An Innovative Advance in Conducting Experiments €” Virtual Laboratories in The National University

Abstract

In this article, we present an overview on the web-based virtual laboratories currently available in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, NUS (National University of Singapore). Two pilot web-based virtual laboratories have been developed and launched in the Faculty of Engineering at NUS. One laboratory is on an oscilloscope experiment and is aimed to serve over 1000 first year undergraduate engineering students in the Faculty. The other is on the control of a coupled-tank system and with the capability to implement and test various control strategies, is developed for both teaching and research. Rather than simulating what was happening in the real world on the client as is often done in other virtual laboratories, the system developed makes use of real time video and audio capture of actual instrument and apparatus. In addition, the use of the mouse to turn the control buttons and knobs of the instruments has been implemented so that a more realistic feel of the instrument is provided. The launch of the virtual laboratory on the oscilloscope experiment in early March 1999 has created a lot of interests, with numerous user feedback and comments received. Both laboratories can be accessed at http://vlab.ee.nus.edu.sg/vlab.