digital twins
Simulated physical counterparts
A digital twin is a virtual replica of a physical object, system, or process that mirrors its real-world counterpart in real time.
Engineers and designers use digital twins to simulate, monitor, and optimize everything from jet engines to entire cities, feeding data from sensors back into the model to predict failures or test changes before implementing them physically.
The factory created a digital twin to identify bottlenecks in production.
The concept has expanded from manufacturing into healthcare, urban planning, and supply chain management.
- cloud computingInternet-delivered digital infrastructure
- simulation softwarePrograms that imitate reality
- edge computingProcessing data near source
- systems engineeringMultidisciplinary design and integration field
- factory floorManufacturing workspace area
robotics · sensors · 5G networks · industrial manufacturing · machine learning · supply chain management · construction planning · environmental monitoring · artificial intelligence · real-time · augmented reality · product lifecycle · lifecycle · smart cities · connected · monitoring · IoT · autonomous vehicles
digital twinshardware
Metal goods and fittings
the real thing · flesh and blood · brick-and-mortar · brick and mortar · meatspace