Digital Twins in Manufacturing Systems
Under the auspices of the EU-funded Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) CATCH_VR Project, Mehran University of Engineering & Technology (MUET) hosted a one-day international Digital Twins in Manufacturing Systems Symposium.
The event convened researchers and industry experts from Ireland, Romania, Sweden, Bulgaria, Portugal, England, and Pakistan to share the latest innovations in augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), artificial intelligence (AI), and immersive learning.
The symposium opened with remarks by Professor Dr. Saleem Raza Samo, Vice Chancellor of QUEST, who welcomed delegates and underscored the growing importance of digital technologies in engineering education. Dr. Bhawani Shankar Chowdhry, MUET Coordinator for the CATCH_VR project, then presented an overview of the project’s deliverables, tasks, and milestones.
Key presentations included:
• Dr. Pardeep Kumar Harani (QUEST) on the “Importance of Digital Transformation in Manufacturing.”
• Mr. Khushi Muhammad (GIK Institute) examining “AR/VR in Modern Manufacturing.”
• Prof. Dr. Agata Maolova (Technical University of Sofia) discussing “Real-Time Data Integration with Digital Twins.”
• Dr. Lehel Szaboics Csokmail (University of Oradea) demonstrating “ON-XR: An Immersive Learning Platform and Virtual Robotics Lab Tour.”
• Dr. Sunny Katyara (Indusbrain Inc., UK) on “Designing Resilient and Agile Production Lines with Digital Twin Technology.”
• Dr. Abi Waqas (Tyndall National Institute, Ireland) and Dr. Lubna Luxmi Dhirani (University of Limerick) exploring technical and security challenges in implementing digital twins.
• Mr. Dan Lejerskar, CEO of EON Reality, presenting “EON-XR Platform: Leading XR and AI Solutions for Education & Technology.”
The day concluded with a panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Tahir Khan (UET Peshawar) and Dr. Ali Turab Jaffery (GIKI), which covered:
• EON Reality’s 25-year journey in XR and AI innovation
• Immersive learning applications in education, training, and industrial simulation
• Live AI-powered document-to-XR lesson demonstrations
• Virtual tours of robotics labs
• Global success stories and future XR and AI trends
Closing remarks were delivered by Dr. Lubna Luxmi Dhirani, Symposium Chair, who praised the collaborative spirit and emphasized the symposium’s role in advancing sustainable, technology-driven engineering education. It is worth mentioning that Engineering Review is also an Associate Partner of the project. More details are available at: https://catchvr-cbhe.eu/
