A Heuristics Derivation Approach for the Digital Twin Designs

Abstract

Abstract This article illustrates an approach to developing design heuristics for digital twins (DTs). DTs are virtual replicas of physical systems or objects. Heuristics are rules of thumb used to facilitate problem-solving and decision-making. Heuristics can be used in DT design to simplify the complex design process and guide designers through creating a virtual representation of physical objects. Heuristics can help designers strike the right balance between detail and simplicity; speed and accuracy; and help identify the key parameters and variables that impact the behavior and performance of the system or product being modeled. They can also guide the selection of appropriate simulation tools, the validation of the DT against physical data, and the optimization of the virtual representation for specific performance metrics. The derivation of heuristics for DT design can help streamline the conceptualization process, reduce unnecessary design complexity, and ensure that the virtual representation accurately reflects the behavior and performance of the physical system or product. As DTs continue to grow in popularity, DT design heuristics will likely become an increasingly important tool for designers and engineers. We studied several examples of DT implementations from academia and industry and derived a set of heuristics using a systematic approach. This paper illustrated our process and outcomes via an example study. Finally, we propose a user study-based heuristics validation approach to validate the design heuristics.