Purdue University recently hosted the DigiTwin 2024 conference, bringing together experts to explore the latest developments in digital twin technologies—virtual models designed to simulate and optimize real-world systems.
The conference, held from October 15 to 16, 2024, focused on how these technologies can drive “sustainability, safety, and resilience” in manufacturing. The event ran in parallel with the 4th Digital Twin International Conference in Milan, Italy.
Purdue Polytechnic plays a central role as an organizer. Ragu Athinarayanan and Xingyu Li, both faculty in Purdue Polytechnic’s School of Engineering Technology, are key members of the organizing committee, coordinating efforts to bring together speakers, participants, and resources for the two-day event.
Athinarayanan and Li are joined on the organizing committee by Martin Jun from the School of Mechanical Engineering (who also co-directs Purdue’s Smart Manufacturing Innovation Center with Athinarayanan) and Thorsten Wuest from the University of South Carolina’s College of Engineering and Computing.
Li spoke at the conference, sharing insights on how digital twin technologies can enhance operational efficiency and drive innovation in manufacturing processes.
The conference featured a range of presentations and technical sessions, with several Purdue faculty and industry partners from Microsoft and Accenture, for instance, sharing their expertise. Discussions covered topics such as manufacturing automation, sustainability, and system interoperability.
Highlights from technical sessions included:
- “Physics-Based Digital Twins for Hydraulic Equipment,” presented by Jose Garcia-Bravo from the School of Engineering Technology.
- “Efforts toward Enhancing Digital Twin Capability with Manufacturing Automation for Sustainability,” led by Chandra Nath, Senior Research Associate in Environmental and Ecological Engineering at Purdue.
- “Digital Twin: A Potential Platform for Enhancing Sustainability and Climate Resiliency in Agricultural and Food Sectors,” presented by Suranjan Panigrahi from the School of Engineering Technology.
The event concluded with a Best Poster award competition, showcasing innovative student research. Presenters explored topics such as autonomous robotics, extended reality, and cloud-based manufacturing solutions.
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