Digital twins are gaining increasingly more relevance in various industrial and technological sectors. Digital twin is basically a virtual replica of a physical object, process or system, that allows to monitor, analyze and optimize its performances.
This technology is radically transforming the way in which we interact with the world, opening new possibilities for efficiency and security.
What is a Digital Twin?
Digital twin is a detailed digital representation of any physical entity. For creating it, they user real-time data gathered from sensors, so that the digital twin can accurately replicate the behavior and the conditions of the physical object, allowing to monitor its performance and to foresee possible problems.
The underlying technologies are mainly the Internet of things (IoT), that allows to gather data from sensors, Artificial intelligence and machine learning, that analyze the data, and big data and simulation, that allow the creation of complex and accurate models.
Manufacturing sector’s applications
In the manufacturing sector, digital twins have a lot of applications, first of all the monitoring and predictive maintenance of machinery and implants. Predictive maintenance allows to anticipate possible malfunctions, reducing inactivity time and repairing costs. In addition, DT are useful for optimizing production, since they can simulate various production scenarios and help identify the best processes and improve the overall efficiency, providing a cut in waste and an increase in productivity.
Digital twins in urban management
Digital twins are fundamental for the design and the management of the urban infrastructures, and they help us take a step forward to the smart cities of the future. Being able to simulate traffic, energetic consumption and other key aspects, they contribute to improve citizens’ quality of life and to reduce costs associated with urban management.
Furthermore, during urban crises, such as natural disasters or health emergencies, DT can simulate various scenarios to support the strategic decision-making and improve, consequently, the answer to those events, both in time and effectiveness.
Revolution in Healthcare
In the healthcare industry, DT can create new virtual models of the patients, and allow the physicians to customize treatments even by foreseeing individual responses, improving treatment effectiveness and reducing risks. They are also used to simulate medical interventions and to test new drugs, streamlining the research and development processes.
Conclusions
In summary, digital twin is a real revolution in various fields, and they have an enormous potential that we must leverage. The more this technology will keep being developed, the more we’ll see its applications integrated in daily life to create a smarter, safer and more connected future.