DIGITAL TWIN AND 6G: CHALLENGES, ARCHITECTURES, AND FU-TURE RESEARCH DIRECTIONS

Abstract

Due to the popularity of implementation of the fifth-generation (5G) mobile communication systems, the focus of research in the wireless community is now moving towards creating sixth-generation (6G) networks. Although 5G has been largely oriented towards assisting the greater industrial use, it is believed that 6G will be a basic infrastructure in the next generation of intelligent, autonomous and data-driven industries. In our perspective, this development is a major leap to high integrated cyber-physical systems.

Digital twin is expected to be a central part of this change. Digital twins have the potential to greatly enhance the monitoring, optimization, and decision-making of a system because they can help implement real-time virtual representations of physical entities. Together with the ultra-low latency, high reliability and enormous connectivity that 6G offers, digital twins will allow new applications in a variety of industrial and societal processes. Our convergence is deemed to be an important facilitator of intelligent environment in the future.

The present paper is a review of recent studies on digital twin technologies enabled by 6G technology. We consider new architecture, information and computing structures, and modeling of application scenarios. Moreover, we address the issue of key technical challenges as well as outline potential opportunities of future research that still needs to be tackled to achieve the full potential of digital twins in the 6G ecosystem.