Digital Twin Development for Serial Manipulators: Data Driven Optimized Planning and Sequencing of Tasks
Finally, the authors will draw some
conclusions and suggest future directions for
the research topic.
values. Sensor data will then be combined
with data from enterprise systems such as
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), PLM
and Manufacturing Execution System (MES).
The combined data will then be aggregated
accordingly depending on functions of the
DT. The bridge between the physical object
and its DT is the integration that includes
edge, communication interfaces and
security. After data is collected, aggregated
and transferred to the DT through the
integration, analytics techniques such as AI,
machine learning and simulation, are
executed to monitor, simulate and predict
behaviors of the physical object.
Subsequently, an application is required to
combine all the components and realize the
business values. The application can
visualize the variations of the physical
object, multi-layer data and business related
KPIs in real-time. It can also reflect the
deviation of the current performance to the
expected performance. In addition, it can
derive insightful advice to improve the
performance. Finally, the application can
suggest actions by the analytics to control or
interfere the physical object when it is
necessary through an actuator mechanism,
which is the final element of the DT.
D IGITAL T WIN C ONCEPT
Before the use case of the DT model of this
article is presented in detail, it is worthy to
discuss background knowledge about the DT
concept. Enders and Hoßbach 15 summarized
the essential features of a DT as follows:
First, a DT is defined as a virtual model of a
physical object, which can be a product, a
machine, a process, a factory, a supply chain,
etc. Second, the physical object is connected
with its twin. Third, thanks to the
connection, the DT can reflect current or
historical behaviors of the object, simulate
and predict its future states, and control it.
Finally, these features must create
observable business values.
In order to explain how a DT can provision
enterprises with business values, its
fundamental components should be well
understood. According to Parrott and
Warshaw, a DT is constituted by the
following components: sensors, data,
integration, analytics, DT application and
actuator. These components are depicted in
Figure 1. Sensors are installed properly to
collect data of the physical object that is
required to realize the pre-defined business
15
In the next section, the DT model developed
by ARTC and its business values will be
presented and explained in detail.
Enders, M. R., & Hoßbach, N. (2019). Dimensions of Digital Twin Applications-A Literature Review.
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November 2019