Technological Centre

CETIM shows how digital twins or virtual reality contributes to fourth industrial revolution

This Thursday 25th March, CETIM Technology Centre will participate in the round table “The connected industry: digital twins, virtual reality and 3D printing”, at 12.00h organised by Solitium Group.

José Sáez, head of the Digital Industry area of CETIM, and Bruno Rodríguez will talk, in particular, about the application of digital twins and virtual reality in industry and production.

Registration can be done through the following online form https://lnkd.in/dGDAJFP

 

 

 

Technology has been put at the service of industry to improve the efficiency, productivity, quality and safety of processes. The fourth industrial revolution is in full swing thanks to digital twins, virtual reality and 3D printing, three of the catalysts for change, enabling industrial digitisation, a transformation towards the implementation of hyper-connected smart factories.

 

Precisely, the explanation of the use, functionalities and advantages of these three applications will be the focus of Thursday’s round table “The connected industry: digital twins, virtual reality and 3D printing”, at 12.00h organised by Grupo Solitium, with the participation of José Sáez, head of the Digital Industry area of CETIM, and the researcher, Bruno Rodríguez. Their intervention will focus on the application of digital twins and virtual reality in industry and production.

 

Those interested in attending can register through the following online form: https://lnkd.in/dGDAJFP

 

What is virtual reality?
Virtual reality (VR) is an environment, generated by computer technology, of real-looking scenes or objects, which creates in the user the sensation of being immersed in it. The user can learn more about various objects in their own environment (artworks in museums, instructions for car parts, etc.) or immerse themselves in these virtual environments (video games, buildings under construction, etc.).

To get into this technology, the user needs to connect through a device such as virtual reality glasses or helmets to start the simulation. This experience can be accompanied by other devices such as gloves, special suits, etc., which allow greater immersion and perception of stimuli that intensify the sensation of reality.

 

What are digital twins?
A digital twin is a virtual replica made in the image and likeness of a product or process, to which data is incorporated in real time, which is captured through sensors, from other processes or technologies related to Big Data. Once this information is collected, it is processed by Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing and Machine Learning to give birth to a living representation that feels, thinks and acts.

 

How is 3D printing applied?
3D printing is a group of additive manufacturing technologies that make possible to create a three-dimensional object by superimposing successive layers of material. 3D printers offer the ability to print parts and assemblies made of different materials with different physical and mechanical properties. Advanced 3D printing technologies can even provide models that serve as product prototypes.

This technology can be present in almost all sectors, for example in the healthcare sector where prostheses can be printed or the area can be modelled when performing surgery or in the construction sector. In general, due to the various materials and forms of printing, we can make practically any object that suits the user’s needs.

 

Successful cases
At CETIM we collaborate with other companies to develop several projects related to Virtual Reality. For example, it can be incorporated into patient rehabilitation processes using VR and Artificial Intelligence for the correct performance of exercises. We also collaborate in remote technical assistance project where we use VR to guide the technician in carrying out repair tasks or replacing parts.

Among the external success stories, which mix the best of technologies, the following stand out:

  • In the healthcare sector, the full-scale impression of a specific area of a patient requiring surgery. In this way, the surgeon has in his hands an exact mould of the bone, organ or a set of them, which allows him to be better prepared for the intervention. If we also add VR to the printed model, the surgeon can interact with the part, showing in detail the process to be followed in the surgery, even during the operation to see that it is developing as planned
  • In the automotive sector, for example, Seat has transformed its prototype development centre. This space has virtual reality applications and an area for 3D additive manufacturing with the aim of simulating processes that could be fully simulated virtually using digital twin technology.