An Internet based remote access experimental laboratory for embedded systems

The use of laboratory experiments is a critically important aspect of engineering education. Experience in teaching engineering has shown that a complementary approach combining theoretical and practical exercises is vital for effective learning. Students therefore need to reinforce theoretical concepts encountered in lectures by conducting physical experiments on real circuits and systems as even the most comprehensive simulators cannot fully replicate many of the practical problems related to operation of real-world equipment. This paper introduces a major 3 year EPSRC project funded under the Masters Training Programme at the Intelligent Systems Engineering Laboratory based on the Magee campus of the University of Ulster. The project in collaboration with IMEX and BT Ltd. aims to develop a system enabling postgraduate students to conduct practical experiments in embedded systems over the Internet. This system or laboratory will complement and extend the existing Masters course. Previously, students attending the course had to physically borrow experimental equipment and perform practicals off-campus. This research project seeks to rectify this situation by allowing students to undertake practical experiments remotely via the Internet. This will be achieved by extending the functionality within an existing distance learning system and in effect bring the laboratory to the student.