Model Based Systems Engineering applied to Digital Twin engineering: why and how to?
Résumé
In addition to inheriting concepts and methodological principles from System Engineering, Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) emphasizes the role of modelling and models in engineering processes. Different types of models are then constructed and used, each being a digital representation of a system that is undeniably partial, but also necessary. It highlights and enables the analysis of certain characteristics of this system, e.g. its behaviour, its functions or its composition to make relevant design choices. Digital Twins are the ultimate representation of a system, expected to be faithful and realistic for the purpose they serve, as well as to be connected and synchronized to the modelled physical asset. Hence, they support stakeholders to manage, train or optimize the target system when implemented and put into operation. However, defining and engineering Digital Twins remains a difficult process, with little methodology available to build and ensure it remains faithful to a continuously evolving reality. MBSE provides concepts and a methodological framework that are well adapted to solve complex engineering problems with many constraints. This position paper introduces a MBSE based Digital Twin engineering framework foundation, applied to an manufacturing system.