Java-Based Framework for Remote Access to Laboratory Experiments

Abstract

This paper presents a platform independent approach to remote experimentation. It addresses a wide area of problems occurring in conjunction with remote laboratory experiments, starting with access management procedures via remote control to network- based analysis of measured data. It presents the architecture of the remote laboratory at the University of Hagen. Students have access to the experiments via Internet from anywhere at any time. They control the experiments exclusively with their standard Web browser, no additional software is needed. The remote laboratory is based on a client/server architecture, which is mainly implemented in the Java programming language. The methods and software modules developed for the lab are generic and frequently used in several remote experiments at some German universities. Furthermore the paper discusses the motivation of remote experimentation.