issues before they become problems. This enables users to make adjustments during the production process that improves existing products or reduces costs while recycling parts instead of throwing them away. Other benefits include lower risk for new product design investment because digital twin technologies allow builders to simulate how changes will affect a finished product compared to physical prototypes with limited life spans. The digital twin paradigm also allows companies to tinker with different variations or sequences of individual elements without having to physically build each one first. Digital twin technology is also used in machine learning applications where data collected from sensors on an actual part is used to train a machine learning algorithm that can then be used on a production line to anticipate problems before they occur.
Why you need a digital twin?
The Digital Twin is an evolving entity that includes all the software and digital interfaces that represent a physical product. As the product evolves, so does its digital twin, which can gather information instantaneously and provide users with up-to-date information about what’s happening to the product. This means no more shiny new toys with cryptic manuals, but rather hardware designed with the end user in mind. For example, a Digital Twin can monitor the performance of an asset and use big data analytics to study patterns over time. It also allows information from different sources – including predictive maintenance – to be collected and analyzed in real-time.
Being able to monitor a product’s performance over time provides a number of advantages for users, but most importantly it will help engineers understand how their products are being used on the field, which means they have a better chance of adding user value through software updates or even completely new hardware design. This kind of communication between the product and its digital twin is called telemetry. This ability to optimize end-to-end processes is what enables Digital Twins to enhance reliability, reduce downtime and improve quality sensors by using big data analytics. Are you ready to develop your digital twin? Contact us!
How to get ahead of the competition with a digital twin
Implementing a great digital twin strategy! Contact us to discuss about it!
Digital twins are important for companies looking to maintain competitive advantage. This is because they allow the digital twin to predict and optimize with increased precision, minimizing production costs.
This article is not about getting ahead of the competition with a physical counterpart. Instead, it will look at
how companies can leverage digital twins to improve their competitive advantage.
A digital twin is a software that represents either an actual physical or conceptual entity. For example, the digital twin of an airplane could have its textured 3D model as well as monitor aerodynamics, fuel burn and engine performance simulations. The term was coined by Lockheed Martin back in 2010 when they introduced their first digital twin which was aimed at simulating commercial aircraft operations. With the rise of IoT devices, manufacturing facilities are also capable of creating digital twins for different processes within their factories even down to individual machines themselves. Digital twins take information from sensors installed on real-world objects and simulate how they operate.
Digital twins are changing the future of engineering – here’s how
Digital twins are changing the future of engineering. When we build a new engineering project, we usually start with a 3-D software and create a virtual version of the building on screen. But what if we could also build a digital twin of our design that would be able to show us how the construction will look once it is built? This would mean that engineers could then collaborate with different teams, such as architects and contractors. This collaboration would allow for more accurate designs and lower costs by reducing mistakes and rework. There is even talk of using digital twins for more than just buildings – they might one day replace traditional simulators for airplanes or cars.
Best practices for designing a company’s digital twin
As of now, companies are able to create a digital twin by making use of sensors. The sensor process of the company’s product is essential in ensuring that there is a high level of accuracy in modeling and predicting the performance. Utmost care has to be given on the type of sensor to be used for this purpose. This is because sensors can have varying levels of accuracy and have different data ranges. It is imperative to have a clear understanding on the necessary readings from each sensor for this purpose.
The use of certain sensors can result in inaccurate data. It is therefore recommended that companies make the usage of few types of sensors mandatory for this purpose.
The use of multiple data models leads to inconsistency in the modeling process. This leads to wastage of time and lower accuracy levels. The other negative side effect that comes with the reliance on multiple data models is the deployment challenges it presents for this purpose. Since sensor types are used, deploying an application becomes easier because software developers would be familiar with them. In addition, integration testing might have to be performed as well for this purpose.
It is important to measure how long it takes before a new model is created by using different appliances together. This helps in deciding the accuracy level based on the data models. It is imperative to note that different appliances create different combinations for this purpose. Thus, it can be said that multiple factors like: models, learning etc. contribute towards the accuracy level and overall implementation time at the end of the day
Company’s digital twin will depend on factors such as:
hardware, tools & algorithms that are used by employees belonging to certain department. The company’s management team should ensure that all their employees use standardized methods like: models, predictions etc. for this purpose. This ensures consistency in behavior among employees as well as a high level confidence to other operators which might be using the product later on during its lifecycle
It is important to have a clear understanding about how much data should be made available to public. This is because data can be categorized into two broad types: public and private data. Many companies might give away private data in return for access to public one i.e. they give out private sensor readings for the purpose of calibrating other sensors which are used by them for this purpose. There may also be times when companies find it necessary to keep their sensor readings under wraps for certain purposes like; protecting IP etc..
Sensor Data has to be stored securely before giving it out at various stages of the process depending on the company’s business needs. Digital twin requires constant monitoring so that performance issues can be solved as soon as possible leading to better customer satisfaction levels.
It is important to have a highly centralized hub for this purpose.
If the company’s digital twin has a decentralized approach, there is a high chance that management will not be able to monitor and observe changes in data as they occur. This can lead to inconsistency with regards to decision making at different levels of the organization.
Companies should ensure that all their standards which are used for modeling purposes are documented properly so that they can be referred at any point in time by anyone belonging to the organization.
There might be cases where certain factors like: low battery etc. may hamper with the sensor readings and cause variation in sensor data over time leading to inaccuracy with regards to real-time performance monitoring
It is important for companies who deal with machinery or manufacturing products involving workflows such as; power plants, building automation etc. to develop best practices for this purpose.
Top 3 ways the future of engineering is going to change because of digital twin
I would like to introduce the possibility that the future of engineering is going to change due to digital twin. The implications are significant in that they will offer solutions for problems like the energy, environment, and development. There are three ways that this is continued:
1) The efficient distribution of natural resources through simulation.
2) Accurate simulation of distribution chains with reduced environmental impact.
3) Development engineers can share best practices for developing sustainable technologies.
1. The efficient distribution of natural resources through simulation :
Currently there are many problems with the way that natural resources are distributed, such as over-mining and deforestation, which contribute to the warming of the earth. Digital twin offers a solution for this by simulating how these resources will be used in real time, allowing for better planning to improve efficiency and conserve what is left before all non-renewable natural resources are gone.
2. Accurate simulation of distribution chains with reduced environmental impact:
The supply chain industry has seen increased competition due to globalization along with increased regulations from environmental regulations. This has brought more focus on sustainability initiatives from organizations who control their supply chain. Digital twin offers a solution by providing an accurate picture of the distribution chain, which can be used to optimize current processes before making drastic changes like relocating production to other countries. This also includes potential impacts on human rights and fair wage practices.
3. Development engineers can share best practices for developing sustainable technologies: The design community is very fragmented with the exception of organizations that develop standards that everyone follows, such as ISO or ASTM. There are currently many different methodologies out there which makes it difficult for development teams to find the right solution for them based on their specific needs. Digital twin offers a platform which allows development engineers from different industries to share best practices so they don’t have to start completely over every time they try something new. This will allow companies who are industry leaders in developing sustainable technologies to share those practices with other organizations.
Digital twin offers a platform which has the capability to help engineers make better decisions for both their business and the environment through accurate simulations of distribution chains and best practices sharing from industry leaders.
Critical questions every business should ask about their digital twin
– What is the digital twin?
– What are the benefits of doing this?
– How does it work?
– Is constructing a digital twin for your business easy to do yourself, or should you hire someone who specializes in this task?
– Who can I get in touch with so that they can help me build my digital twin ?
– Is there any chance that building a digital twin could be illegal since it’s copyrighted information about my company?
A digital twin is a digital replica of an existing physical object, process, or system. Similar to the virtual/physical divide present in the software world, there exists a separation between “hard” and “soft” components of products which are also referred to as physical and non-physical elements respectively. As part of the next industrial revolution companies are increasingly interested in creating digital twins to understand how their products behave under different conditions. They typically include multiple types of data ranging from product structure (geometry) to component behavior during manufacturing processes or at completion phases that affect product performance during operations.
The benefits of creating digital versions for your business would be that you can know exactly what happens when certain actions take place, like movement or temperature changes. It’s also possible to know exactly what happens with your product after you create this digital twin. For example, during the design phase it might be easy to add corrections that would prevent errors that could happen in real time if a product is defective and created wrong. A good example of how beneficial digital twins can be is NASA’s Curiosity Rover: After creating a 3D model of Curiosity, NASA engineers were able to simulate its landing via software on Earth before sending it to Mars so mission control would know exactly what was going on at any point during the landing process. This gave them an advantage over previous missions that either landed on rocky terrain where nothing could be done or had their rovers destroyed due to impact damage from falling into unknown surfaces not displayed by the 3D model.
What separates a digital twin from other types of data collected by companies is simulation and performance models: Digital twins capture more than just the “what” of physical products, they also include information about “why.” When running simulations on products that include how they work, their known behavior would manifest itself in the form of algorithms and equations depending on what you’re modeling. For example, when designing a car it might be best to know how much weight each part can handle so as not to create an unsafe vehicle for consumers once it’s ready for production. The process of creating a digital twin is relatively easy since there are numerous tools available online or through different software suites that would allow someone with little to no experience in engineering or product development to create one. However, these tools are usually created with the intent of modeling products that were already manufactured so most companies would need to file a patent for their digital twin before they could use it in any capacity or sell it to others. There’s also little chance that creating a digital twin would be illegal since there aren’t any laws preventing you from uploading your own data about your business onto the internet. If your company is worried about competitors getting access to information they shouldn’t have then only allow people who you trust and agree upon beforehand with access to particular data points on your product(s).
The process of creating a digital twin begins by using computer-aided design (CAD) software like Solidworks which generates geometry files (.STL) that include all the data regarding physical boundaries, components and surfaces of the product. This file is then sent to CAM software which generates toolpaths specifically for each type of manufacturing process your company wants to use in conjunction with your digital twin, like 3D printing or CNC milling. The final step before you can create a digital twin is capturing geometry files during the manufacturing process by using different types of scanning technology depending on what you’re creating. At this point it’s possible to generate performance simulations (simulations) where new processes or procedures can be tested without wasting costly materials if they fail. These new “what if” scenarios are only made possible after completing all of these steps because CAD files alone aren’t enough to make a digital twin since they only represent how a product might look on the inside. With simulation software, users can see how different parts of their products function together and whether or not there are any areas that could be improved upon for future iterations.
In addition to creating a digital twin during the early design process, it’s possible to capture data from existing products through reverse engineering which essentially means copying them down to a molecular level by using a variety of scanning devices like computed tomography (CT), multi-view stereo systems or laser scanners that give precise measurements about all surface points on objects regardless of scale. Reverse engineering is typically done after a company has already launched its product so they can improve certain components based on user feedback as well as incorporate new technologies as they become available. These new components would then be included in future revisions of the digital twin so their customers can benefit from them as well. One of the biggest benefits of creating a digital twin is that it allows companies to upgrade existing products using virtual software updates since they already have all the necessary data saved on file instead of having to produce entirely new units; this would also cut down on shipping costs because only one box needs to be sent out compared with multiple packages if you were trying to send out different parts for each product.
It’s important not to confuse a digital twin with 3D printing or additive manufacturing since there are many differences between how these two technologies work. A 3D printer creates actual physical objects based on CAD files but it can’t generate geometry files used in CAD software so that’s why only the first step of creating a digital twin can be completed using additive manufacturing. You can use 3D printing to build prototypes but you’ll still need reverse engineering and simulation technology to create production-ready models fit for mass manufacturing which is what digital twins are all about.
How does digital twin improve customer experience?
The digital twin is also an interactive model that anyone can see, explore, and touch.
The virtual twin of the machine provides a point-of-view into the world of its production. You are able to experience the physical environment inside the factory as if you are standing inside it. You can also see how components or materials move through process steps and what happens with them next.
The digital twin can provide suggestions based on real-time data, tell operators what it is doing and refine the process for greater quality.
A digital twin is an interactive model that enables numerous users to visualize, explore, touch or operate components of a system.
This allows companies to see their products like the customers do which results in better understanding of design flaws and resulting product issues.
For example if you are designing a vehicle the virtual version will allow you to interact with it much like how would interact with the finished product. This will reduce the time and cost of developing a product because it is not necessary to build multiple physical models.
This refers to an accurate virtual replica of the product that can be viewed from any angle by anyone accessing it. The replica can be used for visualizing how the system looks before being built or communicating ideas with other stakeholders on how to improve upon design flaws or issues affecting quality control.
Digital twins have been applied widely in automotive, aerospace, medical devices through software systems such as Dassault Systemes’ SolidWorks Simulation Mechanical and Bentley Systems’ MicroStation which provide users with three-dimensional modeling and visualization capabilities.
Digital twin also allows users to interact with the virtual copy in real time, where they can see how it performs during regular use in various conditions. This has gained popularity in medical devices such as pacemakers and insulin pumps which monitor and regulate patient health and fitness levels during continuous operation and provide users with necessary information when needed. Companies such as Medtronic have taken advantage of this technology by manufacturing digital models for implants that allow surgeons to practice surgery on them before attempting a real operation.
Still others such as Audi, Boeing, Daimler, General Electric, Lockheed Martin and Siemens use digital twin technology to improve production processes or operational efficiency benefits from new technologies . For example, GE is currently using it to monitor wind turbines and increase their output by 27% with the help of sensors which monitor sensor data for specific machines.
In a nutshell, digital technology has made it possible for users to experience products virtually before they are actually produced. Since customers can now see what a product looks like they, will be more likely to purchase a product that is not only designed well but is also manufactured correctly resulting in better customer satisfaction.
Conclusion on digital twin
In this blog, we’ve talked about a lot of different aspects of digital twins. We hope you were able to learn something new and apply it in your own life or business. Contact us to develop your solution!
In our next post, we will be discussing how technology is changing marketing as well as some tips for marketers and engineers looking to stay relevant in today’s hyper-competitive world. Be sure not to miss out!
