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ProtoTwin is an online platform for real-time rendering and animation, virtual reality, physics simulation, industrial automation, machine building, controls testing, virtual commissioning, robotics and machine learning. The software runs entirely inside your web browser, so you can work on your projects from anywhere.

Products

For a comprehensive list of features that are built into each product, please see our features page.

Rendering

ProtoTwin Render allows you to create high-quality images, animations, videos and 3D virtual worlds. You can import your CAD or 3D assets, assign materials from the built-in standard library, create your own physically-based materials with custom textures, animate entities and explore the virtual world in Virtual Reality (VR).

Simulation

ProtoTwin Simulate allows you to create physics-based simulations of industrial machines, robots, mechanisms, mechanical devices, systems, factories and more. You can add physics-based behaviour to your CAD and 3D assets, including transport surfaces to enable conveyor belts, joints, motors, controllers and encoders to enable industrial robots and machines, sensors, suction and mechanical grippers, creators, deleters, and more.

The integrated scripting environment allows you to create your own scripted components, which run logic every frame or respond to events (e.g. a sensor being blocked or cleared) to control your own digital factory. You can interact with the simulation in Virtual Reality (VR) to gain a better understanding and explore how your machine will work and respond to different real-world scenarios.

The Function Block Diagram (FBD) editor provides familiarity for controls engineers when implementing their control logic. Function Block Diagram programs are executed by the integrated SoftPLC, which delivers deterministic simulation results. The simplified user interface is ideal for controls engineering, for training and education.

The data collection and analysis pane allows you to measure throughput and cycle times. This will enable you to discover bottlenecks, compare designs and find ways to optimize performance by iterating on your designs. Once deployed, your simulation model serves as a dynamic digital twin.

Connect

ProtoTwin Connect allows you to connect ProtoTwin to (most) industrial programmable logic controllers (PLCs) for controls testing and virtual commissioning. It will allow you to validate your control logic and discover potential issues before they arise on site. It is also possible to connect ProtoTwin to other native applications for co-simulation. We support the following protocols:

  • Siemens S7
  • Ethernet/IP
  • TwinCAT ADS
  • Omron FINS
  • Modbus
  • OPC UA
  • B&R Automation PVI (Coming Soon)
  • Mitsubishi MELSEC

The high-performance Python API can be used for machine learning and computer vision applications. We also provide (vectorized) RL Gymnasium Environments for deep reinforcement learning. You can programmatically load models, step the simulation, read signals and write signals. Unlike the TypeScript API, the Python API serves as the simulation master, allowing you to control the simulation. You can also generate synthetic data in simulation, for both robotics & computer vision.

ProtoTwin Connect is entirely free for education. We provide a powerful native application for learning PLC programming, controls testing, virtual commissioning, and for Robotics and Artificial Intelligence research.

Contact Us

If you ever need any help, want to make a feature request, or have encountered an issue, please contact us and we will respond quickly.