What are digital twins, and how are they used in engineering?

The answer

A digital twin is a real-time virtual replica of a physical object, system, or process, continuously updated with data from sensors on its real-world counterpart. NASA pioneered the concept to monitor spacecraft, and today digital twins simulate entire cities for urban planning, model wind turbines to predict maintenance needs, and replicate human organs for personalized medical treatment planning. Singapore has built a digital twin of the entire city-state. The global digital twin market is expected to exceed $110 billion by 2028, transforming manufacturing, healthcare, and infrastructure management.