UNED MURE Project Amman

Remote Laboratories: Trends & Challenges
Mohamed Tawfik, Salvador Ros, Felix Garcia-Loro, Elio Sancristobal, Sergio Martin, Charo
Gil, Juan Peire, Antonio Colmenar and Manuel Castro

Electrical & Computer Engineering Department (DIEEC)
Spanish University for Distance Education (UNED)

Princess Sumaya University for Technology, Amman, Jordan, 14-15 November 2012

The implementation of practical sessions in engineering education:

• Paves the way for students to be familiar with the instruments and thus,
with the industrial real-world
• Augment the learning outcomes by strengthening the understanding of
scientific concepts and theories


Unfortunately, there exist a wide gap between the engineering
educational curricula and the industrial real-world owing to:

• The lack of experimentation availability
• The high cost of equipment and administration burdens


• Online Laboratories address these needs providing on-line ubiquitous
workbenches unconstrained by neither temporal nor geographical
considerations
• Recently, hundreds of online laboratories have been developed at many
universities


Online Laboratories

Virtual Laboratories Remote Laboratories
Software application for Real physical laboratories
web browsers (online) or controlled online
for desktop


A survey over the impact of the most promising technologies on engineering education was carried
out during the “IEEE Engineering Education Conference 2010” (EDUCON 2010) on 98 experts in
engineering education. The survey was available in the conference blog during several weeks before
the event


e.g. JKarnaugh v4.1 Virtual Laboratory
A virtual laboratory at DIEEC-UNED for solving logic functions by
Karnaugh Map method


e.g. Digital Electronics Virtual Laboratory

A virtual laboratory at DIEEC-UNED for simulating logic circuits


Remote laboratories are those laboratories that can be controlled and
administrated online. They differ from the virtual simulated
laboratories as they are interacting with physical instruments


e.g. Virtual Instrument Systems in Reality (VISIR)

VISIR is a remote laboratory for wiring and measurement of real electronic
circuits


e.g. Embedded Systems Remote Lab

A remote laboratory at DIEEC-UNED for programming and monitoring
embedded devices such as FPGA, Microcontrollers, and CPLD


e.g. Hydraulic Plant Remote Laboratory

A remote laboratory at DIEEC-UNED for teaching principles of system
control and automatic regulation


Research on Technologies for Engineering Education

http://ohm.ieec.uned.es/

For more information about remote laboratories, we invite you to access to the
web page of the Electrical & Computer Engineering department of the UNED


Design & Development


The common generic architecture design of today’s remote laboratory
for industrial electronics applications


There exist three major challenges in building remote laboratories:
• Selecting the lab server software
• Selecting the client-server communication technology
• Integrating the remote laboratories with the Learning Management System


The common outstanding technologies applied for remote laboratories
lab server software development are LabVIEW and MATLAB


Both possess rich and powerful features:

• Data exchange with other GUI applications such as COM, ActiveX, CGI, Java
and .Net applications, and web services
• Support for standard Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) such as IVI,
VISA, PXI, GPIB, VXI, USB, LXI, and others
• Connection with ODBC or OLEDB compliance database; compilation as
DLL files to be called from the Lab server software as a driver to execute the
experiments on the hardware
• Support for OPC Servers to enable HMI and SCADA


• LabVIEW is the most popular remote laboratory environment and it is the
most outstanding representative of graphical programming language
visualization and parameter tuning for remote operation
• MATLAB is the most powerful computing language for control algorithm
development and simulation
• Full using of their advantages can achieve high efficiency programming. In
numerous remote laboratories applications, a hybrid method was adopted;
the signal acquisition and the GUI were developed with LabVIEW, while
numerical calculation and signal processing were developed with
MATLAB


LabVIEW can support several ways of hybrid programming with MATLAB by means of:
• ActiveX automation technology
• DLL technology
• COM technology
• MathScript RT Module

Mathscript module allows
embedding .m file scripts in LabVIEW
applications by connecting the text-
based I/O variables with the inputs
and outputs of LabVIEW

The client-server layer is responsible for the communication between
user interface and the lab server


• The client-server layer is responsible for the communication between
user interface and the lab server


There exist a wide variety of technologies for the communication between client-
server:

 Desktop Sharing security problems
• Virtual Network Computing (VNC) very slow
• Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) limited to a single connection
 Common Gateway Interface (CGI) performance problems
 ActiveX and Java Applets plugins required
 Rich Internet Applications (RIAs) plugins required
 LabVIEW Web server only with LabVIEW applications
 Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (AJAX) the actual trend

Each of these solutions have its relative advantages and disadvantages. However, the
trend is more shifted towards web standards such as AJAX and Web services.
On the mean time for LabVIEW applications LabVIEW web interface is the
common choice

Integration & Implementation


Recently, remote laboratories have been developed at multiple
universities and adopted in engineering education. Furthermore, some
of these laboratories are replicated at many universities such as the
electronic circuit’s remote labs: NetLab, VISIR, and labs based on NI
ELVIS II


This was the commence of a new mainstream which advocates a better
remodeling of those laboratories to allow their allocation, sharing among
universities, and their communication with other heterogeneous systems,
e.g., Learning Management Systems (LMS)


The integration of remote laboratories with educational platform
could be classified as follows:

 Integration with Learning Management Systems (LMSs)
 Integration with Metadata Repository
 Integration with Remote Laboratory Management Systems (RLMSs)


I. Integration with Learning Management Systems (LMSs)
LMS is a software application for the realizing classrooms and courses online


LMSs have been widely used in distance education for the past two decades. It provides many
tools and features such as:
 Administration Tools: user registration, account roles, user profile, assign tutors, students
and groups, billings, design course contents, scheduling, etc.
 Synchronous and Asynchronous Communication Tools: chat, forums, video
conference, webinars, events, news, emails, calendars, blogs etc.
 Multimedia sharing Tools: Upload and download videos, audios, photos, files, etc.
 Evaluation and Tracking Tool:. Surveys, exams, assignments, user tracking, etc.
 Standard Compatibility: LMS organizes the content in a hierarchical structure with
regarding to a specific standard in order to allow swapping contents between different LMS
without re-writing it again. From the most common used standards are:
 Shareable Courseware Object Reference Model (SCORM) & IMS for content packing
 IMS QTI (Question and Test Interoperability) for tests and evaluations,
 Learning Object Metadata (LOM) and Dublin Core for describing and reusing learning
objects.


LMS can be open source such as: Moodle , dotLRN, Sakai, Claroline, etc. which could be easily
developed and redesigned, thus all our researches are realized focusing on these types of LMS.
While Proprietary types such as Blackboard, JoomlaLMS, SharePointLMS, etc. could only be
modified by their developers.


Even though, most of the features provided by LMS are of crucial importance to practical sessions. LMS,
however, is confined to theoretical resources and doesn’t support their practical counterparts

The goal is to make use of all the services provided by open source LMSs and apply them in the
remote practical lab sessions. As well, to make use of standards such Sharable Content Object
Reference Model (SCORM), and deliver remote experiments in form of SCORM to be launched at
any compatible LMS.
…. LMS Lab1

Lab2

…. ….
Students
Provided Services:
Administrative tools
Scheduling
Synchronous and asynchronous
communication tools
Assessment and tracking tools
Multimedia sharing tools
Standard compatibility


Web services-based Middleware Architecture developed at DIEEC-UNED for integrating remote
laboratories into open source LMSs such as Moodle.

Software Lab

?
Internet ?
Controller Instruments

M
I
D
Student D Software Lab
Internet L Internet Internet
E
W
LMS A Broker
R Server
Student ?
E ?
Controller Instruments
Data Base



http://www.lila-project.org/

II. Integration with Metadata Repository

http://www.lab2go.net/


II. Integration with Metadata Repository


III. Integration with Remote Laboratory Management Systems
(RLMSs)

…...

…... RLMS

USERS Common Access Portal Equipments
Management Lab Servers
Administrative Tools
Communication Tools
.. Diferent Remote Lab Systems
Other


(RLMSs)

The most remarkable RLMSs that have spread among several
universities are:

 iLab Shared Archuitecture (ISA) – Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(MIT)

 Sahara (Labshare) – University of Technology, Sydney (UTS)

 WebLab Deusto – University of Deusto


(RLMSs)
iLab Shared Architecture (ISA) www.ilab.mit.edu/


(RLMSs)
Sahara (Labshare)
Web Server Scheduling Server
rig provider
Master Server

scheduling
server admin
Users
Database
virtual machines
Rigs

http://www.labshare.edu.au/
rigs of same type


(RLMSs)
WebLab Deusto
http://www.weblab.deusto.es/


iLab (ISA) Labshare (Sahara) WebLab Deusto

Developer Massachusetts Institute of University of Technology of University of Deusto
Technology (MIT) Sydney

Web Technologies Microsoft (ASP.NET, MS SQL, PHP, Java, PostgreSQL, and Python, Java, MySQL, and
and IIS). Apache. Apache.

Compatibility Only runs on Microsoft Windows Cross-platform. Cross-platform.
Server.

Authentication Simple database authentication Simple database authentication Simple database
and ticketing. and interface to an institution’s authentication, OpenID,
local such as Lightweight trusted IP address,
Directory Access Protocol Facebook, and LDAP.
(LDAP).

Client-server Http-based protocols. Http-based protocols, AJAX, Http-based protocols, AJAX
communication and virtual machines. and virtual machines.

Provided Services user accounts and user accounts and user accounts and
administrative tools administrative tools administrative tools
scheduling scheduling scheduling
interactive experiments interactive experiments interactive experiments
user tracking queuing queuing
batched experiments arbitration of access to user tracking
strong support to distributed multiple identical experiment mobile access
and federated user account workbench
management owing to its
genius distributive architecture
and the functionality of SB,
LSS, USS, and ESS
Multiuser Not supported Not supported Not supported
collaboration and
communication
Adding Complex, owing to the web Simple, due to its simple Simple, it provides libraries
experiments services API design for the protocol and configuration and for Java Applets, Adobe
communication with service it is based on virtual machine Flash, Java, .NET,
broker, LSS, USS, and ESS. which provides direct access to LabVIEW, CC++, and
However, it integrates LabVIEW the local lab server. Python, to ease integration
GUI in a standard and easy way. of new experiments based
on different technologies.

No. of universities 3 (Africa), 3 (Australia), 2 (Asia), 4 (Australia) [62] 2 (Spain)
3 (Europe), 2 (North America)

No. of laboratories 21 13 6
added

GOLC: Global Online Laboratory Consortium
• The GOLC consortium is focused on promoting the development
and sharing of, and research into remotely accessible
laboratories for educational use
• The GOLC partners include most of the pioneers in remote
laboratories development and deployment

http://online-lab.org/


GOLC: Global Online Laboratory Consortium
• The trend in researching within GOLC is to create standard APIs
that allows communication with different remote laboratory
systems that adhere to this standard
• For instance, users of Sahara could access experiments
integrated in iLab and vice versa


Computer Controlled Commercial Kits for
Renewable Energy Applications


Alecop: Solar Photovoltaic Training Device

http://www.alecop.com/

Lucas-Nülle: UniTrain-I Photovoltaic course
http://www.lucas-nuelle.com/


Lucas-Nülle: Small wind power plant



Lucas-Nülle: Fuel cell technology



Edibon: Photovoltaic Solar Energy Modular Trainers

http://www.edibon.com/

Edibon: Computer Controlled Wind Energy Basic Unit


Edibon: Computer Controlled Thermal Solar Energy Basic Unit


Edibon: Computer Controlled PEM Fuel Cell Unit


Edibon: Computer Controlled Bioethanol Process Unit


Edibon: Computer Controlled Biogas Process Unit


Edibon: Computer Controlled Biodiesel Process Unit


Edibon: Computer Controlled Waves Energy Unit


Edibon: Computer Controlled Tidal Energy Unit


Edibon: Computer Controlled Submarine Currents Energy Unit


Edibon: Computer Controlled Geothermal (low enthalpy) Energy Unit


Edibon: Computer Controlled Generating Stations Control
and Regulation Simulator


Edibon: Computer Controlled Stirling Motor


ELEKTRON: Solar Energy Trainer-100

http://www.tiendaelektron.com/

ELEKTRON: Solar Energy SolarTec-70


ELEKTRON: Wind Generator


ELEKTRON: Solar Thermal Kit


ELEKTRON: Solar Thermal Trainer


Remote Lab Applications for Renewable
Energy


“Petru Maior” University of Tg.Mureş:
Data acquisition system for monitoring of the solar energy
parameters


Transylvania University of Brasov:
NI ELVIS Photovoltaic Experiment


Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University:
Remote Triggered Photovoltaic Solar Cell Lab


References
• Castro, M., Sancristobal, E., Martin, S., Gil, R., Tawfik, M., Pesquera, A., Albert, M. J., Diaz, G., &
Peire, J. (2012). One Step Ahead in the Future of Labs: Widgets, Ubiquity and Mobility. In Remote Eng.
& Virtual Instrum. (REV) 2012. Bilbao
• Sancristobal, E., Martín, S., Gil, R., Orduña, P., Tawfik, M., Pesquera, A., Diaz, G., Colmenar, A.,
García-Zubia, J., & Castro, M. (2012). State of art, Initiatives and New challenges for Virtual and
Remote Labs. In 12th IEEE International Conference on Advanced Learning Technologies (ICALT).
Rome, Italy
• Sancristobal, E., Pesquera, A., Martin, S., Gil, R., Tawfik, M., Castro, M., Ruiz, E., Diaz, G., Colmenar,
A., & Carpio, J. (2012). Challenges of applying online learning tools in distance learning courses. In
Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON), 2012 IEEE (pp. 1-7)
• Tawfik, M., Sancristobal, E., Martin, S., Diaz, G., & Castro, M. (2012). State-of-the-art remote
laboratories for industrial electronics applications. In Technologies Applied to Electronics Teaching
(TAEE), 2012 (pp. 359-364)
• Tawfik, M., Sancristobal, E., Martin, S., Gil, R., Diaz, G., Peire, J., & Castro, M. (2012). On the Design
of Remote Laboratories. In Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON), IEEE (pp. 1-6).
Marrakesh


References
• Tawfik, M., Sancristobal, E., Martin, S., Gil, R., Pesquera, A., Tovar, E., Llamas-Nistal, M., Diaz, G., Peire, J.,
& Castro, M. (2012). Common Multidisciplinary Prototypes of Remote Laboratories in the Educational
Curricula of Electrical & Computer Engineering. In ASEE Annual Conference (pp. AC 2012-3227). San
Antonio, Texas
• Tawfik, M., Sancristobal, E., Martin, S., Gil, C., Pesquera, A., Losada, P., Diaz, G., Peire, J., Castro, M.,
Garcia-Zubia, J., Hernandez, U., Orduna, P., Angulo, I., Costa Lobo, M. C., Marques, M. A., Viegas, M. C., &
Alves, G. R. (2011). VISIR deployment in undergraduate engineering practices. In Global Online Laboratory
Consortium Remote Laboratories Workshop (GOLC), 2011 First (pp. 1-7)
• Martin, S., Diaz, G., Plaza, I., Ruiz, E., Castro, M., & Peire, J. (2011). State of the art of frameworks and
middleware for facilitating mobile and ubiquitous learning development. Journal of Systems and Software, 84,
1883-1891
• Sergio Martin, Gabriel Diaz, Elio Sancristobal, Rosario Gil, Manuel Castro and Juan Peire, “New technology
trends in education: Seven years of forecasts and convergence”, Computers & Education, Vol 57, N 3, P. 1893-
1906, 2011
• Tawfik, M., Sancristobal, E., Martin, S., Gil, R., Diaz, G., Peire, J., Castro, M., Nilsson, K., Zackrisson, J., Ha,
x00Ba, kansson, L., & Gustavsson, I. (2012). Virtual Instrument Systems in Reality (VISIR) for Remote
Wiring and Measurement of Electronic Circuits on Breadboard. Learning Technologies, IEEE Transactions on,
PP, 1-1


Remote Laboratories: Trends & Challenges

Thanks for your Attention!

Salvador Ros

Electrical & Computer Engineering Department (DIEEC)
Spanish University for Distance Education (UNED)


UNED MURE Project Amman

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