Digital twins are already playing a key role in stresstesting facilities and supply chain readiness . According to Gartner , one-third of midto-large size organisations that have implemented IoT would have implemented at least one COVID-19- motivated use case for a digital twin by 2030 .
Q . How does AI support the use of digital twin technology ?
» AI and digital twin technology cannot be seen as two separate technologies ; they ’ re integral to one another ’ s fabric and functionality . Think of the enterprise like a living entity : IoT and AI makes digital twins close-looped by providing realtime feedback based on inputs from sensors , like how we send , feel and respond to stimuli . Digital twins are mathematical models that can represent the real world and conduct ‘ what-if ’ type of scenario analyses , with the sensory data being sent to them . AI acts as a brain within the enterprise , interpreting the data gathered by the sensors and processed via digital twins . As an example , AI can conduct the planning based on data sets fed into a supply chain digital twin . Or it can be used for predicting maintenance based on a connected equipment digital twin .
Q . What can we expect from the manufacturing industry in terms of AI and technology adoption ?
» Manufacturing is becoming a frontrunner in terms of AI and technology adoption . We expect AI to be deployed across manufacturing quality control processes , including those with visual inspection , process optimisation and customer experience . In fact , we can already see this from the development and uptake of vehicle autonomy in the manufacturing industry . As an example , in factories and warehouses , we already see vehicles , both driver and driverless , operating in controlled geo-fenced environments to help move material more efficiently and safely around .
The most interesting part of all this is yet to be realised , and that is the promise of Industry 4.0 , where these varied initiatives and applications will converge to create truly meaningful and impactful combinations , and – dare I say it – herald the arrival of Industry 5.0 with sentient manufacturing . aimagazine . com 23