Intralogistic solutions company Dematic, which is headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., has announced the release of Dematic iQ Virtual.
Dematic iQ Virtual is described as a “facility emulation and simulation platform that provides an isolated, digital environment where users can safely explore a solution before going live.” This will allow facilities managers to assess the impact of software or operational changes and updates without negatively affecting the day-to-day operations.
Or, in other words, it’s a digital twin for warehouses and factories. You probably guessed that from the headline.
Not only that, but it is a VR-enabled digital twin, which can enable users to take a virtual walk through the facility in question. Cool stuff.
The new software platform will allow users to monitor their Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled warehouses over a range of areas, including the ability to:
• Confirm software functional capabilities and customizations with a model that closely represents the planned or actual facility
• Validate software integrations, as well as computer hardware and network compatibility and requirements
• Develop realistic estimates of throughput rates for maximum load and other defined scenarios (e.g., high volume days, regular days and low-volume days)
• Diagnose bottlenecks and anomalies, and evaluate their impacts
• Test what-if scenarios for exception handling, alternative load handling strategies, or new software implementations without expensive pilot programs or operational disturbances
By using a virtual model to validate and visualize future facility changes, users will be able to mitigate risk, maximize uptime, and avoid unnecessary costs in the real world.
Dematic iQ Virtual uses advanced gaming and 3D graphic-rendering technologies, as well as proprietary physics algorithms to accurately portray the flow of work and inventory through the real-world facility in question.
Dematic iQ Virtual can display its 3D simulations on a standard monitor screen, or users can explore their digital warehouse firsthand using a virtual reality headset and controls.
Warehouse facility company Kion Group has already taken the software for a spin and is pleased with the results.
“Never before have we been able to perform this level of comprehensive end-to-end software testing and offer customers the opportunity to visualize and understand how potential scenarios could impact the effectiveness of their facilities,” said Samuel Oosterhu is, senior manager, Virtual Facility Development, Kion Group.
“It is also really interesting that due to the visual aspect of the emulation brought about by the gaming factor in the solution, we can now address a greater range of individuals within a customer’s organization because it is less conceptual and more realistic on so many levels.”
If you happen to own a warehouse, or be in charge of such a facility’s software procurement, then you can head over to the Dematic website to find out more about the product.