An architecture for real-time remote laboratories

Abstract

The rapid spreading of broadband Internet access is enabling new methods of delivery for modern engineering and science curricula. This paper describes the design and implementation of a remote laboratory architecture, which allows the execution of experiments in real time. Contrary to previous remote-laboratory implementations based on a batch mode of operation, in this new system the students can interactively control the experiments and obtain the corresponding outputs (including raw data, data plots, video/audio streams and recordings) in an integrated browser-based user interface. Furthermore, this real-time system was designed in a platform-independent fashion such that it will facilitate its expansion beyond the boundaries of the original institution. A mechanical vibration setup is used to illustrate the system capabilities. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2007.