Remote web-based control laboratories using embedded Linux and field-programmable gate array

Abstract

In this article, the authors present a new approach based on the hardware and software architecture using embedded Linux and field-programmable gate array for implementation of remote laboratories. It combines a set of software and hardware resources in the interest of offering a multidisciplinary low-cost open platform for engineering education. Thus, the proposed approach allows students to develop low-cost and easily programmable prototypes of electrical systems control, robotics, and other embedded devices that feature Internet connectivity, Input/output, networking, and operating systems. In the proposed work, the authors present a codesign solution with flexible hardware devices, providing characteristics of multipurpose use with many experimental devices, and fully configurable graphical user interface. The physical setup and communication principles of hardware architecture are based on two types of devices: the Beaglebone running embedded Linux operating system and the field-programmable logic gate array. The graphical user interface is designed as a web page based on HTML and PHP programming languages; this allows the teachers/students to control the system easily, parameterize, and observe the behavior of the controller/system remotely.