New era in engineering experiments: an integrated and interactive teaching/learning approach and real-time visualisations

Abstract

A computer-based and interactive laboratory system is described, and the implementation details of the system are given in this paper. The work was designed and implemented for the undergraduate electrical machines and drives teaching laboratory. The changing status of the experimenting in engineering education are discussed, and the problems identified in the conventional method of delivering the experiments are studied together with the proposed solutions. It is shown here that the alternative and cost-effective solution can overcome most of the problems that academic institutions are facing in the area of experimental work, and prepare the academic institutions to the new era of computer-based teaching and learning. Some sample front panels of the experiments are also given and the planned major future developments are highlighted.