NME-ICT Project

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

NME-ICT Project

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.

NME-ICT Project

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.

NME-ICT Project

The Innovation Statement

Collaborating and cooperating universities by sharing lab resources Collaborating and cooperating universities by sharing lab resources will offerwill offer cooperative programs of studies.

Laboratory ware will be usable for many different groups of learners

Open universities studies can be integrated

NME-ICT Project

Architecture of Remote Lab

NME-ICT Project

Course and Lab Integration

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

Webcam(IP Camera)

User

Server

EthernetSwitch

Lab Setup

Exp

erim

ent

Co

ntro

l

Title and headlines

Streamingvideo andinstruction

window

Importantlinks

Router

Router

webcast laboratoryinstruction

Physical Laboratory Site

Remote Laboratory Site

Camera Instructor

Physical Lab

Remote Lab

NME-ICT Project

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.

Simulation

Orientationvideo

RemoteExperiment

Report andKnowledgeEvaluation

Pre-Lab

Feedback andContinuous

Improvement

Model andlaboratory update

NME-ICT Project

Simulations

Used as Laboratory Primer – Functional verification

NME-ICT Project

Experiment Implementation

Example operation of remote Laboratory

• Instrument screen and controls available on client interface• Students access through Active-X plug-in on web browser

Experiment Module

Instrument-1

Instrument-2

Instrument Bus

Web Services

NME-ICT Project

Virtual Laboratory Features Remote lab interface

• Customized controls – more like actual instrument• Online charting facility.• Report Generation facility

NME-ICT Project

Remote Laboratory – Web Implementation

NME-ICT Project

Survey on our students

NME-ICT Project

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.

NME-ICT Project

Our Expertise

- Existing online remote Lab

- Intranet Based.

NME-ICT Project

Budget Estimates Sl.No. Item Amount in laks

per annumDuration Total amount in laks per

annum

A Development of Virtual laboratory 10,00,000 2 years 20,00,000

Contingency travel approx. 1,00,000 2 years 2,00,000

Total A 22,00,000

B Recurring Expenses on account of engaging of human recourses and materials etc

5,00,000 2 years 10,00,000

Travel Contingency 1,00,000 2 years 2,00,000

Total B 12,00,000

Total A & B 34,00,000

Sl.No. Item Total amount in laks

C Purchase of Electronic Test Bench Equipments High end Server, nodes/ hiring the services/Software and tools

1,25,00,000

Total A+B+C 1,59,00,000

Recurring

Non-Recurring

NME-ICT Project

Non recurring ExpenditureSl.No. Item Total amount

in lakhs

1 Development of Virtual laboratory and ETB for Basic electronics Lab , purchase of Equipments.

10,00,000

2 Development of Virtual laboratory and ETB for electronic Circuits Lab , purchase of Equipments.

10,00,000

3 Development of Virtual laboratory and ETB for control systems Lab , purchase of Equipments.

20,00,000

4 Development of Virtual laboratory and ETB for Microprocessors lab , purchase of Equipments.

5,00,000

5 Development of Virtual laboratory and ETB for Process control Lab , purchase of Equipments.

25,00,000

6 Development of Virtual laboratory and ETB for Transducers Lab , purchase of Equipments.

10,00,000

7 Development of Virtual laboratory and ETB for Digital Instrumentation Lab , purchase of Equipments.

10,00,000

8 Development of Virtual laboratory and ETB for Measurements Lab , purchase of Equipments.

10,00,000

9 Development of Virtual laboratory and ETB for electrical Machines Lab , purchase of Equipments.

20,00,000

10 Development of Virtual laboratory and ETB for calibration Lab , purchase of Equipments. 5,00,000

Total 1,25,00,000

NME-ICT Project

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

NME-ICT Project

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.

NME-ICT Project

Thank you.