Digital Twins: Bridging Physical Space and Cyberspace

2019

ACM Transactions on Internet Technology

In recent years, digital twins have been pervading different application domains—from manufacturing to healthcare—as an approach for virtualising different kinds of physical entities (things, products, machines). The dominant view developed in the literature so far is about the virtualisation of individual physical assets in a closed-system perspective. In this article, we introduce and explore a broader perspective that we call Web of Digital Twins (WoDT), in which the digital twin paradigm is exploited for the pervasive softwarisation of possibly large-scale interrelated physical realities. A WoDT can be conceived as an open, distributed and dynamic ecosystem of connected digital twins, functioning as an interoperable service-oriented layer for applications running on top, especially smart applications and multiagent systems. The article introduces an abstract model and architecture aimed to capture key aspects of the idea not bound to any specific application domains or implement...

Sensors

A Digital Twin (DT) is a set of computer-generated models that map a physical object into a virtual space. Both physical and virtual elements exchange information to monitor, simulate, predict, diagnose and control the state and behavior of the physical object within the virtual space. DTs supply a system with information and operating status, providing capabilities to create new business models. In this paper, we focus on the construction of DTs. More specifically, we focus on determining (methodologically) how to design, create and connect physical objects with their virtual counterpart. We explore the problem into several phases: from functional requirement selection and architecture planning to integration and verification of the final (digital) models. We address as well how physical components exchange real-time information with DTs, as well as experimental platforms to build DTs (including protocols and standards). We conclude with a discussion and open challenges.

Multimedia Tools and Applications, 2022

With the development of science and technology, the high-tech industry is developing rapidly, and various new-age technologies continue to appear, and Digital Twins (DT) is one of them. As a brand-new interactive technology, DT technology can handle the interaction between the real world and the virtual world well. It has become a hot spot in the academic circles of all countries in the world. DT have developed rapidly in recent years result from centrality, integrity and dynamics. It is integrated with other technologies and has been applied in many fields, such as smart factory in industrial production, digital model of life in medical field, construction of smart city, security guarantee in aerospace field, immersive shopping in commercial field and so on. The introduction of DT is mostly a summary of concepts, and few practical applications of Digital Twins are introduced. The purpose of this paper is to enable people to understand the application status of DT technology. At the...

DergiPark (Istanbul University), 2023

A digital twin is a digital representation of a physical entity that reproduces the data model, behavior, and communication with other physical entities. Digital twins act as a digital copy for the physical object or process they represent, providing near real-time monitoring and evaluation without being in close proximity. While most of its tangible applications are found mainly in industrial contexts, healthcare represents another relevant area where digital twins can have a major impact. The aim of this article is to give theoretical information about the definition, principles, roles, stakeholders and history of the digital twin concept. From this point of view, the articles in the field were examined and a review paper was created. It is also to create a comprehensive framework about digital twin applications in healthcare. After providing an overview of the application of digital twins in health services, the vision of this concept, which has recently found a place in research in Turkey, is discussed.

IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials

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Advances in transdisciplinary engineering, 2022

The term digital twin refers to a comprehensive digital representation of a physical system that serves as its real-time digital counterpart. Digital twin goes beyond traditional computer-aided applications and represents a two-way communication bridge between the physical and the digital worlds. In 2020, Gartner identified digital twin as one of the ten technology trends capable of a profound impact on modern society. While digital twin originates from the manufacturing domain, its recent underpinning technology maturation makes it suitable to all those domains where there is a need for studying virtual interactions with the physical environment. Despite its peak of research and adoption, there are still some grey areas related to certain aspects of digital twin such as enabling technologies and reported benefits. In this paper, we report on the planning, execution and results of a systematic mapping study, which aimed at providing a structured and detailed snapshot of the current application of digital twin, enabling technologies, reported benefits and application domains. Starting from an initial set of 675 publications, we identified 26 primary studies, which we have analysed through a rigorous data extraction, analysis and synthesis process. Based on the collected data, we drew relations between digital twin and the production domain.

Proceedings of the 25th International Academic Mindtrek Conference

Digital twins (DTs) are one form of datafication. They are virtual reflections of physical world entities, of objects and phenomena, and are rapidly becoming an asset for innovation. There is a growing body of literature on DTs in various technology-related fields. A critical thread has emerged within this body, warning on the danger to forget that the digital part is always only a partial representation of real life, and that this partiality is always selective and biased for a specific purpose. It may thus serve some group of stakeholders better than others. We contribute with a literature review on the current understanding and use of the DT concept in the field of HCI. Our results consolidate the current understanding of DTs' potential in HCI and note the omission of the critical perspective within the reviewed literature. The paper opens discussion of what HCI can bring to DT development and use. CCS CONCEPTS • Human-centered computing → HCI theory, concepts and models; • Computing methodologies → Artificial intelligence.

Proceedings of the 16th International Conference on PErvasive Technologies Related to Assistive Environments

This paper is an ongoing work seeking to establish a generic definition and model of the Human Digital Twin (HDT) concept, independently from the application sector. The goal is to help researchers knowing more precisely what is or could be a HDT and an initial step step towards a unifying and generic definition and model grounded in the systemics theory. We propose a systemic model of Digital Twin (DT), where HDT is a specific class of DT. The last years of literature on HDT are reviewed, to build a generic definition, extract the main components and integrate them in a generic systemic model centred on the DT and HDT concepts as systems. Doing this, we make explicit the link between DT and the systems they twin, including the special system that is the human-being, when a DT becomes a HDT.

philosophy & technology, 2021

Digital Twins are conceptualised in the academic technical discourse as real-time realistic digital representations of physical entities. Originating from product engineering, the Digital Twin quickly advanced into other fields, including the life sciences and earth sciences. Digital Twins are seen by the tech sector as the new promising tool for efficiency and optimisation, while governmental agencies see it as a fruitful means for improving decision-making to meet sustainability goals. A striking example of the latter is the European Commission who wishes to delegate a significant role to Digital Twins in addressing climate change and supporting Green Deal policy. As Digital Twins give rise to high expectations, ambitions, and are being entrusted important societal roles, it is crucial to critically reflect on the nature of Digital Twins. In this article, we therefore philosophically reflect on Digital Twins by critically analysing dominant conceptualisations, the assumptions underlying them, and their normative implications. We dissect the concept and argue that a Digital Twin does not merely fulfil the role of being a representation, but is in fact a steering technique used to direct a physical entity towards certain goals by means of multiple representations. Currently, this steering seems mainly fuelled by a reductionist approach focused on efficiency and optimisation. However, this is not the only direction from which a Digital Twin can be thought and, consequently, designed and deployed. We therefore set an agenda based on a critical understanding of Digital Twins that helps to draw out their beneficial potential, while addressing their potential issues.