Interactive and Visualized Online Experimentation System for Engineering Education and Research

Summary

This work describes an online experimentation system that provides visualized experiments, including the visualization of theories, concepts, and formulas, visualizing the experimental process with three-dimensional (3-D) virtual test rigs, and visualizing the control and monitoring system using widgets such as charts and cameras.

Abstract

Experimentation is crucial in engineering education. This work explores visualized experiments in online laboratories for teaching and learning and also research. Interactive and visualizing features, including theory-guided algorithm implementation, web-based algorithm design, customizable monitoring interface, and three-dimensional (3-D) virtual test rigs are discussed. To illustrate the features and functionalities of the proposed laboratories, three examples, including the first-order system exploration using a circuit-based system with electrical elements, web-based control algorithm design for virtual and remote experimentation, are provided. Using user-designed control algorithms, not only can simulations be conducted, but real-time experiments can also be conducted once the designed control algorithms have been compiled into executable control algorithms. The proposed online laboratory also provides a customizable monitoring interface, with which users can customize their user interface using provided widgets such as the textbox, chart, 3-D, and camera widget. Teachers can use the system for online demonstration in the classroom, students for after-class experimentation, and researchers to verify control strategies.

Introduction

Laboratories are vital infrastructure for research and education. When conventional laboratories are not available and/or accessible due to different causes, for example, unaffordable purchases and maintenance cost, safety considerations, and crises such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, online laboratories can offer alternatives^1,2,3. Like conventional laboratories, significant progress such as interactive features⁴ and customizable experiments⁵ have been achieved in the online laboratories. Before and during....

Protocol

In this work, three separate visualized examples are provided to enhance teaching and learning and research, which can be accessed via the Networked Control System Laboratory (NCSLab https://www.powersim.whu.edu.cn/react).

1. Example 1: First-order system using circuit-based experimentation protocol

1. Access the NCSLab system.
   1. Open a mainstream web browser and enter the URL https://www.powersim.whu.edu.cn/react.
   2. Click on the Start Experiment button on the left side of the main page to log in to the system. User name: whutest; password: whutest.
      NOTE: This step....

Results

The proposed laboratory system has been used in several different disciples at Wuhan University, such as the Automation, Power and Energy Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and other universities, such as Henan Agricultural University⁶.

Teachers/students/researchers are provided with great flexibility to explore the system using different virtual and/or physical test rigs, define their control algorithms, and customize their monitoring interface; thus, users at differ.......

Discussion

The presented protocol describes a hybrid online laboratory system that integrates physical test rigs for remote experimentation and 3-D virtual test rigs for virtual experimentation. Several different block libraries are provided for the algorithm design process, such as the electrical elements for circuit-based design. Users from control backgrounds can focus on learning without programming skills. The proper design of a control algorithm that can be applied to a suitable test rig should be considered. It is also chall.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Fan speed control system	/	/	Made by our team
https://www.powersim.whu.edu.cn/react			Made by our team