Evaluation of digital twin synchronization in robotic assembly using YOLOv8

In the age of Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing, traditional production processes are undergoing significant changes due to the integration of advanced technologies like automation, robotics, big data analytics, and machine learning, which are enhancing productivity and manufacturing efficiency. The center of this evolution is the introduction of the digital twin (DT), the digital replicas of physical assets that blend real-time data with advanced analytics and simulations. Ensuring synchronization between the digital replica and its physical counterpart is crucial for successfully implementing digital twins. This paper addresses the challenge of achieving and quantifying synchronization within DTs, focusing on replicating physical system behavior and measuring deviations or delays. The study delves into the critical aspects of synchronization within digital twin applications, focusing on its implications for a robotic assembly system. The research successfully harnessed YOLOv8 to facilitate real-time event tracking and synchronization characterization, highlighting the potential of object detection deep-learning models in enhancing synchronization accuracy and, consequently, the efficiency and reliability of manufacturing processes.