T4E 2010
A Virtual Laboratory for Distance Education
Kannan M. Moudgalya
Dept of Chemical Engg., IIT Bombay, Mumbai, India
kannan@iitb.ac.in
Abstract—With the addition of online laboratories, dis-
tance education can become more meaningful and com-
plete. This paper presents a virtual lab established through
LabVIEW data socket technology that enables the end
user to design and implement control algorithms. Although
this makes the problem more challenging, the quality of
learning is also enhanced enormously. We demonstrate this
lab through an open source, low cost, single board heater
system. A large number experiments have been conducted
using this setup.
Keywords-virtual labs; remote access; live data sharing;
LabVIEW; real-time control
I. I NTRODUCTION
The fast growing economy demands proactive, knowl-
edgeable and technically sound professionals and hence
a major contribution from academia. Distance education,
with the focus on rendering concepts, facilitates “Living
anywhere and studying from anywhere, anytime”. But
it leaves out practical and application oriented learning
components that are required to make a person who has
studied theory courses well rounded.
A basic control engineering course covers concepts
and techniques for process modeling and analysis, and
controller design. It is accompanied by abstract concepts
and complicated computations which if supported by
experiments can hold students’ interest in the course. The
integration of the Internet into education and numerous
web based software packages have strengthened this very
idea. Web based control labs have been in educational
practice in countries like USA, Singapore, Serbia, China,
Germany and Japan, to name a few, for quite some time
[1], [2]. Under the ongoing Virtual Labs project funded by
MHRD [3], a virtual control lab has been implemented and
tested for teaching undergraduate and postgraduate control
courses, such as Instrumentation and Process Control, and
Digital Control.
In this paper, we describe in brief a low cost single-
board heater system that can be put together at a cost of
$50 and which is available also as an open source [4]. We
discuss our experience in using it through virtual labs.
We strongly believe that a low cost of a device alone
does not make it attractive for inclusion in academic
programmes. There is a large inertia to try out any new
device. A remotely operated laboratory could be useful
in this regard. To try out such a system, a prospective
instructor need not build any infrastructure. They can re-
motely operate the device and also learn about it from the
educational material, also available remotely. If convinced,
978-1-4244-7361-8/10/$26.00 © 2010 IEEE
Inderpreet Arora
Systems and Control, IIT Bombay, Mumbai, India
inderpreet.arora@iitb.ac.in
Figure 1. Virtual control lab architecture
they can introduce the device in the new curriculum. Thus,
it makes sense to make available even a low cost device
through virtual labs.
The architecture for this lab is explained in Section II.
The virtual control lab allows remote access of a single-
board heater system, a multi input single output and open
loop stable system, discussed in Section III. Numerous ex-
periments have been performed on this setup using Scilab
and LabVIEW. LabVIEW interface for data acquisition
and remote access of these experiments is depicted in
Section II. The conventional virtual labs allow only to
change the control parameters remotely with the control
effort computed at the server end. Section II also explores
the possibility of using virtual labs as a platform for
designing and implementing real-time control algorithms
where the computation is done at the client end. Such
strategies need to account for the presence of network
delay. Section IV describes few experiments performed
on this setup to obtain the model and also to reveal the
effect of network delay. The proposed architecture to cater
these needs is depicted in Sectoin V.
II. V IRTUAL LAB ARCHITECTURE
A. Hardware architecture
The virtual control lab architecture at IIT Bombay is
shown in figure 1. It resembles the conventional virtual
labs that allow remote access of the setup but for live
data sharing. The elementary implementation involves the
plant, a computer with LabVIEW installation, and an
internet connection. The client end needs a web browser
and a LabVIEW runtime engine to remotely access the
setup.
In order to give a real feel for the system, we explored
the possibility of hosting an Apache server along with
the LabVIEW server, for video streaming. Unfortunately,
however, it overloads the system, resulting in the loss
of video quality. Low bandwidth of 100 kbps required
to cater to students even in remote corners of India [5],
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Figure 2. Web published front panel of the step response experiment
introduces a delay of about 7 s. Because of these rea-
sons, we abandoned the idea of streaming the video. The
proposed architecture for the next stage implementation is
likely to take care of audio and video streaming facility
with advanced and optimized techniques to prevent the
aforementioned drawbacks.
B. Software architecture
LabVIEW, a proprietary software by National Instru-
ments, is a graphical programming environment that facili-
tates acquisition, storage and display of the measurements,
testing and control of processes, numerical computations,
etc., using graphical icons and connecting wires. One
of the salient features of LabVIEW is its networking
capability [6]. LabVIEW VIs (virtual instruments) can
communicate with other VIs and processes running on
other applications or on remote computers. Its web server
can host front panel images, embedded VIs and any linked
documentation. With LabVIEW DataSocket Technology,
live data can be shared with other VIs across the network.
Web publishing tools: LabVIEW web publishing tool
can embed static or animated images of front panel, a VI
for remote viewing and control, and also create HTML
documents. The web server needs to be enabled to permit
client to access these documents. Security features can also
be added to allow restricted access. The web published
front panel of the step response experiment is shown in
figure 2.
Most of the existing virtual labs allow remote access of
the experiment with the entire control lying at the server
end only. As a result, the student at the remote end can
only change parameters and observe the resultant profile.
Unfortunately, however, the user cannot implement and
test an algorithm, different from that available at the server
end. To make the learning well rounded, one would have to
give this facility to the student at the remote end so that he
can try out new control strategies as well. This requires the
control effort to be calculated at the client end, in real time,
depending on the incoming data i.e. after collecting each
data sample. We have enabled this by using NI DataSocket
technology described below. Network delay could pose
problems for difficult systems in the above approach. The
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Figure 3. Single board heater system
single board heater system, used in this work, is amenable
for this approach, however.
Live data sharing: LabVIEW supports a variety of
data sharing methods like UDP/TCP, shared variables,
DataSocket, etc. This eliminates the requirement of con-
figuration code in the application. For the above discussed
virtual control lab, data transfer across computers has been
implemented using DataSocket technology.
NI DataSocket technology allows live data sharing
with other VIs on local computer or on the web [7].
DataSocket is a programming technology based on TCP/IP
communication protocol that facilitates live data transfer
between different applications on same computer or be-
tween computers across network. DataSocket comprises
the DataSocket API and the DataSocket Server which
respectively take care of data conversion and streaming.
This mode of data sharing requires LabVIEW installa-
tion at both the ends. The VI running at the client side
implements control algorithm and DataSocket server to
communicate with its counterpart at the server end. It takes
the server ip address as an input argument before starting
the communication. The events that take place during this
process are explained in PID control implementation in
Section IV. The disadvantage of this mode of data sharing
is the requirement of LabVIEW installation at both the
ends. This demand does not serve the ultimate aim of
providing low cost facilities for education and research. A
solution to this problem and a corresponding architecture
for the single-board heater system virtual lab is explained
in Section V.
III. S INGLE - BOARD HEATER SYSTEM
A single-board heater system, shown in figure 3, is
an open source, low cost, lab-in-a-box setup suitable for
performing numerous control experiments. It consists of
a heater assembly, fan, temperature sensor, microcon-
troller(ATmega16L) and associated circuitry. This section
briefs the hardware and firmware of the apparatus. More
details can be sought from [8].
Hardware
A 5 cm × 2 cm stainless steel blade whose temperature
has to be controlled acts as the plant. Nichrome wire of
0.7 mm diameter wound into a coil of 5 mm × 11 mm
serves as the heater element. It is positioned at a distance
of 3.5 mm from the steel blade. A low cost computer
fan is meant for cooling the assembly. A monolithic
integrated circuit temperature transducer, AD590, soldered
beneath the steel plate produces linear current, 1 µA
per K, proportional to the absolute temperature of the
heated plate. The corresponding voltage reading taken
across 1 kΩ resistor is fed to an instrumentation amplifier.
This circuitry with quad Opamp converts the temperature
reading to ◦ C, raises its strength by a factor of 46 and
feeds it the ADC of ATmega16L. The sensitivity of the
system is improved by operating ADC in 10-bit mode and
restricting the temperature range to 0-90◦ C. The device
communicates with the computer serial or USB port via
UART of ATmega16L. The communicated commands and
input/output data are displayed on LCD. The setup is Figure 4. Local PID implementation
powered by a 12 V DC, 8 A, computer SMPS.

Firmware
The microcontroller, ATmega16L, is the heart of this
setup. It is programmed to convert analog temperature
values to digital, serially communicate commands and
heater, fan inputs and temperature output to and from the
setup with the computer, generate PWM wave to deliver
proportional power to the load and facilitate display of
command and data bytes on LCD. The open source IDE
WinAVR and AVR Studio and the commercial ICCAVR
have been used for programming, compilation and loading
the codes [4].

IV. R EMOTE ACCESS OF CONTROL EXPERIMENTS Figure 5. Client-end panel for PID implementation on internet

Due to complete automation and a small time constant,

we have been able to carry out a large number of ex-
periments using this setup. These include identification
through step, ramp and PRBS testing; Frequency test-
ing, leading to Bode plots; PI, PID tuning; 2-DOF pole
placement, internal model and simple adaptive controllers;
Auto tune testing; Self tuning regulator. Data acquisition
interface has been independently developed using Scilab,
an open source software, and LabVIEW.
Step response experiment
The web published front panel of step test experiment
is shown in figure 2. A client needs to install a plugin, a
LabVIEW 8.0 runtime engine, to enable the browser for
remote access and enter relevant experiement url. Once the
connection has been established and panel has been down-
loaded, the client can right click and “Request control”
from the server. After the control has been granted, the
client is ready to perform the experiment. Same procedure
allows remote access of other available experiments [4].
With fan and heater inputs as manipulated variables and
temperature as a controlled variable, the client can give
a step change in heater current while maintaining fan at
a constant speed or vice versa. After the steady state is
achieved, another relevant amplitude step change in input
can be given and a SISO model can be obtained with the
collected data. Currently, the directory in which the data
are stored, is available only on intranet. However, the data
are also available, for copy, in the text box on front panel.
PID control implementation
With the live data available through DataSocket tech-
nology, PID control algorithm was implemented locally
and on internet. The motive of this experiment was not
to tune the controller parameters that result in zero steady
state error but to observe the system response for a local
controller and a controller located at a distance.
1) Local implementation: In this case, the controller
is located at the acquisition server and the access is also
done locally. The system response for this implementation
is shown in figure 4. At around 70th sample, heater current
i.e. control effort, increases due to increase in kc, the
controller gain, by the user. The system takes around
16 samples or 5 s to respond. Another change in kc at
around 270th sample causes system to respond in about
10 samples. The change in setpoint at around 425th sample
results in 15 samples delayed response.
2) On Internet: In this case, the controller is located at
the client side. The client-end panel for PID implementa-
tion is as shown in figure 5. The events occurring at server
and client are discussed next.
The client receives data acquired by the acquisition
server through internet with the technology discussed
earlier. With the PID control algorithm running in the
client machine and depending on the controller parameters
given by the client, the control effort is calculated. This
value of control effort, heater current in this case, is sent
to the server through internet. Server passes on this control

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effort to the setup and again acquires temperature from the
setup, and sends it to the client. Depending on the output
temperature, client algorithm again calculates error and
the required control effort, and sends it back to the server.
This goes on continuously. The explanation pertaining to
plot is similar to that for local controller but for delay by
number of samples. This delay was found out to be of the
order of 15 s.
3) Comparison: As expected, network delay plays an
important role in implementation of remotely located con-
troller. With local controller causing 5 s delayed response,
remote controller was found out to result around 15 s
delayed response. This may not be acceptable for an open
loop unstable system or critical applications. A soultion
to this problem is discussed in next section.
V. F UTURE WORK
Proposed virtual lab architecture
The next stage virtual lab architecture along with audio
and video streaming will have login facilities for the
users. The user will be required to book the time slot in
advance, login with the authenticated details and perform
the experiments. With one user performing the experiment,
other users, the number depending on the configuration,
will be allowed to see it. There will also be an open forum
for discussion. For the users having low bandwidth for
communication, the audio and video streaming would be
optional thereby taking care of all types of users. For live
data sharing, the possiblity of using LabVIEW executable
which when installed at the client end will enable live data
transfer, is being explored. Use of C, Java, C++, Python,
and GNU Radio for remote access and live data sharing
are also being explored.
Real-time control
The PID control experiments were performed to observe
the role of network delay while controlling the experi-
ments through web. Network delay becomes crucial for
real-time control applications. The algorithm for real-time
control of experiment through internet can start from timer
synchronization between server and client described in [9].
Once the system time at both the ends is synchronized,
network delay can be predicted by communicating tokens
with timestamp [9], [10]. Control strategy can then be
devised using time delay compensation method by distur-
bance observer [11]. The work for timer synchronization
and network delay prediction has commenced. This work
will be followed by implementation of robust algorithms
for real-time control.
VI. C ONCLUSION
In this paper, a virtual control lab architecture bas been
presented. The architecture being simple and cost effec-
tive, has the potential to bridge the gap between theory and
practice and improve the quality of conventional distance
education in the area of control. The paper also has briefly
presented a single-board heater system, a low-cost control
setup used for performing experiments remotely. Though
193
the setup is low-cost and versatile, the remote access of the
setup allows the exploration of the setup before adoption.
As the proposed architecture is generic, it can be extended
to labs that use expensive resources as well.
This paper has also discussed the technology for live
data sharing which in turn leads to real-time control of
experiments. With such platform, researchers can design,
implement and test algorithms for timer synchronization,
network delay prediction and robust control of the exper-
iments through web.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors would like to thank Mahanand Mali and
Rupak Rokade for helping with the control experiments,
and Bharat Suthar for setting up Apache server for video
streaming.
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