Confirm researcher Dr Radhya Sahal is investigating how technology can enable smart distributed manufacturing with a focus on real-time operational data analytics.
Dr Radhya Sahal is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Smart 4.0 Fellow at Confirm, Science Foundation Ireland research center for smart manufacturing.
She received her MSc and PhD in Computer Science at Cairo University. She went on to a postdoctoral position at the University of Galway, and is now based at University College Cork.
Sahal’s research interests include blockchain, digital twins, big data, Internet of Things (IoT), Industry 4.0, smart manufacturing, smart cities, power processing and query optimization over large-scale distributed computing systems.
“Developing blockchain-based digital twin collaboration can potentially serve distributed manufacturing by providing insights to make decisions smarter”
– DR RADHYA SAHAL
Tell us about the research you are currently working on.
My current research work focuses on digital twin collaboration in distributed manufacturing. Digital twins play an important role in improving distributed manufacturing by providing up-to-date operational data representations of physical assets, which support decision-making to avoid potential risks in distributed manufacturing systems.
However, using digital twin collaboration to predict the risks in distributed manufacturing systems and reach consensus-based decisions faces many challenges, including data interoperability, authentication, and scalability.
Therefore, the combination of blockchain and digital twin technology has significant advantages in meeting the challenges of digital twin collaboration for smart distributed manufacturing in a decentralized manner.
Our project aims to build a concrete ledger-based collaborative digital twin system for smart distributed production, with a focus on real-time operational data analysis.
In your opinion, why is your research important?
All research work is important for generating new knowledge and technologies to deal with major unsolved problems.
Regarding our research, we believe that our work can be a step towards smart distributed manufacturing focusing on real-time operational data analysis. Furthermore, we investigate how blockchain technology can strengthen digital twin collaboration to provide a smart concrete solution for distributed production.
From a commercial point of view, digital twin technology is used today across different industries at different stages – from the products being manufactured to being consumed. Furthermore, the digital twin collaboration will be a crucial concept for creating an end-to-end improved virtual representation of distributed production systems – for example in energy, rail, logistics, healthcare, consumer products and so on.
Moreover, it will change the industrial way the world works by combining blockchain, AI, IoT, edge/cloud and other advanced technologies. Therefore, development of blockchain-based digital twin collaboration can potentially serve distributed manufacturing by providing insights to make decisions smarter.
What inspired you to become a researcher?
My curious attitude since I was young and the beautiful environment that gave me more than I could handle in terms of mysteries. This developed into a more scientific orientation; little by little I started computer science and learned something new every day.
After that, I started thinking about doing research to gain a deeper understanding of the scientific process. After the first article I published, I became addicted to research.
What are some of the biggest challenges or misconceptions you face as a researcher in your field?
Many challenges still exist in bridging the physical worlds to digital worlds. The digital twin technology needs several years to be adopted in all production sectors. As a result, my research is still at an early stage.
The digital twin collaboration is still in the concept stage to demonstrate broad industrial adoption and become well-defined engineering practice in industry. Moreover, the lack of mature and stable technologies stands in the way of the development of a concrete end-to-end collaborative digital twin system for smart distributed production.
Do you think public engagement in science has changed in recent years?
The Covid-19 era has reshaped the world in terms of the economy, healthcare, remote work environment, people’s lifestyles and daily routines, etc. It is clear that public engagement in science has changed.
Covid-19 restrictions also created a major challenge for the marketing industries, forcing them to quickly adapt contactless marketing to meet consumer needs while maintaining expectations to achieve desired growth. Consequently, the digital transformation for businesses has accelerated.
Our research work can serve the marketing industries by adopting the concept of digital twin collaboration to provide a virtual representation of products, processes, consumers, shopping centers and other participants in the supply chain.
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