An Approach to Develop Digital Twins in Industry

An Approach to Develop Digital Twins in Industry

3 February 2024 | Raúl González-Herbón, Guzmán González-Mateos, José R. Rodríguez-Ossorio, Manuel Domínguez, Serafín Alonso and Juan J. Fuertes
This paper proposes a methodology for developing digital twins in industrial environments, emphasizing the integration of multiple Industry 4.0 technologies to create a realistic and interactive virtual environment that mirrors real-world systems. The approach focuses on combining virtual and augmented reality with automation, cloud computing, and system integration to enhance the functionality and efficiency of digital twins. The methodology includes defining the model's functionality, creating a 3D virtual space, establishing communication systems, managing data storage and processing, and incorporating interactive features. The paper also presents a digital twin of a robotic electro-pneumatic cell developed using Unity for 3D modeling, Vuforia SDK for augmented reality, Node-RED for system integration, and MQTT for communication. Cloud-based services are recommended for data storage and processing. The digital twin enables real-time simulation, predictive maintenance, and enhanced monitoring, leading to improved operational efficiency. The proposed method provides a comprehensive framework for integrating various technologies to support industrial processes, offering a flexible and scalable solution for digital twin development. The study highlights the importance of combining multiple enabling technologies to achieve a more effective and interactive digital twin, which can be applied to various industrial applications. The methodology is validated through the development of a digital twin for a robotic electro-pneumatic cell, demonstrating the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed approach. The paper also discusses the challenges and limitations of the current methodology, including potential latency issues and the need for advanced cybersecurity measures in future work. Overall, the proposed approach offers a robust and adaptable solution for developing digital twins in industrial environments.This paper proposes a methodology for developing digital twins in industrial environments, emphasizing the integration of multiple Industry 4.0 technologies to create a realistic and interactive virtual environment that mirrors real-world systems. The approach focuses on combining virtual and augmented reality with automation, cloud computing, and system integration to enhance the functionality and efficiency of digital twins. The methodology includes defining the model's functionality, creating a 3D virtual space, establishing communication systems, managing data storage and processing, and incorporating interactive features. The paper also presents a digital twin of a robotic electro-pneumatic cell developed using Unity for 3D modeling, Vuforia SDK for augmented reality, Node-RED for system integration, and MQTT for communication. Cloud-based services are recommended for data storage and processing. The digital twin enables real-time simulation, predictive maintenance, and enhanced monitoring, leading to improved operational efficiency. The proposed method provides a comprehensive framework for integrating various technologies to support industrial processes, offering a flexible and scalable solution for digital twin development. The study highlights the importance of combining multiple enabling technologies to achieve a more effective and interactive digital twin, which can be applied to various industrial applications. The methodology is validated through the development of a digital twin for a robotic electro-pneumatic cell, demonstrating the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed approach. The paper also discusses the challenges and limitations of the current methodology, including potential latency issues and the need for advanced cybersecurity measures in future work. Overall, the proposed approach offers a robust and adaptable solution for developing digital twins in industrial environments.
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[slides and audio] An Approach to Develop Digital Twins in Industry