A digital twin is a computer-generated model of a physical system made using real-time data often collected by connected devices. That model allows users to monitor how the physical system is performing, as well as predict potential issues and evaluate possible optimizations. The technology has applications fields like aerospace engineering, construction, medical research and automotive design. The following are some top digital twin companies giving customers the tools to make decisions based on real-world data and virtual modeling.
Top Digital Twin Companies
- Siemens
- General Electric
- Microsoft
- Nvidia
- IBM
- Cisco
- PTC
- Oracle
Digital Twin Companies to Know
Siemens offers a comprehensive digital twin tailored to manufacturing settings. With this technology, companies can run simulations, explore different scenarios and gain even more accurate insights when supplementing digital twins with artificial intelligence. Teams can then determine opportunities to optimize their production processes, reducing waste and conserving valuable energy and resources.
Under the General Electric (GE) umbrella, GE Vernova provides a lineup of digital twins. The company’s asset digital twins monitor thousands of assets across the globe and alert teams of maintenance needs. Meanwhile, GE Vernova’s grid digital twins can conduct simulations to help companies improve grid performance. And Vernova’s process digital twins balance quality and cost to determine the best workflows possible.
Microsoft offers the Azure Digital Twins platform, which is available under a platform-as-a-service model. The tool creates digital models of products and infrastructures — like buildings, energy networks and factories — in any connected environment. The program features a live graphing execution and integrated input from IoT devices and systems using the Azure IoT Hub.
NVIDIA’s Omniverse operating system allows robotics developers to create, test and optimize their fleets within a virtual environment before deploying them in real-world settings like factories or streets. Combined with the company’s Cosmos models, which can generate hyperrealistic synthetic data, the platform enables users to simulate multiple scenarios at the same time, streamlining the training process of AI-powered robots and other machines.
IBM gives companies access to digital twins through its Maximo Application Suite. Maximo is a platform that combines the Internet of Things, generative AI and data analytics to monitor and track assets throughout their life cycles. Digital twins play a major role in this process by collecting real-time data. In addition, IBM has built a digital twin exchange, which serves as an online space for manufacturers to sell assets in the form of digital twins.
Cisco delivers a digital twin service through its cloud platform known as Digital Twin Explorer. With Explorer, customers can map out an entire network to oversee various devices and zoom in to analyze connections between specific devices. Researchers at the University of the Bundeswehr Munich have also used Cisco’s digital twin solutions to monitor bridges in real time, estimating the cost of repairs and finding ways to improve future bridge designs.
PTC’s cloud platform Onshape provides product development services, including digital twin capabilities. Organizations can use Onshape to generate visualizations, assess systems and run simulations as needed. Digital twins in Onshape can also be designed to analyze a machine in real time. Users can even control the movements of machines via PTC’s digital twins, resulting in safer operations.
Oracle makes it easier to create digital twins with its IoT cloud service. Working with the platform, companies can build digital twins that take into account a machine’s attributes like its weight and dimensions. Teams can then customize a digital twin to develop visualizations of assets and produce statistical models with machine learning. This way, teams can compile insights on assets and leverage patterns to make accurate predictions.
Ansys uses simulation programs to create predictive models for industries such as aerospace, automotive, defense, energy and healthcare. With the Ansys Twin Builder, users are able to create digital twins of in-service physical assets like satellite systems, medical devices and semiconductors.
Rockwell Automation specializes in digital twins for manufacturing with its Emulate3D software. The technology can enhance productivity and safety by allowing prototypes to be designed and tested in the digital realm, giving operators a chance to train in a low-stakes virtual environment before deploying their skills in the real world.
Celonis makes software intended to help companies in industries ranging from energy to life sciences evaluate their internal processes so they can identify opportunities to make changes that help them efficiently meet their goals. Its process intelligence platform captures data from a variety of sources and creates a digital twin to represent an organization’s operations, offering comprehensive visibility to inform business strategy.
Unlearn.AI uses digital twinning in the healthcare space. The company develops digital twins of individual patients that can be used to predict future health outcomes by pairing artificial intelligence with extensive “what if?” scenarios. The AI models that work these scenarios are trained on Unlearn’s curated datasets, so they can offer probabilistic forecasts.
Bentley Systems is a software company that provides infrastructure engineering. It creates software for digital twinning that integrates engineering, geospatial and operational data into a single view. Bentley’s digital twin capabilities have been used in projects like the Doosan Wind Farm and the District of Columbia’s drinking water system.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a digital twin company?
Digital twin companies build and provide digital twin products and services. A digital twin is a virtual representation of a physical object that uses real-time data to change alongside the object, accurately reflecting the object’s behavior over its lifetime.
Who is a leader in the digital twin space?
While a number of big-name companies and startups compete in the digital twin space, key leaders in this sector include GE, Siemens and IBM.
What software is used for digital twins?
Digital twins use computer-aided design (CAD) and 3D modeling software to build virtual models of physical objects. IoT sensors attached to these objects feed additional data into models to reflect an object’s behavior in real time. Artificial intelligence is also baked into digital twins and analyzes the data to glean behavioral and predictive insights.
What is an example of digital twins?
An example of a digital twin is Toyota creating virtual models of its European manufacturing facilities. With these models, Toyota can monitor its production workflows to identify optimizations, run simulations and reduce overall costs.
