A digital twin is a digital replica of a physical object, person, system, or process. Digital twins are used in Industry 4.0 & 5.0 to simulate many real situations and their outcomes, to make better decisions in implementation of the reality. Let us explore it. McKinsey analysis indicates the global market for digital-twin technology will grow about 60 percent annually over the next five years, reaching $73.5 billion by 2027. Many top AI colleges in Nashik are conducting path-breaking research in the digital twin technology to boost innovation in this field. Let us explore the different kinds of digital twin technologies:
Types of Digital Twins
- Product Twin: Replicating the product as a digital twin is called a product twin. Here the digital twin of a product, for example a very complex machine, building, or mechanism is made to analyse the different effects of different situations on the product. This is similar to or extension of CAD ( Computer Aided Designing).
- Data twins are the digital twin conceptualisation of complex and big data infrastructures. Here the data modelling of the network is done on a simulator to find various possible situations before implementation of the Network. Example is Traffic control system efficiency analysis is usually done on a simulator by exposing it to the worst condition.
- Personal Twin: This is still in concept, not yet completely implemented, but a person can record his/her behaviour data and use it in an automated robot to act on behalf of him. There is a movie called Surrogates. The film’s main concept is to create a high-tech surrogate phenomenon that allows people to purchase remote-controlled humanoid robots through which they interact with society or even take care of themselves if they feel ill.
- System Digital Twin: It is just a replica of any running system which can take over the control of a master system that fails for some reason.
Conclusion
There are many such digital twins of many realities that are going to become our future through AI and Automation by using the basic knowledge of CAD, CAM, CAE, and CASE. It is important to encourage more research and innovation in this technology to further development in this field. Some of the best computer engineering colleges in Maharashtra are offering cutting-edge programs in AI to train future engineers and drive innovation in the digital twin technologies.