The Composition of Digital Twins for Systems-of-Systems: a Systematic Literature Review

2025-06-25

AI Summary

This study addresses core challenges in integrating Digital Twins (DTs) into Systems of Systems (SoS): model uncertainty, combinatorial complexity, and the absence of rigorous verification and validation (V&V) frameworks. Conducting a systematic literature review (2022–2024), we synthesize semi-formal modeling, simulation-based analysis, and formal verification techniques to establish a structured DT V&V taxonomy. Our analysis reveals that existing composition mechanisms lack formal rigor; V&V remains heavily reliant on simulation and empirical approaches; and cross-layer consistency guarantees and standardized frameworks are notably absent. Consequently, we identify an urgent need for scalable, formal composition methods that ensure cyber-physical consistency across SoS boundaries, alongside a unified, SoS-aware V&V standardization framework. This work provides a methodological foundation for trustworthy DT deployment in complex, heterogeneous SoS environments.

Technology Category

• Constraint Satisfaction and Optimization: Satisfiability Modulo Theories
• Planning, Routing, and Scheduling: Optimization of Spatio-temporal Systems
• Multiagent Systems: Other Foundations of Multi Agent Systems

Application Category

• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Virtualization and resource management in Web systems and infrastructures
• Social Networks and Social Media: Socio-technical web-based systems
• Web Mining and Content Analysis: Web data provenance, reliability, and authenticity

Abstract

Digital Twins (DTs) are increasingly used to model complex systems, especially in Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) and System-of-Systems (SoS), where effective integration is key. This systematic literature review investigates DT composition and verification and validation (V&V) methodologies. Analyzing 21 studies from 2022-2024, we examined composition mechanisms, SoS characteristics, and V&V formality, scope, and challenges. While composition is discussed, formalization is limited. V&V approaches vary, with semi-formal methods and simulations dominating; formal verification is underutilized. Key technical challenges include model uncertainty and integration complexity. Methodological challenges highlight the lack of standardized DT-specific V&V frameworks. There is a need to move beyond model validation to address integration and cyber-physical consistency. This review contributes a structured classification of V&V approaches and emphasizes the need for standardized, scalable V&V and rigorous composition methodologies for complex DT implementations.

Problem

• Investigates Digital Twin composition for System-of-Systems integration
• Evaluates verification and validation methods for Digital Twins
• Addresses challenges in model uncertainty and integration complexity

Innovation

• Systematic review of Digital Twin composition
• Analysis of verification and validation methodologies
• Need for standardized scalable V&V frameworks