AI STRATEGY

Digital Twins If a simulation helps us virtually model the real world , a digital twin helps us receive feedback from it . A ‘ representation of an asset ’, it ’ s essentially a digital copy of a physical prototype . For example , you might build a robotic arm for your assembly line . You put sensors on it . Now , you can send real-time data relating to accuracy , efficiency , and downtime back to its digital copy . With this type of data , your digital simulation can much better approximate the real deal .

Though digital twins have many applications , you see this approach quite often in the automotive industry . Siemens , for example , developed its PAVE360- Simcenter Prescan simulation tool and digital twin technology to test how cars would operate in the real world . After accepting CAD files , its R & D simulation recreated a granular representation of each vehicle part : chassis , safety sensors , semiconductors . Without putting a car on the road , this is the closest we can get to

This is the closest you can get to modelling real-world performance . Said Simon Evans , Delivery Team Lead for Britain ’ s National Digital Twin Programme : ‘ It ’ s an approach and way of working , enabled by connecting the physical and digital worlds , that will fundamentally change our society , business , economy , and environment ’.

The Future of AI in R & D Artifical intelligence in R & D is just getting started . Between 2020 and 2027 , experts predict that the global AI market will grow by 42.2 %. ‘ It makes jobs far more satisfying because we automate 80 % of the work ’, said Craig Civil , Head of Data Innovation , R & D , and Analytics at Lloyd ’ s .

CRAIG CIVIL HEAD OF DATA INNOVATION , R & D , AND ANALYTICS , LLOYD ’ S

44 August 2021