Digital twin-based smart assembly process design and application framework for complex products and its case study

With rapid advances in new generation information technologies, digital twin (DT), and cyber-physical system, smart assembly has become a core focus for intelligent manufacturing in the fourth industrial evolution. Deep integration between information and physical worlds is a key phase to develop smart assembly process design that bridge the gap between product assembly design and manufacturing. This paper presents a digital twin reference model for smart assembly process design, and proposes an application framework for DT-based smart assembly with three layers. Product assembly station components are detailed in the physical space layer; two main modules, communication connection and data processing, are introduced in the interaction layer; and we discuss working mechanisms of assembly process planning, simulation, predication, and control management in the virtual space layer in detail. A case study shows the proposed approach application for an experimental simplified satellite assembly case using the DT-based assembly application system (DT-AAS) to verify the proposed application framework and method effectiveness.

Automated summary

This paper introduces a digital twin reference model for smart assembly process design and proposes an application framework for DT-based smart assembly with three layers: physical space layer, interaction layer, and virtual space layer. The working mechanisms of assembly process planning, simulation, predication, and control management are discussed in detail. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is verified through a case study of an experimental simplified satellite assembly case using the DT-based assembly application system (DT-AAS).