妖姬直播

KENNESAW, Ga. | Jul 23, 2025

Aiming to create systems where machines and their virtual counterparts communicate in real time, Carter Corbin and a team of 妖姬直播 students are advancing smart manufacturing by combining robotics and digital twin technology.

Studying mechatronics engineering in Kennesaw State鈥檚 Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology, Corbin is part of a growing number of undergraduates contributing to applied research that mirrors the challenges and solutions shaping today鈥檚 tech-driven industries. He is currently investigating how real-time system feedback can make automation smarter and more adaptable.

鈥淚n simple terms, a digital twin is a virtual version of a physical machine,鈥� Corbin said. 鈥淲hat makes our system unique is that both the digital and physical models update in real time. If I move something in the virtual environment, the real machine reacts, and vice versa.鈥�

The team鈥檚 project simulates a small-scale conveyor process using a puck and robotic arm. The digital and physical systems mirror each other, allowing researchers to test operations and diagnose problems without disrupting production.

鈥淚t is more than just a simulation,鈥� Corbin said. 鈥淲e can collect live data and prevent costly mistakes before they happen.鈥�

Corbin collaborates daily with undergraduate peers, graduate students, and a Ph.D. candidate. His contributions earned him co-authorship on a paper being submitted to the ASME IMECE 2025 conference, focusing on digital twins in manufacturing system integration.

Ph.D. candidate Gershom Richards, who co-leads the research team, said the work has implications far beyond the lab. With more than two years of experience developing digital twin systems, he sees the technology as a game-changer for manufacturing.

鈥淒igital twins are poised to be the next evolution of simulation technologies,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey centralize complex tasks while enabling integrated multiphysics simulation and system visualization, providing more accurate data and improving the decision-making process for both operators and machines.鈥�

Originally from McDonough, Georgia, Corbin discovered KSU鈥檚 mechatronics engineering program after transferring from Gordon State College. Encouraged by a friend and drawn to a field that blends mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering, he quickly found his path.

鈥淚鈥檝e always wanted to be an engineer,鈥� Corbin said. 鈥淏ut I also wanted to study something that stood out from the crowd. Mechatronics felt more dynamic than a traditional engineering degree.鈥�

His interest deepened after he took a fluid power course with associate professor David Guerra-Zubiaga, which introduced him to hands-on automation projects. He began a directed study focused on building a digital manufacturing twin.

鈥淐arter is an outstanding student who is consistently ranked at the top of his class,鈥� Guerra-Zubiaga said. 鈥淗e has demonstrated strong research leadership in collaboration with both graduate and Ph.D. students.鈥�

One of the most challenging parts of his current research project has been integrating various hardware components with Siemens programmable logic controllers (PLCs), which serve as the backbone of industrial automation systems.

鈥淲e鈥檝e faced compatibility issues,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t took trial and error to get it all working, but it was a valuable learning experience.鈥�

After graduating in Spring 2025, Corbin will begin KSU鈥檚 Master of Science in Intelligent Robotic Systems program in the fall as a graduate research assistant and hopes to eventually pursue a Ph.D. in robotics. Corbin also plans to explore Robot Operating System (ROS) 2 with assistant professor Muhammad Tanveer. ROS 2 is used for robotic simulation and real-time communication in mobile systems.

While Corbin鈥檚 research team still seeks an industry partner, the lab uses real-world tools and systems supported by Siemens, including PLC trainers, safety interlocks, and sensor modules.

鈥淭his research is preparing us for the problems we鈥檒l face in the field,鈥� Corbin said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e not just learning the theory. We鈥檙e applying it.鈥�

鈥� Story by Raynard Churchwell

Photo provided

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, 妖姬直播 offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.