Page 8 - Enchiridion 4.0 program_EN

Strategic Partnerships for school education 2019-1-PL01-KA201-065137
Project: Teacher4.0 - comprehensive method of implementation of Industry 4.0
concept into didactic practice in primary and secondary schools

This data comes from various sources, mostly from the product itself, IIoT sensors, maintenance
data, performance data, etc. This data is next processed, integrated, and visualised, to allow
designers insight into real-world performance, parts and processes which are performing as
intended, but also e.g. parts which wear too quickly in given conditions. Data integration and
modelling allows also to discover hidden patterns, normally not visible from single source. Some
elements of artificial intelligence might be incorporated into this step, like image recognition, pattern
search and even cognitive algorithms, which might enable simple recommendations to be made
automatically.

Step 3: Simulate physical products in virtual environment

This step uses simulations, virtual reality and high density displays to simulate real product in virtual
reality. Digital Twin enables quick and essentially costless changes in the product, to study desired
properties and behaviours, including data from the previous step, which helps simulate e.g. wear
depending on the physical properties, alloy structure and many other variables.

Step 4: Request changes within physical products as recommended by the Digital Twin.
Based on the findings from the Digital Twin model, physical product might need adjusting, changing
processes, functions and even structure. This might be achieved by means of various actuators,
which can act either automatically or as requested by the operator. Actuators might be of various
types, pneumatic, electric, hydraulic and even mechanical. Changes are confirmed with the use of
sensors. Actuators and sensors are two backbone, enabling technologies for the Digital Twin – and in
fact, Industry 4.0. Additionally, Augmented Reality might be used to verify and monitor state of the
specific products and devices, typically overlying real-time data over specific parts or the whole
device.

Step 5: Establishing secure bidirectional data transmission between physical and virtual product.

It is a crucial step, to enable communication to and from the physical device. Available transmission
means vary and are actively developed. Depending on the devices, networking technologies might
include wireless networks like Bluetooth, WLAN, Z-Wave, LTE and 5G data transmissions, but also
wired – from Ethernet-based to fibre and even serial connections, all depending on the product and
need. The virtual part of the Digital Twin often relays on Cloud Computing, which enables easy access
to both users, designers and engineers. Data security is very large area which is crucial for the secure
and efficient operation of the Digital Twin. It goes way beyond this module, but due to connected
nature of Industry 4.0, it is immensely important, complex and expensive.

Step 6: Collecting and integrating product data from available sources.

Various categories of data can be obtained from the product, including physical data, environmental
data, interactive data and so on. This type of data can be obtained from specialised sensors, often
incorporating connected IoT technology. Amount of data varies greatly between products, e.g. large
wind turbines, permanently connected to power and Internet can transmit real-time data about

This project has been funded with support from the European
Commission. This communication reflects the views only of the
author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any
use which may be made of the information contained therein.