Function descriptions

Create digital twin templates

FactVerse Designer provides two methods to create digital twin templates to meet different needs:

1. Customizing from preset templates: The Virtual Factory DLC comes with a collection of common templates, such as source, conveyors, AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles), and more, frequently used in factory settings. Users can choose one of these preset templates as a starting point and then customize and edit it to adapt to specific scenes and requirements. This approach simplifies and expedites the process of creating digital twin templates.

2. Creating new templates from scratch: FactVerse Designer also supports users in creating templates from scratch. You can start by adding resources and gradually setting the attributes and parameters of the template. This means you can fully customize and design a template from scratch that suits your specific scene, based on your needs and ideas. You can add the required components, define their attributes and behaviors, and create a completely new template that meets your requirements.

Example 1: Customize a preset queue template

In this example, we will use the preset Queue template from the Virtual Factory DLC to create a customized queue template that allows users to modify the “Width of Goods,” “Length of Goods,” and “Height of Goods” attribute values when using the template to create queue. Follow the steps below:

1. Click the Open button below the Digital Twin Template on the left side of the homepage to open the template editor.

2. In the prompt window, choose the “Queue” template and click the Open button to open the “Queue” template in the Template Editor.

3. Click the Save As button  to open the Save As window.

4. In the Save As window, choose the storage directory, specify the template name, and then click Confirm to complete the template’s save as process.

5. In the Digital Twin Template pane, select the Width of Goods under the Storage structure. In the Attribute Pane on the right side, check the option Show in the Digital Twin. By selecting this option, you can edit the product width when using this template to generate queue.

6. In the Digital Twin Template pane, select the Length of Goods under the Storage structure. In the Attribute Pane on the right side, check the option Show in the Digital Twin.

7. In the Digital Twin Template pane, select the Height of Goods under the Storage structure. In the Attribute Pane on the right side, check the option Show in the Digital Twin.

8. Click the Save button  to save the template.

Example 2: Create a brand-new source template

In this section, we will demonstrate the process of creating a brand-new source template to demonstrate the basic steps of building a template from scratch.

Create a new source template

1. Click the New button below the Digital Twin Template on the left side of the homepage to open the template editor.

2. In the template editor, drag and drop the desired model resource from Resources into the Scene Area. In this example, we will use the DLC Source model (<DLC Storage path>/chuangjianqi).

3. Click on the Libraries tab and find the following resources in the Digital Twin Content category. Drag and drop each of them into the scene:

• • Name Panel
  • Progress Bar
  • Output port

Once added, all resources will be visible under the Resources section of the Digital Twin Template pane.

4. In the Scene Area, drag and place the Name Panel, Progress Bar, and Output Port around the source in suitable positions.

5. Click the Save button in the toolbar to open the Save window.

6. In the Save window, enter the template information and click the Save button.

• • Name: The name of the digital twin template. Note: The template name must be unique.
  • Storage Location: The storage location for the digital twin template.

7. In the prompt window for successful saving, click the OK button to complete the template upload.

Add the main function structure

1. In the Digital Twin Template pane, click on the ellipsis (︙) next to Metadata and select Add Structure.

2. Scroll down and find the newly added structure “Part_1.” Click on “Part_1” and modify the structure name to “Main Function” in the Attribute Pane.

3. Click on the ellipsis (︙) next to the Main Function structure and select Add Attribute from the list. Choose the data type Double for the attribute. This step adds a new attribute “Attribute_1” to the Main Function structure.

4. In the Digital Twin Template pane, click on “Attribute_1.”

As shown in the figure below, modify the attribute name to “Interval for Generating Digital Twins” in the Attribute Pane and make the following settings:

• • Unit: “s”
  • Default value: “3”
  • Check the Show in the Digital Twin By checking this option, users can edit this attribute when using this template to generate digital twins in the Scene Editor.

5. Click on the ellipsis (︙) next to the Main Function structure and select Add Attribute from the list. Choose the data type Double for the attribute. This step adds a new attribute “Attribute_1” to the Main Function structure.

6. In the Digital Twin Template pane, click on “Attribute_1.”

As shown in the figure below, modify the attribute name to “Timer for Generating Digital Twins” in the Attribute Pane and make the following settings:

• • Unit: “s”;
  • Default value: “1”;
  • Check the Show in the Digital Twin

7. Following the above steps, add a new attribute of data type “String.” As shown in the figure below, modify the attribute name to “Identifier for Generating Digital Twins” in the Attribute Pane and make the following settings:

• • Purpose: Select “Digital Twin Template”
  • Check the Show in the Digital Twin

8. In the Resources section, select the Progress bar. Modify the Progress Bar Attributes in the Attribute Pane, setting the Current Value to “Timer for Generating Digital Twins” and the Maximum Value to “Interval for Generating Digital Twins.”

11. Click the Save button in the toolbar to save the template.

Add IoT data

1. In the Digital Twin Template pane, click on the ellipsis (︙) next to Metadata and select Add Structure.

2. Scroll down and find the newly added structure “Part_1.” Click on “Part_1” and modify the structure name to “IoT” in the Attribute Pane.

3. Under the IoT structure, add “Time interval for raw material input ” (double type), “Running time” (Time type), ” Input quantity of raw materials ” (double type), and ” Total raw materials ” (double type).

4. Click the Save button in the toolbar to save the template.

Create a behavior tree for the source

To create a new behavior tree for the source template in Example 2:

1. In the Digital Twin Template pane, click ︙ next to the Behavior Tree column and select Create Behavior Tree to create a new behavior tree.

2. In the opened window, choose the storage path and fill in the behavior tree name.

3. Click the New button to complete the creation of the behavior tree.

4. Click the Save button in the toolbar to save the template.

Edit the behavior tree for the source

The newly created behavior tree “Behavior Tree of Source” in Step 4.1.2.3 contains only a root node. In this section, we will add nodes and their execution conditions to the ” Behavior Tree of Source”.

1. In the Digital Twin Template pane, double-click the newly created “Behavior Tree of Source 1” under the Behavior Tree column to open the behavior tree editor.

2. Add a Sequence Node to the “Behavior Tree of Source”:

a). In the left pane of Composite Nodes, drag and drop the Sequence Node into the editing area.

b). Connect the Root Node (Input) to the Sequence Node. For connection methods, please refer to Node operations.

c). Click the root node and press the “L” key to automatically format the tree.

3. Add a Set Attribute node to the “Behavior Tree of Source”:

a). In the left pane of Digital Twin nodes, drag and drop the Set Attribute node into the editing area.

b). Connect the Sequence Node to the Set Attribute

c). Click the root node and press the “L” key to automatically format the tree.

4. Add a Selector Node to the “Behavior Tree of Source”:

a). In the left pane of Composite Nodes, drag and drop the Selector Node into the editing area.

b). Connect the Sequence Node to the Selector Node.

c). Click the root node and press the “L” key to automatically format the tree.

5. Add an idle node:

a). In the left panel of Tools nodes, find the Idle node and drag it into the editing area.

b). Connect the Selector Node to the Idle node.

c). Set the running condition of the Idle node, click the Idle node, and select Whether the Port Already Exist Digital Twin.

6. Add a Sequence Node:

a). In the left pane of Composite Nodes, find the Sequence Node and drag it into the editing area.

b). Connect the Selector Node to the Sequence Node.

7. Add a Wait node:

a). In the left pane of Tools Nodes, find the Wait node and drag it into the editing area.

b). Connect the Wait node to the Sequence Node.

c). Set the attributes of the Wait node:

Waiting Time

• • • Get location: Attribute of Digital Twin
    • Digital twin attribute: Interval for generating digital twins

Store the current waiting time into an attribute

• • • Attribute source: Attribute of Digital Twin
    • Strategy for Setting Values: Replace the Original value
    • Digital twin attribute: Timer for Generating Digital Twins

8. Add a Create Digital Twin Node: Add a node for producing items to the generator.

a). In the left pane of Digital Twin Node, find the Create Digital Twin node and drag it into the editing area.

b). Connect the Sequence Node to the Create Digital Twin

c). Set the attributes of the Create Digital Twin node:

• • • The Template Used to Create the Digital Twin: Identifier for Generating Digital Twins
    • Create the Location of the Digital Twin: Ports-> position of ports
    • Create a Rotation of the Digital Twin: 0, 0, 0

9. Add an Addition node:

a). In the left pane of Math Node, find the Addition node and drag it into the editing area

b). Connect the Sequence node to the Addition node.

c). Set the node attributes:

• • • Addend: 1
    • Function_ Get Value
      • • Get position: Attribute of Digital Twin
        • Digital twin attribute: Amount of Raw Material Input
    • Function_ Set Value:
      • • Attribute source: Digital twin attribute
        • Strategy for setting values: Replace the original value
        • Digital twin attribute: Amount of Raw Material Input

10. Add a Set Digital Twins to the Port node:

a). In the left pane of Port Nodes, find the Set Digital Twins to the Port node and drag it into the editing area.

b). Connect the Sequence Node to the Set Digital Twins to the Port node.

c). Set the attributes of the node:

• • • Ports name: Output port_1
    • Digital Twin Set in Port: “Current Digital Twin”

11. Click the Save button  in the toolbar to save the behavior tree.

Create digital twins

Digital twins are elements in the digital twin scene used to simulate and showcase specific entities or devices, such as sources, conveyors, AGVs, and more. In FactVerse Designer, you can use pre-designed templates from the Virtual Factory DLC or create new digital twin templates according to your needs to build digital twins.

In this section, we will use the generator template created in Example 2 to create a digital twin named “Source 2” and add it to the scene. Here are the steps:

1. Click the Open button below the Scene section on the homepage to open the scene selection window.

2. Browse the scene directory, select the scene you want to open, and click on it to open the Scene Editor.

3. In the Scene Editor, click  in the Digital Twin tab of Resources to open the new digital twin window.

4. In the new digital twin window, enter the digital twin’s name as “Source 2,” select the digital twin template “Source Template” and set the digital twin’s storage location.

5. Click the Confirm button to complete the creation of the source.

6. In the storage directory, find the newly created “Source 2” and drag it into the Scene Area.

By following these steps, you have successfully created a digital twin named “Source 2” using the source template and added it to the scene. Now, you can proceed with other editing operations, such as setting digital twin attributes and behaviors, performing path planning, and more, to build a complete digital twin scene.

Path planning

In the digital twin scene, each digital twin needs a scene route to constrain its movement trajectory when performing actions such as transportation and transfer, ensuring that it can only move within the designated route.

Within FactVerse Designer, the path planning feature allows you to mark points and draw lines in the 3D digital twin scene while specifying the route direction.

Path planning describes the movable range information in the digital twin scene, which consists of a directed connected graph formed by a series of movable key points. The path planning feature includes the following components:

1. Key Points: Key points are marked in the scene and serve as vertices in the connected graph.

2. Connectivity: Connectivity defines the relationships between key points, including whether they can be connected and the direction of the connections, forming a directed graph.

3. Path: Paths are specified as a series of consecutive vertices in the connected graph, creating a fixed movement route for digital twins.

The basic process of creating paths is as follows:

1. In the scene editing interface, click the path map button  in the toolbar to enter the Path Planning interface.

2. Once in the Path Planning interface, use the construction mode to create points. Points will be created on the plane based on the default construction height (0).

3. The newly created points are connected in the default direction, i.e., forward from the current point to the next one.

4. In selection mode, click on points and lines to modify their positions and connection directions.

Construction mode

In the construction mode, you can create key points by left clicking on any area in the scene and then move the mouse and click again to create the next key point. The two key points will be automatically connected with the default direction.

To improve the efficiency of path construction, you can configure the default construction settings in the upper left corner of the scene, including the key point height and connection direction.

• • Height: All points created in construction mode will have this height.
  • Path Direction: All points created in construction mode will be connected to the next one in this direction.

As points are constructed in the scene, corresponding entries will appear in the left-side point list pane, following the naming rule “Point+Num” by default.

After creating the key points, you can perform the following operations:

• • Rename or delete points.
  • When a point is selected, you can precisely adjust its position data through the coordinate input box in the right-side properties pane.
  • When the line connecting two key points is selected, clicking the direction arrow options in the right-side attribute pane can switch the connection direction between the two points.

Selection mode

In the selection mode, you can drag the scene to move the entire view and also select key points to modify their positions.

Visual operational debugging

In the scene preview interface, a debugging window is added to achieve the visualization of behavior tree traversal. The debugging window simplifies the process of debugging the behavior tree by providing a clear visualization. The adjustment of digital twin attributes in Attribute Pane allows for easy monitoring and optimizing the production line as needed.

• The “Behavior Tree Pane” displays the real-time execution status of the selected digital twin’s behavior tree. Nodes that are currently executing are shown in light blue, nodes that have not been executed are shown in dark blue, and green and red colors represent successful and failed return values of these nodes, respectively.

• The “Attribute Pane” of the digital twin can be used to change the digital twin’s attribute values and observe the scene performance after the numerical changes.

• The log pane is used to print the output of Log nodes in the behavior tree.

Business data dashboard

The Business data dashboard can be used to display real-time IoT data and simulated data. Users can select data in the attribute pane, and set the background, text color, font size, and data prefix.

The following are the general steps to bind simulated data:

1. Drag the Business data dashboard tool into the scene.

2. Adjust the position and size of the dashboard, attaching it to the digital twin by dragging anchor points.

3. Select the business data dashboard, and configure its font size, text color and alignment in the attribute pane.

4. Choose the content to display, such as the attribute names of digital twins.

5. Set the title of the dashboard.

6. Click on +Select Twins.

7. After clicking + Select Twins, a list of digital twins in the scene will appear. You can search for digital twins by name. In the list of selected digital twins, find the digital twin you want to bind and click to select it.

After selecting a digital twin, the original + Select Digital Twin button will display the name of the chosen digital twin. Clicking on this name will bring up the list of digital twins for reselection.

8. After selecting a digital twin, the attributes of the digital twin will be displayed below the digital twin ‘s name. Click to select the attribute data you want to display.

9. Click the play button  in the upper right corner of the page to preview the effect.

Adjust scene perspective

In FactVerse Designer, you can adjust the scene perspective in various ways to better observe and edit the scene. Here are some commonly used methods for adjusting the scene perspective:

• • Rotate View: Hold the right mouse button to drag the entire view. The mouse cursor will change to a magnifying glass, allowing the user to observe the model from all angles.
  • Adjust Baseline Height: Use Shift + Left mouse button to quickly adjust the baseline height.
  • Zoom space: You can zoom in and out by scrolling the mouse wheel. Scrolling up will zoom in, and scrolling down will zoom out.
  • Drag Scene: You can drag the scene by holding down the mouse wheel or clicking the scene area and hold the left mouse button to drag the entire scene. This allows you to move the scene horizontally or vertically for better viewing.

Modify scene rendering environment

The rendering environment of a scene refers to the lighting effects set in the virtual scene, simulating the propagation, reflection, and refraction of light in the scene. It can affect the appearance, lighting, and shadow effects of objects, enhancing the realism and authenticity of the scene.

In FactVerse Designer, newly created scenes do not have specific rendering effects by default. You can choose from the system’s provided built-in rendering environments or customize the rendering environment for your scene to make the virtual environment more realistic and immersive.

To modify the rendering environment of a scene, you can follow these steps:

1. Click on the Settings menu and select Change rendering environment from the dropdown menu. You can open the Change rendering environment window.

2. In the Change rendering environment window, you can choose one of the following system-built skybox:

• • None: No specific environment rendering effects
  • Default
  • Cloudy outdoors
  • Empty hall
  • Streets in the city
  • Abandoned warehouse
  • Spacious and bright warehouse
  • Old and cluttered factory
  • Cozy and neat kitchen

You can also create a custom rendering environment to suit the scene’s background and sky effects for different scene requirements and creative purposes.

Steps for custom reflection environment:

1. Prepare six images: These images should correspond to the front, back, left, right, top, and bottom directions of the rendering environment. The images should be in PNG format and follow English naming conventions (Front, Back, Left, Right, Top, Bottom).

2. Compress these images into a zip file and change its extension to .dmcm.

3. Upload this .dmcm file to the resource library on the DataMesh FactVerse Services platform.

4. In FactVerse Designer, click on the Settings menu and select Change rendering environment from the dropdown menu to open the Change rendering environment window.

5. In the Change rendering environment window, select the Custom tab and click to Select rendering environment.

6. In the window for Select rendering environment, find the uploaded .dmcm file.

7. After selecting the file, click the Confirm button to complete the customization of the scene’s rendering environment.