DIGITAL TWIN

a virtual replica

Muhammad Saad
BS 1st Semester Self Batch
Introduction to Computer Technologies
15th November 2024

BS 1st Semester Self Batch

Introduction:
A digital twin is a digital replica of a physical object, person, system, or process, contextualized in a
digital version of its environment. Digital twins can help many kinds of organizations simulate real
situations and their outcomes, ultimately allowing them to make better decisions.

Types of digital-twin technology:

There are a few different types of digital twins.

1) There’s a product twin, which is a representation of a
product. This digital twin can include products at
various stages of the life cycle, from initial concept
design and engineering through full functionality—
meaning you get live, real-time data on a product as
if it’s in service.
2) Second type of digital twin is a data twin. You
probably already have a great example of a data
twin in your pocket: Google Maps is a digital twin of
the Earth’s surface. It links real-time data on traffic to
help optimize your commute.
3) Third type of twins include systems twins, which
model the interaction between physical and digital
processes, including manufacturing processes, end-
to-end supply chain management, store operations,
and customer journeys.
4) Finally, the fourth type, infrastructure twins represent
physical infrastructure such as a highway, a building,
or even a stadium.
Uses of different types of Digital Twins:
In general, digital twins can drive value across an organization by increasing visibility into real-time
and predicted performance, while minimizing the risking and optimizing product development,
operations, customer relationships, and more. Digital twins help improve resiliency by creating
networks that perform under a variety of supply-and-demand scenarios.
More specifically, data twins provide visibility into operations, profitability, and customer touchpoints.
Data twins can improve decision making, providing real-time visibility into in-transit inventory,
customer journeys, and staffing.
Systems twins help drive cost optimization, increase throughput, improve customer experience, and
heighten resilience to supply-and-demand shocks.
Customer digital twins can add significant value as well, particularly top-line growth and improved
customer experience.
Product digital twins can significantly reduce time to market.
Uses of Digital-twin technology in Companies:
Interest in digital twins, combined with rapidly advancing supportive technologies, is spurring market
estimates for digital-twin investments of more than $48 billion by 2026. We’re already seeing some
advanced implementations:
 Emirates Team New Zealand.
A digital twin of sailing environments,
boats, and crew
members enables Emirates Team New
Zealand to test boat designs without
actually building them. This has allowed
the champion sailing team to evaluate
thousands—rather than just hundreds—
of hydrofoil designs.
 SoFi Stadium.
To help optimize stadium management
and operations, a digital twin aggregates
multiple data sources including
information about the stadium’s structure
and real-time football data.
 Space Force.
This branch of the US Armed Forces is
creating a digital twin of space, including
replicas of extraterrestrial bodies and
satellites.
 SpaceX.
A digital twin of SpaceX’s Dragon
capsule spacecraft enables operators to
monitor and adjust trajectories, loads,
and propulsion systems with the goal of
maximizing safety and reliability during
transport.
Challenges in development of Digital-twin technology:
Digital twins require new ways of working, within R&D functions and beyond them. This means a
successful digital-twin program is a change management effort, requiring senior management support
and a strong project management team.
To overcome potential roadblocks, companies can adopt a phased approach to digital-twin adoption:
 Competitive intelligence and scoping phase. First, the organization identifies the digital-twin
solutions available in its sector and estimates the potential value for each type. The
organization can also develop a framework for its digital-twin transformation.
 Architecture design and software stack definition phase. Here, the organization identifies the
specific software components, relationships, and interfaces it will need to achieve its digital-
twin goals. It also decides whether these components will be developed in-house or externally.
 Software-development-excellence phase. The final phase before launch is one in which the
organization develops the processes and capabilities it needs to launch its digital-twin platform.
Future Implications with generative AI:
Generative AI (gen AI) and digital twins can be used
symbiotically. For its part, gen AI can structure inputs
and synthesize outputs of digital twins, and digital
twins can provide a robust test-and-learn environment
for gen AI. By combining these two technologies,
organizations can achieve exponentially more than
they could by using just one.
More specifically, organizations can assign large
language models (LLMs) to create code for a digital
twin using a software development platform like
GitHub. A digital-twin prototype created by LLMs could
serve as a starting point for developers across digital-
twin projects and even industries. LLMs can also help
digital twins once they are already working, by
processing and transferring the data that digital twins
need to perform.
Conclusion:
Digital twin technology is transforming industries by offering real-time insights, optimizing operations,
and accelerating product development. Its diverse applications from product and system modeling to
customer experience enhance decision-making and efficiency. As digital twins evolve, integrating with
generative AI will unlock even greater potential for innovation. The future of digital twins promises
smarter, more resilient systems across industries.