Digital twins for collaborative robots: a case study

Human-robot collaboration (HRC) can expand the level of automation in areas that have conventionally been difficult to automate such as assembly. However, the need for adaptability and the dynamics of human presence are keeping the full potential of human-robot collaborative systems difficult to achieve. This paper explores the opportunities of using a digital twin to address the complexities of collaborative production systems through an industrial case and a demonstrator. A digital twin, as a virtual counterpart of a physical human-robot assembly system, is built as a front-runner for validation and control through design, build, and operation. The forms of digital twins along the system life cycle, the building blocks, and potential advantages are presented. Recommendations for future research and practice in the use of digital twins in the field of collaborative robots are given.