Digital-Twin-Software Areas of Application, Chances and Challenges

This article refers to blackbox-tests of software solutions creating digital twins. The criteria to be assessed are the low-threshold application and the adaptability of the programmes to changing requirements defined in the context of a case study. Instead of simulating a production line through its digital twin, the goal is to simulate a 3D printer within the tested programmes. This approach is selected to evaluate to which extent the software solutions are modifiable according to the changed applicated purpose. A catalogue of criteria, in which twelve requirements are defined, serves as a guideline for creating the digital twins and for testing the programmes simultaneously. Digital twins of the 3D printer are beeing created by implementing and validating the requirements in each of the programmes. While creating the digital twins of the 3D printer it is verified that digital-twin-software dealing with the simulation of production lines is also useful to simulate other systems such as a 3D printer. Finally chances and challenges of digital-twin-software are pointed out and discussed.