The rise of Metaverse has accelerated the landing of all kinds of applicationsand projects, especially in the field of smart manufacturing, which is at the coreof global technological and industrial competition. So, how can metaverse in.tervehenoustrysoastCeazerahsroratohtroamlactraditional factories to smart factories? Dr. Ravi Pratap Singh (Department ofMechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, India) explores thefuture of Metaverse from the perspective of smart manufacturing.

Interview transcripts

Q1

Dr. Ravi Pratap Singh, what are your research interests?

Dr. Singh: 

My research interests are related to the domains of machine learning, digital manufacturing, internet of things, manufacturing science, modeling and optimization, etc.  

Q2

How is the Metaverse related to Manufacturing Processes on your opinion?

Dr. Singh: 

Fundamentally the concept of the metaverse had been primarily associated with virtual and augmented reality environments, online gaming, social interactions, and digital economies. It was not inherently linked to manufacturing processes. However, the landscape of technology and its applications evolves rapidly, and there may have been developments or expansions into numerous new domains since then. The potential integration of the metaverse with manufacturing processes can be explored with several speculative possibilities but not limited to namely as; smart factories, virtual prototyping and simulation, remote collaboration and training, digital twins, supply chain visualization, etc. 

Q3

What do you think the future outlook for Metadata in Manufacturing Processes?

Dr. Singh: 

The future outlook for metadata in manufacturing is likely to involve several trends and advancements. Some of the potential developments can be explored as; human-machine collaboration, digital manufacturing, increased integration with IoT and Sensors, enhanced traceability and quality control, blockchain for enhanced security and transparency, artificial intelligence for data analysis, cloud-based metadata management, interoperability standards, focus on sustainability and compliance, etc.

Expert Profiles

Dr. Ravi Pratap Singh

National Institute of Technology, India

Dr. Ravi Pratap Singh is presently working as an Assistant Professor (Grade-I) in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra, Haryana, India. Prior to this, he served the Department of Industrial & Production Engineering, NIT Jalandhar, Punjab as an Assistant Professor (Grade-II) for about five years and the Department of Technical Education, Uttar Pradesh, India for about two years. He has received the M.Tech. in Industrial and Production Engineering, and PhD degree in the area of Hybrid Manufacturing Processes, from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, NIT Kurukshetra. He is a Life Member of the IIIE,  Mumbai; The Institution of Engineers (India), Kolkata; Ultrasonic Society of India (USI), New Delhi; ISTE, New Delhi; Additive Manufacturing Society of India (AMSI), Bangalore; and SCIence and Engineering Institute (SCIEI), Log Angeles, USA. He has published more than 150 research articles throughout the several SCI / Scopus indexed journal, including International / National level conferences. His research articles have received more than 5500 citations around the globe with the h-index of 40. He is also academically engaged with the editorship and reviewership with the several SCI / Scopus indexed Journals from last 9-10 years. He is also an Editor of Current Indian Science: Mechanical Engineering (Bentham Science Publisher, UAE), and Guest Editor of World Journal of Engineering (Emerald Publications), Sensors International (KeAi Publisher), Industrial Robot (Emerald), IJSMSS (Inderscience), and IJSSCA (Inderscience). Dr. Singh is also working as a Principal-Investigator (PI) of SERB-GoI funded and Co-PI of ISRO-YUKTI funded projects which are under-progress. He has also completed two research projects as a PI & Co-PI. He has also been granted two Indian Patents in the domain of Development of Hybrid Machining Tools and Methods. Besides research excellence, he has been awarded as Best Teacher at NIT Jalandhar during 2021-2022, as Young Scientist in Mechanical Engineering in VIRA-2019 awards, a Young Faculty in Engineering in VIFA-2019 awards, and a Best Researcher Award in 4^th International Scientist Awards on Engineering, Science, and Medicine during January 2020 in New Delhi. He has also been nominated as General Chair Reviewer, Technical Program Committee, National Advisory Committee, etc. during various national/international events held in China, Norway, Italy, Sweden. Dr. Singh is also a Senior Member of ISME, and Senior Fellow of The Society of Innovative Educationalist & Scientific Research Professional (SFSIESRP), Chennai. In addition to this, he is also serving as an Ambassador of Bentham Open, Sharjah, UAE as well as a Member of the Visor Academic Committee, Singapore. He has been Awarded Young Engineer Award (Mechanical Engineering) in 37^th National Convention on Mechanical Engineering and National Seminar conducted by the Telangana State Center, Khairtabad, Hyderabad under the aegis of Institution of Engineers (India), IEI held during December, 2022. Dr. Singh has also been ranked among the top 2% of Scientists in the world as per the survey conducted by STANFORD University for the years 2021, 2022, and 2023.