Laboratory Remote Operation: Features and Opportunities Jim Henry, Ph.D., P.E. College of Engineering and Computer Science University of Tennessee at Chattanooga National ASEE, 2001 Albuquerque, NM
Chattanooga, Tennessee
What is “Laboratory Remote Operation”? REAL lab experiments, offered via the WEB -- Experimental design -- Operation of equipment -- Retrieval of data -- Sharing with team members
What is “Laboratory Remote Operation”? Controls systems stations -- 6 systems Chemical engineering -- 9 systems Mechanical engineering -- 5 systems
What are “Features”? Features that Accommodate Scheduling Problems Allow additional experimentation Cure Faculty Boredom
What are “Opportunities”? Opportunities to Re-examine the role of laboratories Re-examine teaching methods Examine Imputed Accuracy of Results
What is “the role of laboratories”? 1. Hands on experience 2. Guided discovery 3. Verifying text or lecture claims 4. _________________(other)
What about “teaching methods”? 1. Diagrams on black board or overhead 2. Problems from back of chapter 3. Individual or team work 4. _________________(other)
What is “Imputed Accuracy of Results”? “If the computer says it, it’s right.”
NOT True Story, 1962 EE Lab 1: Analog voltmeter to measure voltages Oscilloscope to measure voltages NOT Report by JMH: “Oscilloscope is more accurate”
Controls Laboratory Equipment Details 7 - Stations All S.I.S.O., “Stable” Pressure Level Voltage Speed Flow Temperature Position
Classical Control Systems Set Point Output CONTROL SYSTEM + -
Laboratory Remote Operation Set Point Output CONTROL SYSTEM + - LAB SYSTEM (server) USER (client)
Temperature Pressure Flow
Speed and Voltage Level, 2-tanks
Process Laboratory Equipment Details 10 - Stations Distillation Filter Absorber Dehumidifier Heat Pump Drying Oven Combustion Heat Exchanger Cooling Tower Pressure Swing Absorption
Distillation Pressure Swing Absorption
Mechanical Engineering Laboratory Details 5 - Stations Piston and Cam Kinematics Heat Exchanger Refrigeration Trainer Forced Vibrations Engine-Generator Set ...more to come
Piston and Cam Kinematics Engine-Generator Set
Refrigeration Trainer Forced Vibrations
Laboratory Experiment Details System Performance (Identification) Steady-State Transient Feedback Control
Good News- Bad News Hardware Managing "distant" experiments students It works Flexible Managing "distant" students
The Connections WWW based Netscape or Internet Explorer Familiar & accessible & friendly Moderate bandwidth demands Direct via Internet Custom LabVIEW programs Low bandwidth demands
WWW Protocol BROWSER SERVER Set Point Forms Output CONTROL SYSTEM + - Graphs Data
Direct Connection Custom Software SERVER Set Point Input Data Output CONTROL SYSTEM + - Output Data
Diponegoro University, Indonesia University of Koeln, Germany
May-June, 2001
chem.engr.utc.edu Web Sites www.engineering-labs.net link to all Web-Labs: www.engineering-labs.net
Vision & Plans for students -- access to on-line labs with a variety of experimental systems in chemical engineering
Vision & Plans for students -- easily design and conduct experiments from home, dorm, …. -- compare local lab experimental results with on-line lab results
Vision & Plans for faculty -- materials to implement remote laboratory experiments in their own institutions -- more diverse laboratory offerings -- easily use on-line labs in classroom demonstrations
Vision & Plans www.RealLabs.net Dissemination opportunities -- New systems -- Renovated and Updated systems
Acknowledgements ---> Booth at Expo Dave Kauffman Tennessee Taxpayers National Science Foundation UTC's Center for Excellence in Computer Applications National Instruments Microsoft Corporation ---> Booth at Expo