Challenges of Digitizing Reality into a Connected Metaverse – the Complexity of Data Requirements of Distributed Digital Twins

Abstract

The integration of distributed digital twins (DTs) within an industrial metaverse presents a significant challenge to system stability and predictability. Continuous, asynchronous updates to individual DTs and their underlying generative AI foundation models create dynamic interdependencies that traditional, centralized requirements management systems cannot adequately govern due to inherent issues of trust, transparency, and data integrity. This paper argues for a paradigm shift, proposing a decentralized, multi-party requirements management framework built on Web3 distributed ledger technology. In this approach, requirements are transformed from static documents into immutable, traceable transactions on a shared ledger, with their validation and enforcement automated through smart contracts. The proposed system establishes a single, verifiable source of truth, enabling the use of automated guardrails and negotiated adjustments to contain the impact of changes. This ensures that the complex mesh of DTs can co-evolve in a stable, predictable, and secure manner, addressing key barriers and fostering the adoption of a collaborative industrial metaverse, as illustrated through a practical semiconductor manufacturing use case.