Digital twins are 3D models of physical entities such as buildings or cities. Digital twins have real-time, continuous data and can update their functions and processes in real time, thereby providing engineers with data support to analyze and optimize production processes. Simply put, a digital twin is a 3D model of a physical entity, with the animation of the 3D model driven by real-time data from the real entity.
Factory digital twin example
Suppose a factory is ready to optimize its factory assembly line to see if it can reduce manufacturing time and costs. The first step is to build a 3D model of the factory, which includes all links and physical entities involved in production, including machinery and equipment, raw materials, conveyor belts, forklifts, trolleys, and even personnel.
Then, in the physical factory, machines and robots are configured to send real-time data about their operations to managers, such as how long it takes to complete a cycle. Managers can place sensors in key areas so that they can be notified when changes occur, such as when a pallet of raw materials arrives or a container of finished product fills up.
Next, a software interface is set up to process the real-time data and update the 3D model in real time. Now you can have the latest data information of the factory, and you can see the digital twin (digital twin) of the factory on the computer screen or even in VR.
And no matter what time or place, company managers and engineers can "see" the factory floor live by viewing the digital twin system and even interact with it, zooming in to see what a specific process is doing, or zooming out to see how it affects the entire process. In addition, the captured data can be further analyzed through mathematical models and tools to provide information for further decision-making.
From this example of a digital twin factory, you can see how digital twins serve various processes. In addition, digital twins can also be used in the following scenarios:
- Device management
- Urban Plan
- Self-driving car testing
- Equipment usage, data, workflow analysis
Digital twins provide digital and visual information to help designers, architects, engineers and decision-makers visualize structures like never before. Digital twins are the best link between the physical world of manufacturing and the digital virtual world. Improve production operations through digital twins to achieve closed-loop feedback and continuous improvement across the entire value chain.
Real-time rendering cloud + digital twin solution
The real-time data flow of digital twins from physical entities to 3D models requires powerful computing power support. 3DCAT real-time rendering cloud puts very heavy graphics calculations into the cloud. The cloud server can be configured with higher-end GPU equipment, perform calculations through the cloud server, and encode in real time. After encoding, it will be "streamed" and the calculation results will be pushed in real time through the network. to terminals (such as mobile phones, PCs, tablets and XR devices) to promote the implementation of digital twin applications.
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