Prototwinning
In all engineering disciplines a combination of digital and physical models is necessary to support the progression of the design process, with each model and iteration thereof generating new understanding and knowledge to inform decision-making.
A huge amount of work goes into managing these models, transferring between the physical and digital worlds, updating designs, and trying to align the information that each model and prototype provides.
But imagine instead that all models were intelligently linked across the digital and physical worlds. Where design changes in any model automatically update the others. Where test results are automatically shared and integrated wherever they are most useful. Where the physical world and digital world in engineering grow together and take the best of both, with no need for systems or work to bridge the gap between.
Prototwinning is a 5-year program in which we are seeking to develop the next generation of fully integrated digital / physical models and systems, facilitating seamless transition between them.
Prototwinning Projects
Recent Prototwinning Posts
BAM Promotional Video and Blog
We have been working with our marketing team at the University to provide some new content and material to dessiminate the work and vision of a Brokered Additive Manufactured future.
UoB engineering students learn how to develop Digital Twins for products and production facilities
Two groups of final year Mechanical Engineering students at the University of Bristol spent the first half of 2021 working on Digital Twin-based projects. The students have used many of the tools, methods, and expertise within the DETI consortia to design, develop and implement from first principles the foundations of Digital Twins for a product […]
The democratisation of design and new paradigms for global manufacture
Last week I gave a talk for La Universidad de Los Andes (Uniandes) in Bogota about the democratisation of design and new paradigms for manufacture which were the themes for my doctoral research. It was great to share this with colleagues at Uniandes and have a go at an extended talk in Spanish! Follow the […]
The Machines are Talking!
The team have been in full flow following the Brokering Additive Manufacturing meeting and created the base code that turns AM machines into agents that can talk with another.
Coupling Remanufacture with Generative Design
With the development of tools and methodologies for remanufacture becoming more prominent in the field of Engineering Design research, the capability to pick up and directly modify many of the products physically embodied around us is taking shape beyond the set of a sci-fi movie. Where in the past to manufacture a product required specialist, […]
Game Engines for Research
Over the summer, we employed some of our undergraduate engineering students to help out with research projects as summer interns. They explored a range of opportunities and a bunch of cutting edge tech and ideas, such as Brain Controlled Interfaces for Design; Gesture-driven CAD and Immersive Prototyping. To enrich their time with the lab, many of […]
Technical Debt – No Time To Pay
In recent years there has been a lot of talk about technical debt in various fields. Technical debt is the cost that an individual or a group of people will incur in future for hasty decisions in the present, which are often motivated by lack of resources and/or time. Photo by Scott Umstattd on Unsplash […]
DETI EC5.1 – Digital Thread: Phase Two Report Released
The second of three reports as part of EC5.1 has been released by DETI and concerns the reported practice in the Digitial Thread.