Implementation of virtual laboratory for online e-learning of control and Instrumentation courses

1. Implementation of virtual laboratory for online e-learning of control and Instrumentation courses • R.Anandanatarajan M.E.,Ph.D. • Professor & Head, • Department of Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering, • Pondicherry Engineering College. • Puducherry 605 014. www.pec.edu

2. Motivation • Creating virtual laboratory and a community of young learners, teachers and researchers to explore collaboratively the practical aspects of Engineering curriculum . • Significance and importance of laboratory work in E-Learning • Internet provides connectivity everywhere and broadband access enables high capacity connections. • Non – Availability of high-cost equipments in all universities. • Why not we Collaborate different universities in India and share the Laboratory resources for quality education.

3. Project Objectives • To implement online virtual & Remote laboratory for Engineering curriculum of Electronics, Control & Instrumentation Engineering. • To determine what set of fundamental concepts can be addressed in a laboratory environment for Engineering Curriculum • To parse each experiment undertaken into pieces that can be addressed • by simulation, • by Virtual lab using stored experimental data • by actual manipulation of equipment remotely. • To collaborate and share the laboratories of different universities.

4. The Innovation Statement • Collaborating and cooperating universities by sharing lab resources will offer cooperative programs of studies. • Laboratory ware will be usable for many different groups of learners • Open universities studies can be integrated

5. Architecture of Remote Lab

6. Course and Lab Integration Remote Lab • Hybrid Mode: Lecture in Class and experiment conducted on-line. • Each experiment can be conducted in three phases: • Simulation • Virtual lab using stored experimental data • Remote access & operation of real equipment Physical Lab

7. Online Laboratory Teaching Model • Custom built simulation package designed for virtual laboratory. • Remote experiment uses SCPI, Run time Active-X for each experiment with web services. Pre-Lab Orientation video Model and laboratory update Simulation Feedback and Remote Continuous Experiment Improvement Report and Knowledge Evaluation

8. Simulations Used as Laboratory Primer – Functional verification

9. Experiment Implementation Instrument Bus Instrument-1 Web Services Experiment Module Instrument-2 • Example operation of remote Laboratory • Instrument screen and controls available on client interface • Students access through Active-X plug-in on web browser

10. Virtual Laboratory Features • Remote lab interface • Customized controls – more like actual instrument • Online charting facility. • Report Generation facility

11. Remote Laboratory – Web Implementation

12. Survey on our students

13. Implementation • Design of Programmable Electronic Test Bench Hardware for the implementation of Virtual Laboratory. • Implementation of Communication interface between the hardware and server end. • Web services Design with ETB server and client – Deploying Active-X runtime libraries. • Integrating the Electronic Test Bench (ETB) for various Virtual Laboratories. • System Validation ,Testing and Launching.

14. Our Expertise - Existing online remote Lab - Intranet Based.

15. Budget Estimates Recurring Non-Recurring

16. Non recurring Expenditure

17. Time Frame per Laboratory Procurement of equipments 2 weeks ETB Design 2 weeks ETB Development 4 weeks Web Services Deployment 1 week Testing and Validation 1 week Total 10 weeks per Laboratory For completing all the 10 labs the time frame requirement is 100 weeks in total. The project duration would be for 2 years. Total Time Frame

18. Scope and Use • Students can remotely operate laboratories • Laboratory instruments can have multiple student users • Students can "design" their own experiments • High-cost instruments can be shared • Students can use resources efficiently • Virtual laboratories can become part of distance-learning curricula • Standardization of course/laboratory format • Enlarge the availability of teaching/ training material • Collaborating and sharing lab resources from different universities.

19. Thank you.