Definitions and State of the Art

Credit: Image by Colin Behrens from Pixabay

The advancement of Digital Twin (DT) technology relies on establishing a clear, universally accepted definition and maintaining a thorough understanding of the current state of the art. The lack of a single, unified definition creates ambiguity across different industries and research fields, which hinders effective communication, prevents the development of universal standards and reference frameworks, and makes it challenging to accurately compare the components and effectiveness of diverse DT implementations. By clearly defining what constitutes a Digital Twin, researchers and practitioners can align their efforts, identify common challenges, and focus on the unique aspects (such as real-time, bidirectional data exchange and connection across the entire lifecycle) that enable DTs to deliver value. Presented below are research efforts for defining DTs and understanding their current state.

Digital Twin for Smart Manufacturing: The Simulation Aspect (IEEE)

• Citation: Shao, G.,  Jain, S.,  Laroque, C.,  Lee, L. H., Lendermann, P.,  and Rose, O. (2019). "Digital Twin for Smart Manufacturing: The Simulation Aspect," 2019 Winter Simulation Conference (WSC), National Harbor, MD, USA, 2019, pp. 2085-2098, doi: 10.1109/WSC40007.2019.9004659.
• Link: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/9004659

Using Simulation and Digital Twins to Innovate: Are we Getting Smarter?

• Citation: Taylor, S. J. E., Johansson, B.,  Jeon, S., Lee, L. H., Lendermann, P.,  Shao, G. (2021). "Using Simulation and Digital Twins to Innovate: Are we Getting Smarter?" 2021 Winter Simulation Conference (WSC), Phoenix, AZ, USA, 2021, pp. 1-13, doi: 10.1109/WSC52266.2021.9715535.
• Link: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/9715535

Digital Twin for Smart Manufacturing: The Practitioner's Perspective (ASME IMECE 2020)

• Citation: Bärring, M, Johansson, B, & Shao, G. (2020). "Digital Twin for Smart Manufacturing: The Practitioner’s Perspective." Proceedings of the ASME 2020 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition. Volume 2B: Advanced Manufacturing. Virtual, Online. November 16–19, 2020. V02BT02A015. ASME.
• Link: https://doi.org/10.1115/IMECE2020-24037 

A Methodology for Digital Twins of Product Lifecycle Supported by Digital Thread

• Citation: Monnier, LV, Shao, G, & Foufou, S. (2022). "A Methodology for Digital Twins of Product Lifecycle Supported by Digital Thread." Proceedings of the ASME 2022 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition. Volume 2B: Advanced Manufacturing. Columbus, Ohio, USA. October 30–November 3, 2022. V02BT02A023. ASME.
• Link: https://doi.org/10.1115/IMECE2022-95182