Digital Twin for Industrial Robotics

Abstract

This thesis aims to develop a Digital Twin model for robot programming that incorporates Virtual Reality (VR). The digital twin is a concept of creating a digital replica of a physical object (such as a robot), which is similar to establishing a model simulation along with some additional functionalities. Simulation software, such as robot operating system (ROS) or other industrial-owned simulation platforms, simulates a robot operation and sends the details to the robot controller. In contrast to this, the Digital Twin model establishes a two-way communication channel between the digital and the physical models. In this thesis, the proposed Digital Twin model can help in online/remote programming of a robotic cell with high accuracy by creating a 3D digital environment of a real-world physical setup, which is similar to watching a movie with 3D glasses. To create a Digital Twin model, the gaming platform is used that comes with specialized plugins for virtual and augmented reality devices. One of the main challenges in any robotic system is writing a code for a defined path and modifying it for future requirements. Programming robot via this traditional approach requires a lot of time and often disturbs the running process. Whereas, in the case of a Digital Twin model, the program can be adjusted or regenerated without disturbing the execution cycle of a physical robot.