System and method that characterizes an object employing virtual representations thereof

Abstract

An apparatus and method that employs virtual representations associated with an object. In one embodiment, the apparatus is configured to receive a first virtual representation and a second virtual representation of the object, the second virtual representation being diverse from the first virtual representation. The apparatus is further configured to execute the first virtual representation of the object to obtain a first result, and execute the second virtual representation of the object to obtain a second result. The apparatus is further configured to determine a preferred result based on the first result and the second result.

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 processing circuitry, configured to:
 receive a first virtual representation of an object; 
 receive a second virtual representation of said object, said second virtual representation being diverse from said first virtual representation; 
 execute said first virtual representation of said object to obtain a first result; 
 execute said second virtual representation of said object to obtain a second result; and 
 determine a preferred result based on said first result and said second result. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein said processing circuitry is configured to determine said preferred result by performing a weighted arithmetic operation on said first result and said second result. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein said processing circuitry is configured to determine said preferred result by performing an artificial intelligence process on said first result and said second result. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein said processing circuitry is configured to determine said preferred result by performing an artificial intelligence process to determine a deviation of at least one of said first result and said second result from a normal value. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein said processing circuitry is configured to determine said preferred result by comparing said first result to said second result. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein said processing circuitry is configured to receive a third virtual representation of said object and execute said third virtual representation of said object to obtain a third result, said processing circuitry being configured to determine said preferred result by comparing said first result and said second result with said third result and selecting one of said first result and said second result based on a difference with said third result. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein said processing circuitry is configured to execute said first virtual representation by performing digital simulations of said first virtual representation. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein said processing circuitry is configured to execute said first virtual representation and execute said second virtual representation asynchronously and at different rates. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein said first virtual representation is a first physics-based model of an operation of said object and said second virtual representation is a second physics-based model of an operation failure of said object. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein said second virtual representation is diverse from said first virtual representation based on a design thereof. 
     
     
         11 . A method, comprising:
 receiving a first virtual representation of an object;   receiving a second virtual representation of said object, said second virtual representation being diverse from said first virtual representation;   executing said first virtual representation of said object to obtain a first result;   executing said second virtual representation of said object to obtain a second result; and   determining a preferred result based on said first result and said second result.   
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 11  wherein said determining said preferred result comprises performing a weighted arithmetic operation on said first result and said second result. 
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 11  wherein said determining said preferred result comprises performing an artificial intelligence process to determine a deviation of at least one of said first result and said second result from a normal value. 
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 11  further comprising receiving a third virtual representation of said object and executing said third virtual representation of said object to obtain a third result, said method further comprising determining said preferred result by comparing said first result and said second result with said third result and selecting one of said first result and said second result based on a difference with said third result. 
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 11  wherein said first virtual representation is a first physics-based model of an operation of said object and said second virtual representation is a second physics-based model of an operation failure of said object. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus, comprising:
 processing circuitry, configured to:
 receive a first virtual representation including first parameters indicative of an object; 
 define second parameters from said first parameters of said first virtual representation; and 
 construct a second virtual representation of said object from said second parameters. 
   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 16  wherein said processing circuitry is further configured to define said second parameters by employing a nominal value of another parameter indicative of said object in addition to said first parameters. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 17  wherein said another parameter is obtained from a relational database. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 16  wherein said processing circuitry is further configured to define said second parameters by employing a generic value of another parameter indicative of said object in addition to said first parameters. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 16  wherein said processing circuitry is further configured to define said second parameters by employing an artificial intelligence process on said first virtual representation of said object. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 16  wherein said processing circuitry is configured to construct a plurality of elements of said second virtual representation via one of said first parameters. 
     
     
         22 . A method, comprising:
 receiving a first virtual representation including first parameters indicative of an object;   defining second parameters from said first parameters of said first virtual representation; and   constructing a second virtual representation of said object from said second parameters.   
     
     
         23 . The method as recited in  claim 22  wherein said defining said second parameters comprises employing a nominal value or a generic value of another parameter indicative of said object in addition to said first parameters. 
     
     
         24 . The method as recited in  claim 22  wherein said defining said second parameters comprises employing an artificial intelligence process on said first virtual representation of said object. 
     
     
         25 . The method as recited in  claim 22  wherein said defining said constructing said second virtual representation comprises constructing a plurality of elements of said second virtual representation via one of said first parameters.