Modular Web-Based Interactive Hybrid Laboratory Framework for Research and Education

Abstract

Online laboratories are offering new experimental potential for research and education purposes. This paper investigates the design and implementation of a web-based hybrid laboratory framework for research and education. Based on the previous work of the Networked Control System Laboratory (NCSLab), a hybrid laboratory with a highly modular design providing plug-in free online experiments is discussed. The proposed modular design of the NCSLab is provided in four aspects as hardware, software, control algorithms, and deployment, which covers all of the phases that compose an online experimental platform. The experiments that are integrated into the NCSLab for research and education are also explored in detail. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed modular design, a virtual wiring fan speed control system and a physical wireless power transfer system are deployed as examples to illustrate the virtual and remote experiments, respectively. The modular hybrid laboratory has been applied to research and engineering education at Wuhan University, and the corresponding pedagogical evaluation verified the effectiveness of the NCSLab.

Keywords

• Hybrid laboratories
• modular design
• networked control research
• web-based architecture