Contrasting Capabilities: A Comparative Analysis of Simulation and Digital Twin Technologies

In the realm of advanced manufacturing, confusion often surrounds the distinction between Digital Twin (DT) and simulation due to their complementary nature. While they appear similar, they are fundamentally different concepts. This chapter considers capability-based frameworksCapability-based frameworks to characterize and classify DT and simulation. Specifically, it uses the 4R framework for DT, from the literature, and proposes an analogous one (4S framework) for simulation. By comparing the definitions and levels of capability of DT and simulation using these frameworks, this chapter identifies similarities and differences in capability between these two technologies. Ultimately, this chapter aims to clarify these differences and provide a comprehensive comparison between the two, to prevent future ambiguity on this topic. The conclusion of this study is that differences in capabilities between the two technologies can be observed in data flows, real-time aspects, predictive timelines, optimization approaches, and level of autonomy.