Integrating an AS/RS with Digital Twin in a Physical Internet network

The Physical Internet (PI) is an innovative approach to goods distribution, inspired by the principles of the Internet, with an emphasis on information sharing and collaboration. Within a PI network, logistics operators contribute by providing π-nodes that perform various functions such as receiving, transporting, storing, and redistributing π-containers, which are the unit loads used in PI. The Digital Twin (DT) technique involves the creation of a digital model that replicates the functioning of real-world systems. This paper seeks to demonstrate the potential benefits of implementing a DT of a π-node within an entire PI network. Specifically, it examines the case of a π-store, a unique type of node tasked with receiving goods, temporarily storing them, and subsequently releasing them. In this study, the successful development of an automated storage and retrieval system DT is presented, as well as the various PI interface models aimed at analyzing the types of information that could prove valuable when sent to or received from the network. Finally, the ways in which information received from the PI can improve the effectiveness of the node DT and, in turn, the efficiency of the warehouse system are examined. © 2023, AIDI - Italian Association of Industrial Operations Professors. All rights reserved.