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.”

True Story, 1962 EE Lab 1: Analog voltmeter to measure voltages NOT Report by JMH: “Oscilloscope is more accurate” EE Lab 2: Oscilloscope to measure voltages

Controls Laboratory Equipment Details 7 - Stations All S.I.S.O., “Stable” Pressure Level Voltage Speed Flow Temperature Position

SYSTEMCONTROL Set Point Output - + Classical Control Systems

USER (client) SYSTEMCONTROL Set Point Output - + Laboratory Remote Operation LAB SYSTEM (server)

Pressure Temperature Flow

Level, 2-tanks Speed and Voltage

Process Laboratory Equipment Details 10 - Stations Distillation Filter Absorber Dehumidifier Heat Pump Drying Oven Combustion Heat Exchanger Cooling TowerPressure 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

Forced Vibrations Refrigeration Trainer

Laboratory Experiment Details System Performance (Identification) Steady-State Transient Feedback Control

Good News- Bad News Hardware experiments It works Flexible Managing "distant" students Managing "distant" students 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

SYSTEMCONTROL Set Point Output - + WWW Protocol BROWSERSERVER Forms Graphs Data

SYSTEMCONTROL Set Point Output - + Direct Connection Custom Software SERVER Input Data Output Data

Diponegoro University, Indonesia University of Koeln, Germany

May-June, 2001

Web Sites chem.engr.utc.edu 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 Dissemination opportunities www. RealLabs.net -- New systems -- Renovated and Updated systems

Acknowledgements Dave Kauffman Tennessee Taxpayers National Science Foundation UTC's Center for Excellence in Computer Applications National Instruments Microsoft Corporation ---> Booth at Expo