Abstract
Digital Twins (DTs) have emerged as promising systems within manufacturing, enabling capabilities such as real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and optimization of products and processes. Their development still faces significant challenges, including the need for rapid prototyping, scalability, and interoperability. This paper aims to propose a Digital Twin Platform (DTP) architecture conceptualized in order to address these challenges. The DTP builds on a combined approach of composability, low-code, and collaborative methodologies for accelerated Digital Twin (DT) development. Particularly, by envisioning a composable approach for developing, deploying, and managing DTs across manufacturing environments, the architecture aims to set the basis of a platform to enable rapidly create highly adaptable, scalable and interoperable DT solutions fitted to specific manufacturing requirements. Building on an explorative literature review, the proposed architecture is conceptualized in five environments; each environment tackles specific aspects of the DT lifecycle management, utilizing low-code development, composable services and collaboration for faster development and integration. The paper also exemplifies the use of the proposed architecture by showcasing its application within a use-case selected from academic literature. Overall, the proposed architecture intends to lay the groundwork for a reference platform that empowers researchers and practitioners to accelerate the development, customization, and integration of DTs, with the ultimate goal to unlock the achievements of the potential benefits of DTs for competitive and sustainable manufacturing.
