Virtual Instrumentation for Digital Twin-Based Monitoring of Manufacturing Systems

Abstract

Digital Twin implementation in production engineering requires
a reliable instrumentation layer between the physical system and its digital representation. This paper proposes a platform-independent, requirement-oriented virtual instrumentation framework for staged Digital Twin-based monitoring. The framework distinguishes three levels of digital representation: Digital Model, Digital Shadow and Digital Twin. For each level, implementation requirements are organized using Ishikawa diagrams adapted as requirement maps. The framework covers modeling, sensing, data acquisition, signal processing, visualization, synchronization and feedback-oriented support. A beam-deflection monitoring setup illustrates the intended measurement and representation chain. National Instruments data-acquisition hardware and LabVIEW software are used as one implementation option, not as limiting components of the framework. The proposed methodology supports systematic planning of monitoring, diagnostics, predictive maintenance and decision-support applications in smart manufacturing.