1660317456431 Ct2110feat3fig1

Digital twins: What are they and what can they do?

Jan. 13, 2022
What makes a digital twin different from a mathematical model, and what sorts of jobs they can do?

“When I use a word, it means whatever I want it to mean.”

So began Louise Wright and Stuart Davidson in their recent article, “How to tell the difference between a model and a digital twin.”[1] Indeed, the words spoken by Lewis Carroll’s Humpty Dumpty in Alice’s Adventures through the Looking Glass might well be applied to any number of marketing campaigns discussing this latest, most fashionable moniker for a virtual representation of an actual phenomena. “Digital twin is currently a term applied in a wide variety of ways,” Wright and Davison continued, their message being that clarity of meaning is essential. Excessive marketing hype and one-upmanship name-dropping distorts a term, which leads to disillusionment about the concept, which leads to underutilization of a good thing.

This article is the first in a three-part series seeking to clarify what a digital twin means in the chemical process industries (CPI), how models and twins are used, and some techniques that can convert a model to a twin.

Read more on ControlGlobal.com.

Sponsored Recommendations

2025 State of Technology Report: HMIs, IPCs and Enclosures

Industrial manufacturing equipment often relies on human-machine interfaces, industrial PCs and enclosures to ensure system reliability and optimal performance. These components...

Custom Encoder Created for Large Rotational Applications

Large rotational applications like MRI machines, excavators, mobile equipment, forklifts and stagecraft require precise motion feedback for optimal performance, safety and efficiency...

See How One Company Customized Motion Feedback for Material Handling Applications

Encoders can be used in material handling on sorters, conveyors, in automated storage retrieval systems, on mobile equipment, automated mobile robots and more. See how one company...

Absolute vs Incremental Encoders: Which One Does Your System Need?

The right encoder makes all the difference. Incremental encoders are perfect for tracking speed and direction in dynamic motion. Absolute encoders? They remember exact positioning...