A physical twin is the real-world asset, product, or system that corresponds to a virtual model known as a digital twin. Engineers install sensors on the physical equipment to feed performance data back to the simulation. This allows the digital version to run predictive maintenance and optimization tests based on the exact state of the hardware on the factory floor.
We need to recalibrate the physical twin on line four because the torque readings are drifting from the simulation.
Do not mix it up with
- Digital twin: The digital twin is the software model, while the physical twin is the actual hardware you can touch.
Related terms
Digital twin
A virtual replica of a physical asset or manufacturing process used for simulation and monitoring.
Process
A defined sequence of operations that transforms raw materials into a finished product.
Production line
A sequential arrangement of machines and workstations used to assemble or process goods.