Implementing Remote Laboratories with the ILAB Architecture: Three Case Studies from Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria
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Date
2012-03
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Computers in Education Journal
Abstract
A number of remote labs based on the iLabs
Architecture have been developed and used for
credit awarding courses in Obafemi Awolowo
University (OAU), Nigeria. These include the
Op-Amp iLab, Logic Design iLab, and Robotic
Arm iLab. The Op-Amp Lab allows students to
access a small operational amplifier circuit
hosted in OAU, and with the aid of switching
matrices, reconfigure the circuit, inject
waveforms, and see the resulting output signals.
The Logic Design Lab is built around a Field
Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) chip that
students can reprogram from afar using the
VHDL, a hardware description language. The
Robotic Arm iLab is a control engineering
laboratory in which students can remotely
control a robotic arm located in OAU. Video
feedback through BroadCam Video Streaming
Server and Livestream (www.livestream.com)
allows users observe and measure the robotic
arm’s response to their commands. In our paper,
we describe the iLab Batched and Interactive
architectures and describe three iLabs developed
in OAU in detail. Emphasis is placed on
technical details and design choices made in
developing these labs. We also discuss other
aspects of iLab development and use and dwell
on issues that could hinder or accelerate the
adoption of remote laboratories in developing
countries.
Description
Keywords
User system, Service Broker, Lab Server, iLab,, rlab