Abstract:

The methodology developed in the present work is indicated to provide the realization of practical laboratory tasks remotely through an Internet connection. This aspect is very positive in courses with a high degree of experimentation. Its application can be generalized to a multitude of electronics subjects taught in several degrees or even taught in different schools or faculties. This adaptation of remote laboratory practices allows students to interact with real laboratory equipment by remote control. The experience that this solution brings to the students is more enriching than just performing computer simulations of the circuits. Besides, student acceptance has been very positive.

This methodology can be very useful in online or blended learning degrees. It is also very convenient in face-to-face degrees, since it favours the performance of laboratory activities in non-teaching periods, in times when the school or faculty is closed, for students who cannot travel to the centre, when laboratory classes overlap with other subjects taken, for additional tasks or simply when students decide to increase the hours devoted to laboratory to improve their experience.

Another very important aspect to highlight is that this remote laboratory methodology would allow making available to students the research instrumentation equipment that has a higher cost and of which only a few units are available. This equipment can be used remotely by students by accessing it sequentially at the most appropriate time for each student when it is not being used for research tasks. In this way, resources and their use can be optimized.

The implementation has required the use of advanced instrumentation equipment that allows programmability from a computer through a communications port, typically the GPIB port. Currently, the evolution of programmable laboratory instrumentation equipment that allows remote control through connection to a personal computer is becoming more and more common, using a USB connection that greatly reduces the cost of implementation in student laboratories.
The experimental station consists of an oscilloscope, a periodic signal generator and a 3-channel DC power supply. These devices are controlled from a personal computer via a USB connection.

In addition, a control application for this equipment has been programmed in LabVIEW (Laboratory Virtual Instrument Engineering Workbench), which allows the virtual labs to be carried out in an easy and intuitive way. In particular, LabVIEW is a system-design platform and development environment for a visual programming language. This platform is commonly used for instrument control and industrial automation. This programming environment is a subject that students work on in advanced instrumentation courses, so the virtual laboratory implementation itself can be a case study and improved by advanced instrumentation students.

The proposal aims to develop an environment based on remote access to a computer that can control instrumentation equipment jointly to develop laboratory tests, which can be applied to a wide variety of subjects in the area of electronic technology taught in bachelor's and master's degrees.

Keywords:

Online/virtual laboratories, remote control, instrumentation equipment, LabVIEW.