A new robotics and simulation department of BenThor Automation was established in 2016 with a clearly defined goal – the virtual commissioning of digital twins. Over the years, the department has grown and contributed to the realization of projects with more than two thousand programmed robots. Based on the experience gained in this way, at the turn of 2020 and 2021, we established a department for virtual reality with the intention of transferring operational digital twins into the virtual reality.

The BenThorVerse solution is based on Siemens technologies - specifically Process Simulate, TIA Portal and PLCsim Advanced. We succeeded in a unique software connection that enables two-way communication between the simulation and virtual reality - simply said, we are able to control the production line from virtual reality, in our case a virtually commissioned digital twin. BenThorVerse is an innovative approach to the training of the workers in industrial environment that combines virtual reality and gamification with the intention to create an effective and attractive way of training for workers. Workers will learn to operate, analyze and subsequently troubleshoot production systems through virtual reality. This will allow safe and effective education without the need to use real hardware. A key aspect was the creation of a complex and realistic virtual environment that includes all important elements of the production process.

BenThorVerse is a product that is based on Siemens technologies. It is a unique software connection that enables two-way communication between the simulation and virtual reality.