The analysts of the leading consulting company Gartner that is operating in the field of information technologies included digital twins to the list of the top 10 most important technological trends of today. Several of these technologies will make a significant mark in the area of logistics as well.

How Does It Actually Work?

The Forbes magazine, in their article “What Is Digital Twin Technology – And Why Is It So Important?”, explains the principle of digital twins like this:

Quite simply, a digital twin is a virtual model of a process, product or service. This pairing of the virtual and physical worlds allows analysis of data and monitoring of systems to head off problems before they even occur, prevent downtime, develop new opportunities and even plan for the future by using simulations.

Think of a digital twin as a bridge between the physical and digital world.. By interconnecting the physical and digital worlds, Digital Twins are created. The digital twin is created together with the design of the product or process, serves as a virtual artwork in production, continues to grow in the process of product creation and remains inseparably linked to its real twin throughout its life cycle.

Thomas Kaiser, Senior Vice President for IoT at SAP, summarizes: “Digital twins are becoming a business imperative, covering the entire lifecycle of an asset or process and forming the foundation for connected products and services. Companies that fail to respond will be left behind.”

Arno Reich Sees Digital Twins Similarly

Arno Reich, the manager of HANNOVER MESSE, the leading international fair of information technologies and their integration into industry, explains it quite understandably: “In good digital images of real products, there is a great potential. Instead of expensive prototypes and lengthy series of attempts, it’s possible to try different scenarios in a short period of time with Digital Twins, as well as to create and realize strategies for solutions and perform discovered further improvement options.”

Through this virtual interface, simulating the real enterprise with all its processes, a lot of opportunities can be revealed. It’s also possible to eliminate problems and optimize all happenings in the enterprise with minimum risk of bad decisions and therefore, higher costs, downtimes and other losses.

Where Are Digital Twins Successfully Applied?

The first to use pairing technology was NASA with its digital twin precursors in the early exploration of space. It was necessary to control, operate and manage systems that were physically unavailable at the moment. Currently, NASA uses digital twins to develop new generation mapping systems, vehicles and airplanes.

Another example that is much closer to us, is Optima, a machine and equipment manufacturer. Through simulation software, Optima simulates, tests and verifies its packaging machines. The product flow can be calculated and optimized through this software before it is actually manufactured. “Digital twin products and machines are not only useful for faster market launch. It has become the basis for anticipation or new business models.

Are you interested in the topic of digital twins? How it all works, when digital twins will be applied and especially examples of their use in practice will be presented by Ing. Petr Jalůvka at Logistics ride 2018 that is taking place Ostrava.