Data61, the data and digital specialist branch of CSIRO, has launched a digital twin laboratory in Melbourne.
The Mixed Reality Lab houses industrial and consumer grade optical cameras and sensors to capture information about physical objects in order to create virtual replicas, also known as digital twins.
Sophisticated algorithms help to merge the data collected from the sensors and are able to create the digital twin within minutes.
The International Data Corporation estimates that by 2020, 30 per cent of the top 2000 companies will be using data from digital twins of Internet of Things (IoT) connected assets to improve productivity of up to 25 per cent.
The lab can be scaled depending on the size of the object being scanned and can be tailored for applications in agriculture, mining, health or other industries to automatically validate a component of process.
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Data61 senior software engineer, Matt Bolger, said the lab is a unique combination of research expertise across machine learning, computer vision, computational modelling, IoT, and CSIRO’s patented Stereo Depth Fusion technology for depth estimation.
“This technology is game-changing for manufacturing and other industries,” Bolger said.
“By comparing a digital twin of a manufactured object against the original design, we can quickly, accurately and cost-effectively identify defects and map entire manufacturing processes across a global supply chain.
“Defective components can be identified in real-time and corrected, while downstream processes can be adjusted to minimise the impact of delays.”
Data61 Analytics and Decision Sciences research director, Dr Simon Barry, said the Mixed Reality Lab is an example of the Fourth Industrial Revolution in action, the blurring of the lines between the physical, digital and biological spheres.
“Digital twins of manufacturing processes, human movement and even our cities and infrastructure will significantly improve productivity, reduce costs and transform all manner of industries,” Barry said.
Industry, Science and Technology Minister, Karen Andrews, said the Mixed Reality Lab is a prime example of how technology can create new value in a vital sector of the economy.
“Taking up technologies, like digital twins and augmented reality, can improve productivity and strengthen our competitive advantage in a global value chain,” Andrews said.