A Design Framework for a System of Digital Twins

Anton Basson
Stellenbosch University

Complex real-world systems are better represented by a system of digital twins, rather than singular digital twins. The system of digital twins should accommodate expected evolution of the real-world system and of the use cases served by the system of DTs. Designing such a system of DTs involves many decisions. The presentation discusses a service-orientated digital twin reference architecture aimed at these contexts and a design framework that guides the designers of the system of digital twins. The presentation also discusses a set of design principles, borrowed from holonomic systems, that aid decisions during the design process.

Speaker bio: Prof Anton Basson holds the Rand Water Chair in Mechanical Engineering and is a co-leader of the Mechatronics, Automation and Design Research Group of the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering at Stellenbosch University. His research interests include developing architectures for digital twin systems for complex systems (ranging from automotive and rail transport to healthcare and water distribution systems). These architectures may integrate machine learning operations, augmented reality and other ambient intelligence technologies. The research group is also active in the area of human-system integration and, in this context, holonic software architectures. Anton Basson’s career has covered many areas, from a MScEng in Mechanical Engineering at Stellenbosch University and a PhD in Aerospace Engineering at Penn State, through research into design for manufacturing and reconfigurable manufacturing systems.