| 1. |
- Gustavsson, Ingvar, et al.
(author)
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Chapter 15 – The VISIR Open Lab Platform
- 2011
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In: InternetAccessible Remote Laboratories. - : IGI Global. - 9781613501863 - 9781613501870 ; , s. 294-317
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Book chapter (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The VISIR Open Lab Platform designed at the Department of Electrical Engineering (AET), the Blekinge Institute of Technology (BTH), Sweden, is a platform for opening instructional laboratories for remote access 24/7 with preserved context. VISIR is an acronym for Virtual Instrument Systems in Reality. In VISIR laboratories, students perform physical experiments and laboratory work remotely. A unique interface gives them the feeling of “being there.” The platform software is published under a GPL license, and other universities, schools, et cetera, are invited use it to open their laboratories and to participate in further research and development. Apart from BTH, five universities in Europe have set up VISIR online laboratories for electrical experiments and the Indian Institute of Technology Madras in India will set up one soon. A VISIR community has been established. Common projects are initiated, and the sharing of learning material is being discussed. This chapter is a general introduction to VISIR and its possibilities.
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| 2. |
- Gustavsson, Ingvar, et al.
(author)
-
The VISIR Open Lab Platform
- 2011
-
In: Internet Accessible Remote Laboratories. - : IGI Global. - 9781613501863 ; , s. 294-317
-
Book chapter (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The VISIR Open Lab Platform designed at the Department of Electrical Engineering (AET), the Blekinge Institute of Technology (BTH), Sweden, is a platform for opening instructional laboratories for remote access 24/7 with preserved context. VISIR is an acronym for Virtual Instrument Systems in Reality. In VISIR laboratories, students perform physical experiments and laboratory work remotely. A unique interface gives them the feeling of “being there.” The platform software is published under a GPL license, and other universities, schools, etc., are invited use it to open their laboratories and to participate in further research and development. Apart from BTH, five universities in Europe have set up VISIR online laboratories for electrical experiments and the Indian Institute of Technology Madras in India will set up one soon. A VISIR community has been established. Common projects are initiated, and the sharing of learning material is being discussed. This chapter is a general introduction to VISIR and its possibilities.
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| 3. |
- Gustavsson, Ingvar, et al.
(author)
-
A Flexible Instructional Electronics Laboratory with Local and Remote Lab Workbenches in a Grid
- 2008
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Signal Processing Department (ASB) at Blekinge Institute of Technology (BTH) has created two online lab workbenches, one for electrical experiments and one for mechanical vibration experiments, mimicking and supplementing workbenches in traditional labo-ratories. Since some years, the workbenches are used concurrently with on-site ones in regular supervised lab sessions. The students are also free to use them on their own around the clock e.g. for preparation. The electronic workbench can be used simultane-ously by many students. The aim of a project known as VISIR (Virtual Systems in Reality) founded by ASB at the end of 2006, is disseminating the online lab workbenches using open source technologies. The goal is to create a template for a grid laboratory where the nodes are workbenches for electrical ex-periments, located at different universities. This paper focuses on standards, pedagogical aspects, and measurement procedure requirements.
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| 4. |
- Gustavsson, Ingvar, et al.
(author)
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A Flexible Instructional Electronics Laboratory with Local and Remote Lab Workbenches in a Grid
- 2008
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In: International Journal of Online Engineering. - 1868-1646 .- 1861-2121. ; 4:2, s. 12-16
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Signal Processing Department (ASB) at Blekinge Institute of Technology (BTH) has created two online lab workbenches; one for electrical experiments and one for mechanical vibration experiments, mimicking and supplementing workbenches in traditional laboratories. For several years now, the workbenches have been used concurrently with on-site ones in regular, supervised lab sessions. The students are encouraged to use them on a 24/7 basis for example, in preparation for supervised sessions. The electronic workbench can be used simultaneously by many students. The aim of a project known as VISIR (Virtual Systems in Reality) founded by ASB at the end of 2006, is to disseminate the online lab workbenches using open source technologies. The goal is to create a template for a grid laboratory where the nodes are workbenches for electrical experiments, located at different universities. This paper focuses on standards, pedagogical aspects, and measurement procedure requirements.
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| 5. |
- Gustavsson, Ingvar, et al.
(author)
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Gör ingenjörsutbildningen attraktiv genom att öka det experimentella inslaget
- 2008
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Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Många idéer till hur man skall få fler ungdomar att välja ingenjörsyrket har diskuterats och provats men tyvärr utan större framgång. En ny ingrediens kan vara att öka det experimentella inslaget, något som ändå måste göras av andra skäl, varav ett är hållbar utveckling. Det är känt att genom experiment kan man lära känna naturens principer. Ingenjörer är de yrkesutövare som konstruerar många av de nyttigheter som bär upp vår civilisation. Vi använder teorier/modeller som verktyg, men dessa räcker inte alltid, utan man måste få experimentera och bygga prototyper samt verifiera. Den allmänna meningen bland lärare och andra initierade bedömare har hittills varit att laborationer är nödvändiga men lite sägs om vad de förväntas ge. Få lärosäten producerar ingenjörer med dokumenterad erfarenhet av laborativt arbete. Lärandemål för laborationer har saknats men de senaste åren har sådana börjat definieras. Under senare decennier har undervisningsanslagen heller inte räknats upp i takt med studenttillströmningen. Eftersom laborativ undervisning är kostsam per student har lärosätena valt att reducera antalet laborationer, men Internets intåg ger nya möjligheter att öppna laboratorier för fjärrstyrning och låta studenter experimentera själva, utan risk att skada sig själva eller utrustningen. Studenter får således nya möjligheter att organisera sina studier i enlighet med vad Bolognaprocessen kräver och lärosäten kan utnyttja laboratorierna mera effektivt. Vi kan öka det experimentella inslaget i undervisningen. Internationellt samarbete både avseende läromedel och experimentell utrustning ser ut att ge möjlighet att sänka de löpande kostnaderna till den grad att det experimentella inslaget kan ökas väsentligt inom befintliga anslagsramar, även om den initiala kostnaden för den forskning som först krävs då inte är inräknad. Avdelningen för signalbehandling, ASB, vid BTH har öppnat övningslaboratorier för ellära och mekaniska vibrationsexperiment för fjärrstyrning. Båda används i reguljär undervisning sedan några år. Ett unikt användargränssnitt gör det möjligt att från valfriplats styra och manövrera experimentutrustning på samma sätt som i laboratorielokalerna. Studenterna får möjlighet att i förväg bekanta sig med instrumenten och utföra föreskrivna experiment enskilt eller tillsammans med andra. Dessa öppna laboratorier ger möjlighet att inkludera praktiska uppgifter i skriftliga tentamina, förutsatt att examination kan ske i datorsal, varvid erfarenhet av laborativt arbete enkelt kan examineras för varje enskild student. ASB har startat ett projekt VISIR (Virtual Systems in Reality) som handlar om att sprida BTH:s öppna laboratoriekoncept och formulera standarder inom området. Tillhörande programvara har publicerats som öppen källkod. BTH bjuder in andra lärosäten att delta i projektet och i dess vidareutveckling mot internationella standarder. Två internationella universitet har redan öppnat kopior av elläralaboratoriet och deltar aktivt i vidareutvecklingen. ASB har nyligen blivit inbjuden av ett universitet i Australien att delta ett projekt med titeln ”Enriching Student Learning Experience through International Collaboration in Remote Laboratories”. Detta beviljade projekt är ett resultat av nya pedagogiska möjligheter, som diskuteras i detta bidrag. ASB söker samarbete med pedagoger och andra forskare intresserade av experimentella inslag i ingenjörsutbildningen. Lärandemål för laborativt arbete, öppna laboratorier och internationellt samarbete kan bli ingredienser i en moderniserad och attraktiv ingenjörsutbildning.
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| 6. |
- Gustavsson, Ingvar, et al.
(author)
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Remote Operation and Control of Traditional Laboratory Equipment
- 2006
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In: International Journal of Online Engineering. - 1868-1646 .- 1861-2121. ; 2:1, s. 1-8
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Physical experiments are indispensable for developing skills to deal with physical processes and instrumentation. The Internet provides new possibilities for universities and other teaching organizations to share laboratories and increase the number of lab sessions without incurring any increase in cost. Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden has opened a traditional electronics laboratory for remote operation and control 24/7; it is the first of its kind. The laboratory is equipped with a unique virtual interface enabling students to recognize on their own computer screen the desktop instruments and the breadboard they have already used in the local laboratory. The research is focused on what is perceived to be the greatest challenge, i.e. to give the student laboratory experience that is as genuine as possible despite the lack of direct contact with the actual lab hardware at the same time as it allows the teacher to use existing equipment and teaching material. The goal is to produce an open international standard.
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| 7. |
- Gustavsson, Ingvar, et al.
(author)
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Telemanipulator for Remote Wiring of Electrical Circuits
- 2008
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Nowadays, students want extended access to learning resources and increased freedom to organize their learning activities. Remote access to laboratories enables students to perform physical experiments on their own 24/7. It is easy to control most electronic instruments remotely but some kind of telemanipulator is often required. The Signal Processing Department (ASB) at Blekinge Institute of Technology (BTH) has created an online lab workbench for electrical experiments, mimicking and supplementing workbenches in local laboratories. Students being at home can, for example, use the online workbench in order to prepare themselves for supervised lab sessions and/or participate in such sessions taking place in a local laboratory. A virtual breadboard is used to control a telemanipulator (switching matrix) performing the circuit wiring. Together with virtual front panels depicting the front panels of the desktop instruments, it gives distant students the impression that they are working in a real laboratory. This paper describes the virtual breadboard and switching matrix combination, which can be used in many switching applications.
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| 8. |
- Gustavsson, Ingvar, et al.
(author)
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The VISIR project – an Open Source Software Initiative for Distributed Online Laboratories
- 2007
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Blekinge Institute of Technology (BTH) in Sweden has started a project known as VISIR (Virtual Instrument Systems in Reality) together with National Instruments in USA and Axiom EduTech in Sweden to disseminate an online laboratory concept created at BTH using open source technologies in collaboration with other universities and organizations. The concept is about adding a remote operation option to traditional instructional laboratories to make them more accessible, irrespective of whether the students are on campus or mainly off campus. The BTH option is equipped with a unique interface enabling students to recognize on their own computer screen the instruments and other equipment most of them have previously used in the local laboratory. The first remote control option implemented is for an electronics laboratory and the second one is for a signal processing laboratory with emphasis on mechanical vibration experiments. The electronics lab option features remote circuit wiring using a virtual breadboard and a relay switching matrix combination. The goal is an international standard, enabling teams worldwide to expand and develop jointly this powerful approach into distributed online laboratories by using standardized software such as IVI (Interchangeable Virtual Instruments) and equipment platforms such as PXI (PCI eXtensions for Instrumentation) and LXI (LAN eXtensions for Instrumentation).
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| 9. |
- Åkesson, Henrik, et al.
(author)
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Remote Experimental Vibration Analysis of Mechanical Structures over the Internet
- 2005
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Experimental vibration analysis is of significant importance for e.g. the automobile and aircraft industry. It provides detailed information concerning the actual dynamic properties of vibration, structures, etc. Commonly, information from experimental vibration analysis is used in the development or modification of structures, processes, etc. to obtain for instance a required dynamic behaviour. It usually involves analysis methods such as; spectrum analysis, correlation analysis, experimental modal analysis and operating deflection shapes analysis (ODS). Large experience is generally required to obtain reliable results with these methods. The best way to acquire such experience is to spend many hours in a laboratory supervised by an expert teacher. However, in engineering education the experimental resources are limited and the traditional way of conducting vibration experiments is to participate in time limited scheduled lab sessions. Internet, however, provides the opportunity for engineering students to access the practical and theoretical knowledge advancement in experimental vibration analysis that is highly attractive for the industry. Laboratory exercises in, for example, experimental vibration analysis and signal processing courses, can now be performed remotely using real equipment. Advanced vibration experiments have been conducted over the Internet at Blekinge Institute of Technology, Sweden; the experiments have been carried out using experimental hardware located in a small closed laboratory. Exercises are adapted to on-campus students as well as distance learning engineers in continuing education programs. A new possibility to directly integrate vibration experiments into lectures given by expert teachers appears and after each lecture the students can repeat and elaborate on the experiments. Thus, enabling the students to carry out the experiments within a course at home using the time they require for sufficient comprehension. In this paper the remote experimental vibration analysis laboratory and its possibilities will be presented.
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| 10. |
- Åkesson, Henrik, et al.
(author)
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Vibration Analysis of Mechanical Structures over the Internet Integrated into Engineering Education
- 2006
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Experimental vibration analysis is one of the most important tools for analyzing dynamic properties of mechanical structures. The information from experimental vibration analysis is used in the development of products to obtain a required dynamic behavior, or for instance classify vibration problems in different public, industrial environments etc. In order to carry out such experiments with high quality, knowledge about different analysis methods is of great importance. Also a large experimental experience is required to obtain reliable results as in any field. In engineering education experiment using real mechanical structures and equipment is of significance for the learning process. In traditional university laboratories students conduct experiments under the supervision of an instructor. However, a trend towards decreasing investments to maintain these laboratories can be seen all over the world and instead an increase of simulations or theoretical experiments is replacing these hands on experiments due to cost. Blekinge Institute of Technology (BTH), Sweden provide the opportunity for engineering students to remotely access the practical and theoretical knowledge advancement in experimental vibration analysis that is highly attractive for the industry. Remote laboratory exercises are to day a reality at BTH and are a complement to on-campus laboratory experiments, increasing the availability of the instruments. Previously vibration experiments have been conducted over the Internet at BTH, using experimental hardware located in a small closed laboratory. A further step towards a more user-friendly interface has been developed, increasing the feeling of being in front of a real instrument instead of a virtual front panel. This paper presents a new remote vibration laboratory and how remote experimental vibration analysis has been integrated in the engineering education as a complement to ordinary lessons and experiments in traditional laboratories.
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