Probabilistic Physics Digital Twin for Human-Robot Interaction

Abstract

Digital twins are increasingly used in robotics to simulate interactions, predict action outcomes, and support planning. However, constructing accurate digital twins requires precise estimates of physical properties such as mass, friction, and center of mass, which are often difficult to obtain in real-world environments. We propose probabilistic digital twins, which represent uncertain physical properties as probability distributions rather than fixed values. By simulating actions across these distributions, the twin predicts a range of possible outcomes and their likelihoods. These probabilistic simulations can guide both human and robot actions by identifying actions that are effective despite physical uncertainty. We demonstrate this framework through human-robot interaction scenarios, including interfaces that communicate simulated outcomes to users and robot planning strategies that explicitly account for uncertainty.