This section is based on the publications:

[1] Barbie, A., & Hasselbring, W. (2024). From Digital Twins to Digital Twin Prototypes: Concepts, Formalization, and Applications. IEEE Access. https://doi.org/10.1109/access.2024.3406510

[2] Barbie, A., & Hasselbring, W. (2024). Toward Reproducibility of Digital Twin Research: Exemplified with the PiCar-X. arXiv preprint arXiv:2408.13866. https://doi.org/10.48550/ARXIV.2408.13866

Context

A digital template serves as a framework that can be tailored or populated with specific information to generate the physical twin. It encompasses the software operating the physical twin, its digital model, and all the essential information needed for constructing and sustaining the physical twin, such as blueprints, bills of materials, technical manuals, and similar documentation [2].

The following components can be identified for the digital template:

Definition

A digital template serves as a framework that can be tailored or populated with specific information to generate the physical twin. It encompasses the software operating the physical twin, its digital model, and all the essential information needed for constructing and sustaining the physical twin, such as blueprints, bills of materials, technical manuals, and similar documentation.

Key Points:

  • Combines the physical twin’s software, digital models, blueprints, and documentation.
  • Provides the structure and data needed to recreate or understand the physical twin.
  • In the case of the PiCar-X, the digital template includes software, a CAD model, and documentation on materials and schematics.

The Digital Template of the PiCar-X

The following components can be identified for the digital template:

The current configuration lacks the blueprints for key hardware components such as servo and DC motors. Ideally, a complete digital template would encompass all necessary assets to replicate the \pt from scratch. However, this scenario is often impractical, as most machines are composed of various components, and it is rare for a single company to manufacture every part [2].

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