EDA
Accelerating digital twins using games engines
By Brad Hart, Perforce
T
he game engines that helped create games such as Fortnite and Pokemon Go, or films like The Mandalorian and Westworld, are now making their way into all kinds of other industries. This includes electronic design, where it is being used to take digital twins to a whole new level of innovation and usability.
Interest in digital twins has grown due to their compelling benefits. Creating a digital replica of a real-world product or system makes experimentation less costly, product performance can be tested earlier, and teams can collaborate remotely. For instance, in the automotive industry, each step of a vehicle’s software, electrical systems and mechanical
22 September 2023
components can be tested and validated throughout development to discover potential issues before producing physical parts. Consequently, products can be brought to market faster and more cost- effectively. Back in 2018, GE reported that implementing digital twins increased reliability from 93 per cent to 99.49 per cent in less than two years and reduced reactive maintenance by 40 per cent in less than one year, contributing to significant maintenance cost savings. Additionally, GE saved $360K by using digital twins to predict power outages in a gas plant. The global digital twin market size is projected to grow from USD 10.1 billion in 2023 to USD 110.1 billion by 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of
Components in Electronics
61.3 per cent during the forecast period. Initiatives such as Amazon’s IoT Twinmaker and efforts by the Digital Twins Consortium and other industry organisations have helped raise awareness and accelerate adoption. However, digital twin systems have conventionally been complicated, highly technical, and often expensive to create. Furthermore, it was until recently challenging to present lots of complex information in a way that was context-rich and easy to understand visually.
Games industry inspiration This is why more organisations have turned to the games industry for inspiration, a market renowned for pushing the boundaries of what is visually and
interactively possible. Game development software tools, often called engines, such as Unity or Unreal, are software applications designed to deliver impressive 3D rendering and user experiences. Gamers can immerse themselves in realistic simulations of the real world. These advanced software solutions are already used for virtual film and video production, including Matrix Revolution and The Last of Us, which employed game engine technology for visual effects and virtual production.
In electronics design, manufacturing, and construction, game engines can extend the capabilities of digital twins by combining visual graphic elements and data modelling based on the physical world. For
www.cieonline.co.uk.uk
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