All components and systems will be networked with each other in the production of the future. Digital models of components or systems – known as digital twins – play a key role here, from the design phase to commissioning and operation. They contribute to system optimisation and simplify lifecycle management. Our research and involvement in this field aims to establish cross-manufacturer solutions. We are working towards offering our customers a digital twin factory in future, which will enable them to quickly and easily integrate digital twins of their custom-configured Festo products into their engineering environment.
The ever expanding array of functions is bringing huge increases in requirements and work for machine builders, which is why we want to provide digital twins for our components and systems in future. Physics-based models accurately reproduce the capabilities of the components. This significantly shortens customers’ project timelines and increases productivity. Customers can simulate, test and make more adjustments to a piece of hardware before they even get to hold it in their hands. For example, they can design and program optimum, efficient handling systems using the virtual model. Machine builders can find and rectify errors at an early stage, which is crucial to ensure that the subsequent system operates efficiently and reliably.
Digital twins are much more than just 3D models that move virtually. They are digital representations with a wealth of component information. This includes the unique description of their capabilities, their role within the machine, their behaviour, the simulation of their kinematics and kinetics and their communication.
The Industry 4.0 machine architecture is based entirely on digital twins. Thanks to their standardised communication interfaces, they make life easier for our customers throughout virtually the entire lifecycle of a machine: from virtual commissioning and control of the machine to data acquisition and the resulting value-added services such as maintenance or diagnostics. In the past, machines have not been consistently digital, which makes it difficult to fully network all of the objects. Festo is therefore working on seamless and consistent communication technology. One interface that has already been standardised is the Functional Mock-up Interface (FMI), used for connecting physical models regardless of the manufacturer. The administration shell is used as a central technical element to implement digital twins.
数字孪生在具体方案的规划和准备阶段就可以将事情简单化。智能算法可用于设计和配置最佳且可以节省能源的元件。
在虚拟模型中，系统操作者无需通过编程来进行测试。如想测试滑块能否移动，可以直接从位移编码器或终端传感器上查看过程数据。如果开发者希望为机器设置控制顺序，可以简单地编辑元件的功能（如伸展、旋转或抓取）即可。
当运行中的元件快要到达其使用寿命时，状态监测会发出通知。然后，机器的数字孪生会采取相关行动，如自动订购备件。如果在这时候，将元件的模型更换为新模型，那么客户就可以使用虚拟环境先测试一下，新元件能否安装运行，然后根据测试情况进行订购。
状态监测也可以和数字孪生的仿真模型一起使用，以创建可预计的维护计划。客户也可以使用数字孪生的虚拟模型对以后要进行的改变或重新配置进行开发和测试，之后再在机器上实施，以节省整个流程的时间。