The overall objective of this project is to develop methods and tools that will ensure the reliability and trustworthiness of VEs and DTs in metrology in order to support digital transformation within Industry 4.0 and the European Green Deal. 

The specific objectives of the project are: 

1. To develop methods for evaluating the uncertainty associated with real measurements for three different applications (CMM, TWI, FLOW) by using the results from corresponding VEs in line with the current state‑of‑the art for uncertainty evaluation, such as Bayesian or Monte Carlo approaches or documented in the JCGM:GUM. An open access software repository including the implementation of the methods, and a FAIR data set developed for the uncertainty evaluation of VEs, should be provided

2. To develop methods for uncertainty quantification for DTs representing complex measurement processes and mechanisms for four different applications (nanoindentation, NanoCyl, 3D robotic measurement, electrical measurement), in each case including the effect of dynamic influences on the digital model such as thermal drift or vibrations. The model should be updated based upon data obtained during the project’s lifetime. The open access software repository created in objective 1 should be extended by including the methods, and a FAIR data set, developed for the uncertainty evaluation of DTs. 

3. To develop approaches for the validation of VEs and DTs for all applications of objectives 1 and 2, using statistical procedures for the assessment of differences between calibrated standards and corresponding data from their virtual counterpart. Methods include accounting for errors, specifically for computationally expensive systems, where surrogate models need to be used. 

4. To demonstrate the practical applicability of the developed methods, using twelve different case studies covering six different metrological applications (coordinate measurement, optical form measurement, flow measurement, nanoindentation, 3D robotic measurement, electrical measurement). Guidance should be documented on how to employ the methods in other cases and reports should be drafted in collaboration with industrial participants and stakeholders and disseminated within e.g. EU industry, Consultative Committee for Length (CCL), EURAMET TC Length (TC‑L) and ISO communities. 

5. To facilitate the take up of the technology and measurement infrastructure developed in the project by the measurement supply chain (NMI’s/DI’s, accredited laboratories, material testing laboratories, calibration laboratories), standards developing organisations (ISO, IEC) and end users (advanced manufacturing, personalised health care and urban planning).

 
As a VE usually produces virtual data rather than virtual values for the measurand, the uncertainty evaluation methods described in the JCGM:GUM cannot be directly applied and extra steps have to be taken to obtain a JCGM:GUM‑compliant uncertainty estimate. Recently, a JCGM:GUM‑compliant uncertainty evaluation has been reached for linear models in an automatic way by using the output of a VE. However, no procedure exists to derive the uncertainties, for the result of a measurement, by automatically using virtual data when the model for the measurand is nonlinear. One objective of this project is to progress beyond the state of the art by developing such an approach. This will allow an automated uncertainty evaluation for general models using the outcome of a VE. (Objective 1) 

Very few examples of DTs are reported in the literature for measurement instruments or measurement processes, and there is even less literature on the uncertainty evaluation of DTs. Currently, available methods for uncertainty evaluation often neglect the coupling of a DT with its different parts, especially those linked to the control and the V2P connection. Moreover, a rigorous definition and evaluation of the metrological characteristics of the DT are missing. This project will progress beyond the state of the art by delivering different methods to evaluate the uncertainty of DTs for several measurement processes, for which JCGM:GUM‑compliancy will be analysed and reported. Additionally, the coupling with the modelling, and the control feedback deployment strategies, will be included in the uncertainty evaluation. (Objective 2) 

Currently, there are no general guidelines for the validation of VEs/DTs. This project will progress beyond the state of the art by developing these guidelines with a special focus on their applicability to metrology. The validation will include both the measurement estimate obtained by the VE/DT, as well as the uncertainty associated to it. Knowledge and experience from existing applications of VEs in metrology (e.g. virtual coordinate measuring machine (VCMM)) will be applied in other applications that are new to the adoption of VEs/DTs (e.g. nanoindentation). Attention will be given to the broad applicability of the validation guidelines and also to non‑standard measurements, e.g. measurements of freeform artefacts. (Objective 3) 

The developed uncertainty evaluation methods for VEs and DTs will be applied in twelve case studies covering different metrological applications. Where appropriate, existing software tools will be extended based on the expected results. For other applications, new environments will be created, like DTs for a commercial nanoindentation platform or a traceable commercial robotic 3D scanning system. Guidance will be given on the practical applicability of the developed uncertainty evaluation methods when applied to industrial case studies. The reports will be drafted in close collaboration with the industrial participants and stakeholders. The results will be disseminated within the relevant EU industry as identified by the EMNs AdvanceManu and MATHMET, as well as by the consultative committees of the CIPM (e.g. CCL), EURAMET technical committees (e.g. TC‑L) and ISO communities. (Objective 4) 

1. Outcomes for industrial and other user communities 

The outcomes of this project will include the provision of methods for the JCGM:GUM‑compliant uncertainty evaluation of VEs and DTs, as well as procedures for their validation. Furthermore, the newly developed approaches will be applied to a variety of industrially‑relevant test cases. These methods, procedures and case studies will enable the industry and users of VEs and DTs to e.g. optimise meter design or to improve the efficiency of welding processes. This will provide the basis for gaining traceability in several metrological applications, where VEs/DTs are employed (e.g. asphere and freeform metrology, nanoscale mechanical characterisation, the quality control of welded parts). This will lead to a reduction in the production time as well as to parts being manufactured with better surface quality.  

Industrial stakeholders will be involved in defining case studies to ensure the transferability of the developed methods and procedures for uncertainty evaluation and validation in industrial setups. The GPGs that will be written in this project will be disseminated to industrial stakeholders to further support the uptake of the developed methods in these and other fields of application. Additionally, representatives of industry (both manufacturers and users) will be invited to a workshop on uncertainty evaluation for VEs and DTs, which will be organised and held by the project. 

2. Outcomes for the metrology and scientific communities 

The outcomes of this project will provide a common understanding among European NMIs/DIs on how to make VEs and DTs fit for use in metrological applications. The methods for assessing the uncertainty will be summarised and published in GPGs so that they can be easily adapted by the metrological and scientific communities. Research papers will also be published in high impact peer‑reviewed journals, and as part of the knowledge transfer, a workshop on uncertainty evaluation for VEs and DTs, will be organised and held, to which representatives of academia and NMIs will be invited. Results will be disseminated to the EMNs AdvanceManu and MATHMET as well as to the International Academy for Production Engineering (CIRP), which will make them accessible to a wider audience including stakeholders from all these networks. The collaboration of European NMIs and DIs in this project will increase their visibility and authority in drafting common regulations and guidelines. This will improve the competitiveness of the European economy and it will lead to a more intense international cooperation. 

Furthermore, the project’s results will provide high‑performance and robust methods that have the potential to be used in different applications, for example freeform optical surface measurements. The optical scientific community will be able to make use of these advancements and benefits in their research, e.g. with regard to the need for highly accurate complex optical systems in research fields like lithography (e.g. extreme ultraviolet lithography), synchrotron, astronomy, ophthalmic, medical devices and many more. The benefits will also be valid for the scientific communities that are involved in electrical measurements, flow measurements, nanoindentation measurements, etc. 

3. Outcomes for relevant standards 

The consortium will promote the results and outcomes of this project within the standardisation community and will provide input into the standardisation process. The participants of the project are active in the JCGM WG1, which has responsibility for the JCGM:GUM and its supplements. These documents mark the de facto standard for uncertainty evaluation in metrology and are used worldwide at all levels of the measurement chain, from NMIs to industry. Furthermore, the results of this project will be disseminated to DIN, ISO and CEN working groups. For ISO, the relevant standards that are in preparation/revision will be identified, and the work on these standards will be suggested to the appropriate working groups or committees. The participants will also present the outputs of the project to College International pour la Recherche en Productique (CIRP), EURAMET TC Length (TC‑L), IMEKO, EURAMET and other networks, where they are active. All these activities will ensure the uptake of the project’s outcomes by the metrological community. 

4. Longer‑term economic, social and environmental impacts 

The improved capabilities at NMIs and DIs, which will be provided by this project, will enable industries to reduce the number of iterative steps that are required in product design, production and testing. This will lead to a drastically reduced production time and cost per part. The latter will allow the production of new products and the development of novel applications and systems in several sectors including aerospace, the automotive and the naval industry, medical, optical and precision instruments, as well as computer, audio, video and telecom equipment. The improvements in the reliability, efficiency and speed of production processes will also significantly decrease the scrap rate and reduce the energy needed for production. The corresponding energy savings will help to reduce Europe’s CO2 footprint. 

Positive social effects will result from the impact of high‑end optical components on the production of new information technology components, mobile electronics and medical devices. Better mechanical alignment through new robotic 3D scanning system tools will be used in advanced particle beam therapies resulting in treatments with higher cure rates. In electrical measurement systems, the project’s outcomes will help to better estimate overvoltages and unwanted induced currents in HV lines, as well as in the use of adapted control solutions. This will drastically reduce the loss of electrical energy, which is highly valuable and in high demand in Europe. 

The enhancement of advanced manufacturing will help to keep highly‑skilled jobs in Europe and, hence, it will enhance the employment and wealth of the EU.