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Towards the Development of a Digital Twin for Micro Learning Factory: A Proof of Concept

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Extended Reality (XR Salento 2023)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNCS,volume 14218))

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Abstract

The Learning Factory concept has gained importance in recent years to improve manufacturing education and prepare students for the workforce. Digital Twin (DT) technology is considered as a crucial tool to enhance the Learning Factory experience. Due to the novelty of this topic, there is limited research on developing DTs specifically for this purpose. Currently, a Micro Learning Factory (MLF), described as a smaller-scale version of the Learning Factory, has been developed mainly for educational purposes to offer a flexible, personalized, and effective learning solution. This platform incorporates a large number of equipment to reproduce industrial production lines with a good level of representativeness, including a 6-axis robotic arm, conveyor belts, grippers, cameras and computer vision tools. However, to fully realize its potential, the development of a DT for the MLF is crucial. This technology can simulate the learning environment, provide data analytics, and offer real-time feedback to students. Despite its potential, a digital twin for the MLF has not yet been developed. In this article, we propose a proof of concept for the development of a digital twin of one of the main components of the MLF, which is the 6-axis robotic arm. Firstly, we present the proposed architecture for the DT of the 6-axis robotic arm that we designed. Then, we present in detail two scenarios for its manipulation, one focused on the pick and place operations, and the other on conformity control. Finally, we discuss future perspectives, with a focus on the development of a MLF DT interfaced in Extended Reality.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    OPC UA (Open Platform Communications Unified Architecture) is a machine-to-machine communication protocol for industrial automation [17].

  2. 2.

    SolidWorks is a 3D computer-aided design (CAD) software used to create and design mechanical parts, assemblies, and drawings [18].

  3. 3.

    Blender is a free and open-source 3D computer graphics software used for creating animated films, visual effects, video games, and 3D printed models [19].

  4. 4.

    Fusion 360 is a cloud-based 3D CAD/CAM (computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing) software developed by Autodesk [20].

  5. 5.

    NX is a computer-aided design (CAD), manufacturing (CAM), and engineering (CAE) software developed by Siemens Digital Industries Software [21].

  6. 6.

    STL (STereoLithography) is a file format commonly used in 3D printing and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) [22].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CESI LINEACT Laboratory UR 7527, Strasbourg, France

    Mame Cheikh Sow & Mourad Zghal

  2. CESI LINEACT Laboratory UR 7527, Reims, France

    Ahlem Assila & Sinuhé Martinez

  3. CESI LINEACT Laboratory UR 7527, Lyon, France

    David Garcia

  4. CESI LINEACT Laboratory UR 7527, Rouen, France

    David Baudry

Authors
  1. Mame Cheikh Sow
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  2. Ahlem Assila
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  3. David Garcia
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  4. Sinuhé Martinez
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  5. Mourad Zghal
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  6. David Baudry
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mame Cheikh Sow .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Salento, Lecce, Italy

    Lucio Tommaso De Paolis

  2. University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy

    Pasquale Arpaia

  3. CNR-STIIMA, Lecco, Italy

    Marco Sacco

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Sow, M.C., Assila, A., Garcia, D., Martinez, S., Zghal, M., Baudry, D. (2023). Towards the Development of a Digital Twin for Micro Learning Factory: A Proof of Concept. In: De Paolis, L.T., Arpaia, P., Sacco, M. (eds) Extended Reality. XR Salento 2023. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 14218. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-43401-3_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-43401-3_19

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-43401-3

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