Flexible work cell simulator using digital twin methodology for highly complex systems in industry 4.0

Abstract

The continuous evolution in manufacturing processes has attracted substantial interest from both scientific and research community, as well as from industry. Despite the fact that streamline manufacturing relies on automation systems, most production lines within the industrial environment lack a flexible framework that allows for evaluation and optimisation of the manufacturing process. Consequently, the development of a generic simulators able to mimic any given workflow represent a promising approach within the manufacturing industry. Recently the concept of digital twin methodology has been introduced to mimic the real world through a virtual substitute, such as, a simulator. In this paper, a solution capable of representing any industrial work cell and its properties is presented. Here we describe the key stages of such solution which has enough flexibility to be applied to different working scenarios commonly found in industrial environment. © 2018, Springer International Publishing AG.