Virtual environment for remote access and automation of an AC motor in a web-based laboratory

As a teaching aid, aimed at engineering students, virtual instrumentation is a powerful resource for the understanding of how monitoring and control of physical systems can be carried out. In this paper, we report on the design of a virtual environment which allows the execution of experimental exercises that are complimentary to an undergraduate course on AC motors. The developed e-learning system allows remote access and automation of laboratory equipment, enabling students to perform experiments at their own pace, without being physically in the actual laboratory. In addition to the normal benefits of conventional experimental work, such as complementing learning objectives, the proposed system enhances the possibilities of further testing by programming non-usual conditions on the tests. Besides that, the web-based virtual environment empowers students by granting them access to laboratories during their free time. A practical example is presented in order to show results and capabilities of the system.