Let's look at the definition of digital twins. The white paper on digital pairing application points out that:
"Digital twinning is a digital expression of a specific physical entity or process with data connection, which can ensure the same rate convergence of physical state and virtual state, provide an integrated view of the whole life cycle of physical entity or process, and help optimize the overall performance."
Simply put, digital twinning is to map things in the real world into a virtual digital space, build a "digital clone" of physical entities, and realize the mapping, analysis, optimization, diagnosis and prediction of real scenes or objects based on historical data and real-time data with the help of data models.
After reading a lot of data and materials, this paper roughly summarizes the construction and application process of digital twin cities, which can be divided into three steps: engraving, construction and application.
Replication: Digital Reconstruction of Real Space
The first is to accurately reproduce the real space by using space acquisition equipment, and realize the virtual-real interaction between physical space and digital space through the Internet of Things. In this process, the relevant data of real space, including structure data, sensor data, operation data, etc. , will be collected and transmitted to prepare for the later model construction and optimization.
Construction: data-driven model learning optimization
When real space and physical entities are digitally reproduced, relevant data are also uploaded to the cloud. After cleaning the data, we can combine the processed data and use relevant technical capabilities to establish a digital twin model, and continue to verify and optimize it.
Application: functional development and practical application
After the model is established, it will be used in specific applications. At this stage, specific functions will be developed and applied in combination with specific application scenarios and industry characteristics, such as predictive maintenance of factory workshops and simulation planning of road traffic.
Having said so much about the application value of digital twins, what is the use of digital twins? What scenarios or industries can it be applied to? Then I will answer them one by one.
Aerospace prediction and simulation: As the most advanced application field of science and technology, the application of digital twin technology in aerospace field can be said to have the earliest origin. In the Apollo program of 65438-0969 in the United States, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) made two identical spacecraft to form a "physical twin", which is the embryonic form of the earliest digital twin technology. With the iterative development of technology, digital twin technology has been widely used in aerospace product development, fault detection, system management and control.
Digital twin factory: Digital twin technology can be said to be the darling of industrial production, which can realize resource allocation and intelligent production and significantly improve production efficiency. Digital twin factory is to move the physical factory to the virtual space, which can obtain the data in the factory in real time and realize the real-time monitoring of the factory; At the same time, it can also simulate the production process and optimize the production process; It can also support decision-making and forecast analysis through data analysis ... It can be said that digital twin technology plays a very significant role in industrial production.
The application of intelligent transportation analog digital twins in intelligent transportation industry is mainly to incorporate real-time traffic data into the established traffic model system, and realize the deep integration of real road traffic and virtual environment through big data analysis, artificial intelligence AI and traffic simulation technology, such as the deduction of simulated traffic flow changes and the change of simulated traffic lights, which is helpful to better plan traffic routes and provide technical support for management departments to optimize traffic management and scheduling.
Building Smart City: Using digital twinning technology, twin cities corresponding to the physical world can be built in virtual cyberspace. Through global data identification, accurate state perception and real-time data analysis, the simulation, monitoring and control of the city are realized, and many problems in the process of urban planning, design, construction, management and service are solved.
At present, digital twins are widely used in industrial manufacturing, smart cities, intelligent transportation, energy and other major industries. As an important field of virtual simulation, digital twins are creating unprecedented innovations in various industries with their powerful capabilities.