Digital triplet

1. The physical entity can be a person, physical asset, or a physical architecture (building or complex integrated system such as a utility grid). The physical entity is the subject that is assessed, monitored, and evaluated (the “as-is”) to improve functioning and/or outcomes.
2. The digital twin models the physical entity’s state and dynamics using data-driven and knowledge-based methods.  It is a virtual representation (the digital representation of the “as-is”) of the physical entity that can be monitored and evaluated. It may include a single system or a full virtual blueprint of all systems and interactions. In the case of a physical asset, a digital twin includes the asset’s technical specifications and operational history. It processes real-time data collected from edge devices and operations, as well as from diagnostic tests or monitoring devices attached to the physical entity. In addition to complex monitoring, the digital twin can incorporate causal inference techniques to identify cause and effect relationships among variables and the potential effects of interventions (the digital “could-be”).  

3. The digital triplet: Intelligent advisor that allows the user to interrogate the digital twin. This functionality is provided through two AI technologies: GenAI to generate scenarios and XAI to communicate GenAI results to a human expert in an understandable way.

• Generative AI (GenAI) uses information provided by a digital twin to help interpret the data and explore additional and more complex hypothetical scenarios through a scenario generator. Its methods may include reinforcement learning, simulation, or optimization to generate and evaluate scenarios according to different objectives and constraints, such as maximizing efficacy, minimizing side effects, visualizing unintended impacts, reducing costs, or aligning with policy guidelines and organizational policies and preferences. The digital triplet can also use extended capabilities to generate realistic and high-quality images of assets or ecosystems in addition to text responses.
• Explainable AI (XAI) communicates the results of GenAI scenario generation to a human expert in a transparent and understandable way. It uses natural language (text or speech), visualization, or interactive dialogue to present scenarios, highlight differences and similarities, justify recommendations, and answer questions from the human expert. Pairing this ability with routing capabilities and mobile device data, such as location, moves solutions from monitoring of stationary screens, to provide actionable insights directly to the most appropriate individuals. Explainable AI can also elicit feedback from the expert and use it to refine the scenarios or generate new ones. 

Healthcare

Digital triplets can help personalize preventative medicine, diagnostics and treatment protocols. For diagnostics, the digital triplet can help improve the accuracy and speed of diagnosis by integrating and analyzing multiple sources of data. For treatment protocols, the digital triplet can present the scenarios to the healthcare provider and the patient, explain the pros and cons of each option, and recommend the best treatment. For Cancer Care the digital triplet can help tailor the treatment to the specific molecular profile and dynamics of the tumor. 

Manufacturing

Digital triplets enhance manufacturing operations, improve decision-making, shorten time to action and optimize factory processes. They bridge the gap between the physical world and allow decision-makers to further explore the virtual representation, leading to more efficient and resilient factories. Some examples include layout design validation, production bottleneck, prediction, process automation, real-time decision making, such as to assist in production scheduling and resource allocation and faster response to real-time events.

Utilities

The digital triplet can support infrastructure optimization and assessment. By creating a digital triplet of their entire infrastructure, they can simulate various scenarios such as network expansion, asset health monitoring, asset investigation/repair interventions, grid resilience, load forecasting, energy storage integration, renewable energy integration, demand response programs, cybersecurity preparedness, regulatory compliance, emergency preparedness and customer engagement.

ESG Metrics 

Digital triplets offer business potential by predicting the future instead of analyzing the past. For instance, a manufacturing company can use a digital triplet to track and better explore real-time energy consumption, waste production, and carbon emissions. By monitoring and validating scenario options on Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) metrics, organizations can make informed decisions and improve their ESG performance.

Transportation

The digital triplet can support real-time safety protocols to operators by ingesting real-time scenarios and providing feedback regarding various actions and protocols as well as the next best action as a situation evolves with equipment malfunction or schedule route detours or delays. In transportation the digital triplet can provide more in-context information on route optimization and estimated time of arrivals in shipping and receiving – allowing the planning teams to better adjust dependencies and communicate across a supply chain.

Property Management

Digital triplets can support property and building management by helping to action sensor data, whether that be in making energy-saving decisions tied to historical usage or predicted usage during a forecasted weather event or planned activity. Application of digital triplets to in-dwelling sensor monitoring can enable support for and by the residents with directed, proactive messages. Residents can quickly take actions such as ventilating a damp space before mold proliferates or investigating a suspected leak before a maintenance team would be able to gain access to the site. In this way digital triplets can not only improve resolution, but also prevent costly or dangerous outcomes.