REMOTE LABORATORY: CONDUCTING LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS OVER THE INTERNET

Abstract: The scope for Internet of Things (IoTs) has been growing exponentially due to its rapid evolution of computers, cell phones, and the internet. E-learning has become more and more popular as a result of the increased possible options for distance learning. Remote laboratories have been one of the options being examined as a serious replacement to traditional laboratories. The main objectiveof the work is to provide access to Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) laboratory from distant location. So, that it will contribute to the fields like “Distance learning”, “Remote laboratories”, “Virtual learning environments” etc. In distance education, the students may not always be physically present at an institution. However, theory classes are being conducted online but laboratory tasks are not yet been conducted over the internet. Hence scope for remote laboratory has been increasing rapidly. Remote laboratory is the use of embedded systems and IoTs to establisha connection with the real laboratory experiments at the distant location. The rapid development of processors and internet gives IOT enabled devices much more flexibility. Also, remote laboratoriesenable intensive use of university facility. The work focused on converting the PLC universal simulator experiments into remote control online laboratory. The development of remote laboratoryfor a PLC Universal Simulator helps the students to carry out laboratory experiments at any time from any location. With the help of IOT Platform and Blynk Mobile application, accessing the PLCUniversal Simulator inputs/outputs are carried.

Keywords: Universal Simulator, Programmable Logic Controller, Distance Learning, Remote Laboratory, E- learning.