Visualizing and Exploring CAD Data in 3D, Virtual Reality and Digital Twins

A Digital Twin is a highly realistic computer model of a device, system, process or product. Augmented Reality (AR) shows digital twin information relevant for a specific context and location in a physical machine, like guidelines for maintenance on an equipment. It could alert on (potential) safety hazards in situ. Before intervening, an immersive Virtual Reality (VR) experience with the digital twin will enable newcomers to become thoroughly familiar with the place of intervention with all relevant information at their fingertips as well as the possibility to simulate various issues. Potential benefits of digital twins are numerous and varied, from reducing design and build times for machines, to optimizing performance throughout the operational life cycle including predictive maintenance and condition monitoring. In the nuclear industry, digital twin projects are well under way with substantial funding, with the objective to drastically reduce development times for new reactors and decrease operation and maintenance costs by an order of magnitude.