Digital Twin

Peter von Rohr

Background

• Economic context of (dairy) farms

• Legislative restrictions

• Environmental impact

Digital Tools

• Aim: Tools helpful for user reducing time required for certain task

• Many of current projects

  • Paper is replaced by smart phone, tablet or PC

  • Increase of time spent for administrative tasks

Example Projects

• Sesam: Sensor Based Alpine Milk Production (EU Interreg B Project: 2018-2023)

• CFIT: Video based prediction of feed intake of cows

SESAM I

Sensor-based activity of cows

SESAM II

Activity data used to predict behavior

CFIT

• Prediction of feed intake based on video data

• See at: https://youtu.be/XDC-C33HpEw?si=jB3-rgxHT11x-au1

Digital Twin I

• Integrate all available data from a farm and from environment into a simulation system

• Comprehensive digital twin solutions for dairy farms are still in development

Digital Twin II

• Companies like

  • xFarm Technologies, in collaboration with Precision Farming Network (https://xfarm.ag/en/blog-posts/xfarm-technologies-e-precision-farming-network-pfn-costruiscono-il-primo-digital-twin-per-attrezzature-agricole-sempre-piu-connesse-it)

  • FORCE Technology, in partnership with Alexandra Institute, Arla Foods, and SPX FLOW (https://forcetechnology.com/en/cases/kold-college-digital-twin-pasteurisation-plant)

Digital Twin III

Conclusions

• Real benefit results only from changing systems

• Digitalisation is not the replacement of paper by devices

• Large projects require large financial power

• Politics needs to be supportive