Article: Digital Twins

Question 1

What is a digital twin?

Answer 1

• Virtually represents and accurately describes a product at micro and macro levels

Question 2

What are advantages of digital twins?

Answer 2

• Enables conditions-based, rather than time-based monitoring -> makes it possible to analyze current and historical data to identify maintenance issues
• > reduces downtime and repair costs
• > improves process efficiency and automation and therefore can reduce costs

Question 3

Give an example where DT is used.

Answer 3

• European Union´s Destinations Earth

Question 4

What is the challenge in realizing DTs?

Answer 4

• Benefits can be realized with high-fidelity DTs
• > gap between what is ideal and what is realizable
• > high costs
• > lack of technical feasibility
• > restrained access to important data
• > need of huge amount of computing power
• > long processing times
• Can not address sociopolitical problems (unlikely)

Question 5

How can blockchain and DT be combined?

Answer 5

• In a blockchain-based supply chain, a DT can function as a reference point to check information in a ledger -> enhances traceability and transparency of operations