Laboratory Remote Operation: Features and Opportunities

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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

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Chattanooga, Tennessee
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What is Laboratory Remote Operation?

• REAL lab experiments,
• offered via the WEB
• -- Experimental design
• -- Operation of equipment
• -- Retrieval of data
• -- Sharing with team members

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What is Laboratory Remote Operation?

• Controls systems stations -- 6 systems
• Chemical engineering -- 9 systems
• Mechanical engineering -- 5 systems

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What are Features?

• Features that
• Accommodate Scheduling Problems
• Allow additional experimentation
• Cure Faculty Boredom

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What are Opportunities?

• Opportunities to
• Re-examine the role of laboratories
• Re-examine teaching methods
• Examine Imputed Accuracy of Results

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What is the role of laboratories?

1. Hands on experience 2. Guided discovery 3.
Verifying text or lecture claims 4.
_________________(other)
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What about teaching methods?

1. Diagrams on black board or overhead 2.
Problems from back of chapter 3. Individual or
team work 4. _________________(other)
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What is Imputed Accuracy of Results?

If the computer says it, its right.
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True Story, 1962

• EE Lab 1
• Analog voltmeter to measure voltages

EE Lab 2 Oscilloscope to measure voltages
NOT
Report by JMH Oscilloscope is more accurate
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Controls Laboratory Equipment Details

• 7 - Stations All S.I.S.O., Stable
• Pressure Level
• Voltage Speed
• Flow Temperature
• Position

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Classical Control Systems
Set Point
Output
SYSTEM
CONTROL

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Laboratory Remote Operation
Set Point
Output
SYSTEM
CONTROL

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LAB SYSTEM (server)
USER (client)
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Temperature
Pressure
Flow
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Speed and Voltage
Level, 2-tanks
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Process Laboratory Equipment Details

• 10 - Stations
• Distillation Filter
• Absorber Dehumidifier
• Heat Pump Drying Oven
• Combustion Heat Exchanger
• Cooling Tower Pressure Swing Absorption

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• Distillation

Pressure Swing Absorption
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Mechanical Engineering Laboratory Details

• 5 - Stations
• Piston and Cam Kinematics
• Heat Exchanger
• Refrigeration Trainer
• Forced Vibrations
• Engine-Generator Set
• ...more to come

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• Piston and Cam Kinematics

Engine-Generator Set
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Refrigeration Trainer
Forced Vibrations
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Laboratory Experiment Details

• System Performance (Identification)
• Steady-State Transient
• Feedback Control

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

• WWW based
• Netscape or Internet Explorer
• Familiar accessible friendly
• Moderate bandwidth demands
• Direct via Internet
• Custom LabVIEW programs
• Low bandwidth demands

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WWW Protocol
BROWSER
SERVER
Set Point
Forms
Output
SYSTEM
CONTROL

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Graphs Data
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Direct Connection
Custom Software
SERVER
Set Point
Input Data
Output
SYSTEM
CONTROL

-
Output Data
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• Diponegoro University, Indonesia
• University of Koeln, Germany

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• May-June, 2001

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Web Sites

• chem.engr.utc.edu
• link to all Web-Labs
• www.engineering-labs.net

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Vision Plans for students

• -- access to on-line labs with a
• variety of experimental systems
• in chemical engineering

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Vision Plans for students

• -- easily design and conduct experiments
• from home, dorm, .
• -- compare local lab experimental results
• with on-line lab results

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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

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Vision Plans

• Dissemination opportunities
• www.RealLabs.net
• -- New systems
• -- Renovated and Updated systems

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Acknowledgements

• Dave Kauffman
• Tennessee Taxpayers
• National Science Foundation
• UTC's Center for Excellence in Computer
  Applications
• National Instruments
• Microsoft Corporation

---gt Booth at Expo