Simulation is not new to us. We have flight simulators, car simulators, App simulators, and quite a few other simulators. What if we create a virtual model which simulates a real device, and also receives real data from the real device? We are talking about Digital Twin of the physical device.
What is Digital Twin exactly?
Digital Twin is a digital replica of a physical device which includes advanced functionalities such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analytics. This digital replica receives real data from the real device and allows researchers, technicians or mechanics to check what is happening inside the real device in real time.
What is the use of having a Digital Twin?
Consider an example of a space shuttle – unmanned. If it starts having some trouble, how would the team on earth be able to detect the problem and fix it? Digital Twin helps in such cases. In fact, now NASA is believed to build the digital twin first, run all kinds of simulations and then build the real physical device. That is huge savings on cost and precious human lives, ain’t it?
The digital twin acts like a real thing. So you could change some settings and run some tests to see the effect of new settings. If you were to do it on a physical device, there is a risk of physical damage or risk to human life.
It could also help in modifying the functionality of physical device based on the real-time data received from the sensors – similar to feedback control system.
Digital Twin in a sense could provide visibility into how a product is being used by end consumers. The manufacturer can get the data about possible issues, can rectify those remotely or can send a technician to repair/replace it.
It is essentially powered by IoT and with the rise of IoT, we could only see this concept getting its fair share of attention in coming days.