Digital Twin and Virtual Reality: A Co-simulation Environment for an Educational Hydraulic Workstation

Hydraulic system comprehension forms the pillar of numerous engineering fields; however, its academic assimilation remains intricate. Addressing this, our research introduces a digital twin-enabled virtual hydraulic workstation simulator developed in Automation Studio™. This simulator mirrors a tangible hydraulic workstation, including its multifaceted components, to enhance the pedagogical paradigm of hydraulic education. We ensure the symbiosis of theoretical understanding and practical application by meticulously modeling 3D hydraulic components and executing analogous simulations. Our key findings spotlight the utility of time-dependent system behavior graphs in bolstering educational insights. The paper underscores the significance of digital twin solutions in university programs, mainly when physical resources are scarce, reinforcing educational technology’s potential to facilitate student engagement in technically dense arenas.