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Online Laboratories and Interactive Simulations in ALNs
Online Laboratories and Interactive Simulations in ALNs
Laboratory for Systems and Telecommunications
University of Florida
Haniph A. Latchman, University of FloridaDenis Gillet, Swiss Federal Institute of TechnologyJim Henry, University of Tennessee at ChattanoogaOscar Crisalle, University of Florida
Introduction Traditional Classes are reinforced by
practical experimentation Make experimental activities available to
REMOTE students– Why?– How?
Current status : Internet not deterministic, nor have reserved bandwidth
University of FloridaHaniph A. Latchman--
WE
BC
T U
mbrella
ALN (Asynchronous Learning Network)
NF
S
Live DemosLecture on Demand
Remote Lectures -
Virtual ProfessorInteractive
simulations
Sh
ared resou
rces
- labs
Ed
ucation
Sloan
Gran
t
Real M
ediaUF Global UF
MS
media
SU
CC
EE
D
Bell S
outh
University of FloridaHaniph A. Latchman--
The Net Effect on the Business of Education in the Cyberage
Lecture Individual Readings
Written Exercises
Live Demos
Virtual Experiments
Real Experiments
Practical Projects
Teacher involvement Student involvement
Mastery
Expertise
Design Capabilities
Analysis Capabilities
Knowledge of tools
Teacher Involvement Student involvement
Lecture LiveDemos
IndividualReadings
WrittenExercises
VirtualExperiments
RealExperiments
PracticalProjects
University of FloridaHaniph A. Latchman--
EEL6507 (Queueing Theory) Synchronized Lecture Fall 98’
Sync-PowerPoint with video
INFO
Menu
Real Player
University of FloridaHaniph A. Latchman--
The Inverted Pendulum
University of FloridaHaniph A. Latchman--
The Model Helicopter
University of FloridaHaniph A. Latchman--
Traditional Motor Control
University of FloridaHaniph A. Latchman--
Motivation(Why the INTERNET?)
The Internet is not designed to handle real-time
traffic, BUT
University of FloridaHaniph A. Latchman--
Telepresence : “Interaction” with real equipment from a
distant location
GlobalInfrastructure
Telepresence
Hardware & softwarein broadcast A/V
Interactivityto bandwidth
Best approach to learning; NOT traditional classroom
Teachers realize, and implement– Laboratory scale processes
– CAI(Computer Aided Instruction) tools
Especially useful in automatic control classes– Abstract concepts become real
– Dynamic phenomena can be observed
– Student Motivated to learn by solving real problems
University of FloridaHaniph A. Latchman--
Why emphasis On Experiments in Engineering?
Distance learning Increasingly popular
– Increasing number of Students– Decreasing allocated resources– Demand for more flexible hours– Changing life styles
History – Written materials by mail– Videotapes– WWW– ALN - Complete courses
University of FloridaHaniph A. Latchman--
Learning models enhanced by Remote Experimentation
Students’ on campus presence not required. “Anytime” experiments, whenever student
curiosity dictates, enhances learning. Existence of distance learning facilities
fosters competition among institutions. Remote experimentation beneficial to
research & industry : share expensive equipment.
University of FloridaHaniph A. Latchman--
Goals of Remote experimentation High level of interactivity allowed Fast system responsiveness to user inputs User must be able to use senses of vision &
hearing to perceive local system responses Even “touch” remote process Timely feedback of System response(actual
responses may be fractions of second) Low cost and high availability (use Internet)
University of FloridaHaniph A. Latchman--
Requirements of real time control over the Internet
Basic Components of the pendulum system Physical system, AD/DA Cards, Server, Identical display screen
for Clients&Server, Network
University of FloridaHaniph A. Latchman--
Fi gure 1. P
hysical system
Requirements of real time control over the Internet(cont.)
User Interface– GUI developed with
LabVIEW
– Oscilloscope window - real process measurements are displayed
University of FloridaHaniph A. Latchman--
– Sliders(4) - representing user defined parameters
– “Hand” button, for invoking perturbations analogous to local user
– Additional window - sampling period connection state, etc
Figure 2. Graphic User Interface
Requirements of real time control over the Internet(cont.)
Operation of the Remote experimentation system– Client-Server Configuration
– Server : Local machine, Runs algorithm to control the experiment in real time, May use GUI like clients, Digital camera and microphone connected
– Client : Network module, GUI module, Two modes of operation(Standard client or Master client)
University of FloridaHaniph A. Latchman--
Requirements of real time control over the Internet(cont.)
Managing client requests– Server waits for client access 24hours/day
– Point-to-Point sessions granted according to hierarchy of client requests
– User must launch client software ; request connection to server
– First, client connects as STANDARD client :Audio, Video and data streams only
Commands to physical system not allowed
– If no client connections, server my initiate idle state
University of FloridaHaniph A. Latchman--
Requirements of real time control over the Internet(cont.)
Assigning MASTER Mode– Standard client can request Master Mode– If user permission OK, request placed in queue.– MASTER client status is assigned to only one client at a
time.– MASTER client status valid for a pre-defined period of time– USER can quit Master client status & relinquish control of
the experiment at any time,– Multi client session also possible :
Instructor = Master client.
University of FloridaHaniph A. Latchman--
University of FloridaHaniph A. Latchman--
Requirements of real time control over the Internet(cont.)
Classes of Information Streams– The Parameter Stream
– The Data Stream
– The Administrative Stream
– The Audio/Video Stream
University of FloridaHaniph A. Latchman--
ClientServer
Data stream
Audio/Video stream
GUI
Client section
Parameter stream
Administrative stream
Low
er priority
compression and packet loss is allowed compression and packet loss is not allowed
Hierarchy of Information streams
University of FloridaHaniph A. Latchman--
Requirements of real time control over the Internet(cont.)
Other Requirements– Available 24 hours/day
– Minimal local maintenance
– Resetable to known safe state
– Robust precautions to prevent physical system damages
– Allow user to operate close to undesirable states
– User ability to perturb the physical process
Overall system operation(cont.)
University of FloridaHaniph A. Latchman--
Figure 7. Optimal control solution.
Overall system operation(cont.) Bandwidth adaptation
– Same aggressiveness as TCP
– Based on three network states : Unloaded, Loaded, Congested
– Maximum and Minimum values defined by sender application
– Maximum flow constrained only by speed at which video grabber can supply compressed images
– Highly flexible
– Receiver can request lower limit for max flow
– Flow is a function of : packet size, packet rate
University of FloridaHaniph A. Latchman--
Content and Priority
University of FloridaHaniph A. Latchman--
Figure 8. Streams priority
Overall system operation(cont.)
Content and Priority(cont.)– Streams transmitted through single channel– Next packet defined by priority & user factor– Available bandwidth shared between Video and
Data– User can adjust
Image quality Image rate Ration split between data and video stream
University of FloridaHaniph A. Latchman--
Overall system operation(cont.)
Packet recovery and reordering– Lost of late packets must be recovered locally
Data : If system model is known, reconstruction by simulation or discarded, depending on display progression
Video: Discarded, depending on display progression
Optional : User decides to record data - no packet discarded
University of FloridaHaniph A. Latchman--
Client-Server architecture
University of FloridaHaniph A. Latchman--
A Hybrid Virtual Reality/ Measurement-based system
Video and virtual reality image
University of FloridaHaniph A. Latchman--
Online Laboratories and Interactive Simulations in ALNs Haniph A. Latchman, University of Florida Denis Gillet, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
Jim HenryUniversity of Tennessee at Chattanooga Oscar Crisalle, University of Florida
Since 1995
Controls Engineering Chemical Engineering Mechanical Engineering
Since 1995
REAL EXPERIMENTS Controls, Data Retrieval Live Video, Live Audio
Since 1995
REAL EXPERIMENTSControls, Data Retrieval, Live Video, Live Audio
Distant studentsAsynchronous Experiments
Since 1995
REAL EXPERIMENTSControls, Data Retrieval, Live Video, Live Audio
More Distant studentsAsynchronous Experiments
Pool of typical plants of process engineering at UTC
International cooperation in control engineering education using online experiments:
Enabling technology and learning systems
Prof. Dr. H. M Schaedel
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Fachhochschule KölnUniversity of Applied Sci-ences Cologne
Prof. Dr. Jim Henry
Online Workshop in the practical control course at FHK
SS 2000 2 groups of 10 students SS 2001 2 groups of 10 students SS 2002 4 groups of 10 students
Students of the 4th semester of the Faculty IME
Experiment via internet and theoretical investigations
Process Modeling
Parameter Estimation
Controller Tuning
From data via internet:
Test of the controlled circuit at UTC via the internet
Transfer of the controller tuning to the Plant at UTC
Test of the control circuit behaviour
Data transfer of the results for the controlled cicuit to FHK
Setpoint change
Disturbance change
Results
Students were fascinated by the opportunities of this type of education
they showed up very motivated most of them repeated some of the
experiments for the evaluation of the test results
way of cooperation will be extended
Conclusions The internet provides new and challenging
ways for international cooperation in engineering education where distances do not play any role.
Common resources can be used for the benefit of students in countries around the world.
This is an excellent way of meeting the demands of a growing globalization in the fields of engineering education.
Water Level in a Tank Control
Classic Control Experiments
Water Level in a Tank Control
Watch it LIVE!
Pressure Swing Adsorption
Modern Process Experiments
Distillation
Complex System Experiments
Distillation
ContinuouslyUpdated Graphsof results--sharable on the web
Distillation
Complete data files--sharable on the web
Comments Asynchronous learning breeds students
autonomy -- Fogler REAL engineering experiments are available
24x7
Provides students access to practical experiences in the subject of their study
Comments Asynchronous learning breeds students
autonomy -- Fogler REAL engineering experiments are available
24x7
Provides students access to practical experiences in the subject of their study
Introducing Flexibility in Traditional Engineering Education by Providing Dedicated On-line Experimentation
and Tutoring Resources Dr. Denis Gillet
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne (EPFL)
& Oscar Crisalle
Chemical Engineering DepartmentUniversity of Florida
Flexibility in Traditional Academic Education
Less– classroom lectures– conflicting course schedules
More– active learning & autonomy
– choice for time & place
– customized content & environment
– personalized assistance & tutoring
Web-Based Supporting Resources
Lectures on demand Online course material Online experimentation facilities
– Simulation tools: Web-based simulation– Laboratory setups: Remote experimentation
Asynchronous and synchronous assistance Collaborative work environments
Ongoing Deployment Projectshttp://eMersion.epfl.ch
Flexible access to experimentation resources Hands-on practice and autonomous learning Immersion environment dedicated
to Web-based experimentation The cockpit metaphor
– Planning– Observation– Action & Reaction– Analysis & Synthesis
Ongoing Deployment Projectshttp://Mentors.epfl.ch
Education modules for tutors & students Autonomy and collaborative work Mentoring environment
and tutoring services The eJournal metaphor
– Annotation– Collaboration– Assistance– Assignment submission
Pilot Course in Automatic Control
Traditional
laboratory
activities
carried out
in team
More flexibility is needed for logistical
and pedagogical reasons
Interaction console
Annotation and
collaboration
space: eJournal
Analysis toolkit
Planning facility
Deployment Scenario
Preliminary training: 3-hours workshops– TA: How to carry out flexible assistance &
tutoring ?– Students: How to get organized and handle
autonomy ? Laboratory course: Interactive 2-hours Web-
based experimentation modules– Prelab: Mandatory preparatory activities– Labwork: Remote access to laboratory resources– Grading: Lab-test and discussions
Assistance & Tutoring
Kick-off– Introduction to pedagogical objectives– Learning approach and evaluation scheme– Cockpit functionalities and usage– Best practices and hints
On-demand– Office hours or on-line support (FAQ, email or
phone)– Close to immediate feedback from peers or TA
Contractual– Evaluation and annotation of the prelab
Pilot Course Assessment
Two pilot groups– 2001: Mechanical engineering students 8 / 27– 2002: Micro-engineering students 20 / 82
Motivation of the volunteers– Management of the workload– Possibility to carry out more experiments– Access to the TA
Assessment trough questionnaires and collective interviews (debriefing)
Pilot Course Assessment
Collaboration between peers– Quick substitute to the TA
Interaction between TA and students– Combined technical, organizational and educational
requests - Asynchronous assistance to handle Learning process
– Sustained acquisition of auto-evaluation skills Grading scheme
– Individual schedule compete with regular courses
Concluding Remarks
Assistance and tutoring in flexible education– Trained students and TA – Decoupled formative and normative feedback– Distributed roles between peers, TA and instructor
Experimentation resources sharing– Access: Partnerships or subsidiary companies– Resources: Web-based simulation tools, generic lab
equipment and open environments– Support: Responsibility of the students’ institutions
Lab Resources Sharing
Distributed Laboratory– International and European networks– Enrichment by integrating new resources– Level of contribution according to the partner expertise
Lab experiments = Neutral resources– Modules, interactive exercises, lab setups, …– Same setup can be used in various contexts
Focus on environment instead of content– Support for high-level cognitive activities
For Further Informanton
http://worldwidecontrols.org
Thank you!University of FloridaHaniph A. Latchman--
Contact Information• [email protected]• [email protected]• [email protected]• [email protected]