An Introduction of the Role of Virtual Technologies and Digital Twin in Industry 4.0

Abstract

It is inevitable that technological improvements have affected human's life in any aspect to a large extent. Automation, artificial intelligence, robotics, etc., are some advances contributed to the fourth industrial revolution: Industry 4.0. Despite there are still many arguments, Internet of Things (IoT) and Cyber Physical Systems (CPS) have been widely acknowledged as the main fundaments of Industry 4.0. This paper introduces the concept of CPS by providing an explicit framework that unifies the existing theories in this regard. Nine exquisite technologies attributed to Industry 4.0 are investigated, among which virtual technology (VT) and digital twin (DT) are considered as two of the core criteria and are thus focused on in this paper. However, for providing an acceptable level of integration and intelligence, noticeable gap between the virtual world and the real factory is still a significant challenge. Holistic approaches addressing this issue suggest VTs and DT have the potential to form the fundaments for more improvements in terms of both interoperability and consciousness. Furthermore, they may pave the way for achieving the highest level of CPS and Industry 4.0.

Scientometric Insights of Digital Twins in Industry 4.0

“…The major citing article within this cluster is on federated learning for the healthcare metaverse by Bashir, Ak (2023.0-JAN) [9]. The most cited members within this cluster are from the Russian Federation (25), India (25), and Ireland (7). 6 Citation Patterns…”

“…The major citing article in this cluster is authored by Lieberman, J (2017.0-JAN) [60]. The most cited topics within this cluster include "data analytics" (18), "infrastructure" (14), and "costs" (7). The ninth largest cluster #8 consists of 14 members with a silhouette value of 0.944 and is labeled as "infrastructure construction" by LLR.…”

“…The fundamental idea behind DT is to create a virtual model that precisely replicates a physical object. This model is dynamic, continuously updated with data collected from sensors on the physical object, ensuring that it reflects the real-time status, operational condition, or position of that object [7]. The primary objective of this study is to delve into the diverse aspects of DT technology.…”

The application of Industry 4.0 technologies in sustainable logistics: a systematic literature review (2012–2020) to explore future research opportunities

“…For instance, virtual reality (VR) can be used for the training of new employees without interrupting warehouse operations (Liu et al 2018), and under minimum risks, it can also be used for providing the training of some dangerous operations, e.g., hazardous materials handling. Simulation has been widely used for visualization, testing, and performance evaluation of new technologies and processes (Azarian et al 2019). Several logistics companies, e.g., DHL, use AR to manage and control the warehousing processes (Yavas and Ozkan-Ozen 2020), where real-time instructions and task visualizations can be given to the operators in order to provide better assistance and maximize their effectiveness.…”

Moving from Industry 4.0 to Industry 5.0: What Are the Implications for Smart Logistics?

“…The high-speed internet connectivity within manufacturing and logistics systems, i.e., industrial internet of things (IIoT) [24], potentially favors these industries by improving their intelligence and integration levels [25][26][27]. In this regard, combining automation and intelligence in a highly integrated CPS shows the maturity level of an Industry 4.0 system [1,28]. Through a combination of disruptive technologies and intelligent analytics, e.g., IoT, CPS, big data, artificial intelligence (AI), etc., Industry 4.0 will not only change the manufacturing industry but also impact all sectors of economic cycles.…”