Research Article
BibTex RIS Cite

Development of Virtual Robotic Laboratory and Materials for Education and Research

Year 2022, Volume: 9 Issue: 1, 514 - 540, 30.06.2022
https://doi.org/10.35193/bseufbd.1089501

Abstract

Robotic era is near, has never been before. In this new era, robotic education must have quality and accessibility for everyone. In this study, a disruptive technology for future of distance education based on virtual robotic laboratory (U-Plat) is presented. The created robotics education platform allows users to access a virtual robotics laboratory and training programs using internet interfaces. This environment allows them to control simulated robots, analyze and evaluate the results of experiments performed. U-Plat gives researchers, students and people working in the field of robotics the chance to learn Robot Operating System (ROS) and increase their knowledge with robotics training from beginner to advanced level. Also, U-Plat gives researchers opportunity to try their codes in online platform. Compared to traditional learning methods, U-Plat can be seen as an easier and more effective learning/teaching platform for ROS exercises, as it is an open source system. The user experience has been tried to be provided in all training tools with a very simplified and easily understandable interface. All designed training tools are provided through a web interface supported by advanced cloud systems and Docker container infrastructure. As a result, U-Plat is a novel robotic learning platform that can lead future laboratory research and distance robotic education.

Thanks

This study is supported by İnovasyon Mühendislik Ltd. Şti.

References

  • Yayan, U., Akar, B., Inan, F., & Yazici, A. (2014). Development of indoor navigation software for intelligent wheelchair. In 2014 IEEE International Symposium on Innovations in Intelligent Systems and Applications (INISTA) Proceedings, 325-329.
  • Edrees, M. E. (2013). eLearning 2.0: Learning management systems readiness. In 2013 Fourth International Conference on e-Learning" Best Practices in Management, Design and Development of e-Courses: Standards of Excellence and Creativity", 90-96.
  • Gomes, L., & Seta, B. (2009). Current trends in remote laboratories. IEEE Transactions on industrial electronics, 56(12), 4744-4756.
  • Lin, Y., Wang, S., Wu, Q., & Chen, L. (2019). Key technologies and solutions of remote distributed virtual laboratory for E-learning and E-education. Mobile Networks and Applications, 24(1), 18-24.
  • Schmid, C., Eikaas, T. I., Foss, B., & Gillet, D. (2001). A remote laboratory experimentation network. IFAC Proceedings Volumes, 34(9), 515-520.
  • Alkhaldi, T., Pranata, I., & Athauda, R. I. (2016). A review of contemporary virtual and remote laboratory implementations: observations and findings. Journal of Computers in Education, 3(3), 329-351.
  • Tzafestas, S. G. (2009). Web-based control and robotics education.
  • Santana, I., Ferre, M., Izaguirre, E., Aracil, R., & Hernandez, L. (2012). Remote laboratories for education and research purposes in automatic control systems. IEEE transactions on industrial informatics, 9(1), 547-556.
  • Minamide, A., Yamada, H., Takemata, K., & Hastie, M. (2012). Redesigned Long-Distance-Controlled Robot System for distance education. In 2012 7th International Conference on Computing and Convergence Technology (ICCCT), 472-475.
  • McKee, G., & Barson, R. (1995). NETROLAB: a networked laboratory for robotics education, 8, 8.
  • Casini, M., Garulli, A., Giannitrapani, A., & Vicino, A. (2010). A matlab-based remote lab for multi-robot experiments. IFAC Proceedings Volumes, 42(24), 162-167.
  • Casini, M., Garulli, A., Giannitrapani, A., & Vicino, A. (2014). A remote lab for experiments with a team of mobile robots. Sensors, 14(9), 16486-16507.
  • Neamtu, D. V., Fabregas, E., Wyns, B., De Keyser, R., Dormido, S., & Ionescu, C. M. (2011). A remote laboratory for mobile robot applications. IFAC Proceedings Volumes, 44(1), 7280-7285.
  • Xue, X., Yang, S. X., & Meng, M. H. (2005). Remote sensing and teleoperation of a mobile robot via the internet. In 2005 IEEE International Conference on Information Acquisition, 6.
  • Petrovič, P., & Balogh, R. (2012). Deployment of Remotely-Accessible Robotics Laboratory. International Journal of Online Engineering, 8.
  • Yang, X., Petriu, D. C., Whalen, T. E., & Petriu, E. F. M. (2004). A web-based 3d virtual robot remote control system. In Canadian Conference on Electrical and Computer Engineering 2004 (IEEE Cat. No. 04CH37513), 2, 955-958.
  • Casini, M., Chinello, F., Prattichizzo, D., & Vicino, A. (2008). RACT: A remote lab for robotics experiments. IFAC Proceedings Volumes, 41(2), 8153-8158.
  • Marin, R., León, G., Wirz, R., Sales, J., Claver, J. M., Sanz, P. J., & Fernández, J. (2009). Remote programming of network robots within the UJI industrial robotics telelaboratory: FPGA vision and SNRP network protocol. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, 56(12), 4806-4816.
  • Kuzucuoglu, A. E., & Erdemir, G. (2011). Development of a web-based control and robotic applications laboratory for control engineering education. Information technology and control, 40(4), 352-358.
  • Ionescu, C. M., Fabregas, E., Cristescu, S. M., Dormido, S., & De Keyser, R. (2013). A remote laboratory as an innovative educational tool for practicing control engineering concepts. IEEE Transactions on Education, 56(4), 436-442.
  • Balestrino, A., Caiti, A., & Crisostomi, E. (2008). From remote experiments to web-based learning objects: An advanced telelaboratory for robotics and control systems. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, 56(12), 4817-4825.
  • Masár, I., Bischoff, A., & Gerke, M. (2004). Remote experimentation in distance education for control engineers. Proceedings of Virtual University, 16-17.
  • Šafarič, R., Truntič, M., Hercog, D., & Pačnik, G. (2005). Control and robotics remote laboratory for engineering education. International Journal of Online Engineering, 1(1), 1-8.
  • Dwivedi, Y. K., Hughes, D. L., Coombs, C., Constantiou, I., Duan, Y., Edwards, J. S., ... & Upadhyay, N. (2020). Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on information management research and practice: Transforming education, work and life. International journal of information management, 55, 102211.
  • Sagiroglu, S., Yilmaz, N., & Wani, M. A. (2006). Web robot learning powered by bluetooth communication system. In 2006 5th International Conference on Machine Learning and Applications (ICMLA'06), 149-156.
  • Popescu, D., Selisteanu, D., Dinulescu, I., & Popescu, L. C. (2008, July). Web based telematics application for robotics. In 2008 The Third International Multi-Conference on Computing in the Global Information Technology (iccgi 2008), 19-24.
  • Potkonjak, V., Vukobratović, M., Jovanović, K., & Medenica, M. (2010). Virtual Mechatronic/Robotic laboratory–A step further in distance learning. Computers & Education, 55(2), 465-475.
  • Moody, J. A. O., Alonso, R. E. S., Barbosa, J. J. G., & Morales, G. R. (2016). Virtual laboratories for training in industrial robotics. IEEE Latin America Transactions, 14(2), 665-672.
  • Ghayoor, F. (2020). A MATLAB-based virtual robotics laboratory: Demonstrated by a two-wheeled inverted pendulum. The International Journal of Electrical Engineering & Education, 57(4), 301-320.
  • Suwasono, S., Prihanto, D., Wahyono, I. D., & Nafalski, A. (2017). Virtual Laboratory for Line Follower Robot Competition. International Journal of Electrical and Computer Engineering, 7(4), 2253.
  • Lin, M., San, L., & Ding, Y. (2020, March). Construction of robotic virtual laboratory system based on Unity3D. In IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 768(7), 072084.
  • Peidró, A., Tendero, C., Marín, J. M., Gil, A., Payá, L., & Reinoso, O. (2018). m-PaRoLa: a Mobile Virtual Laboratory for Studying the Kinematics of Five-bar and 3RRR Planar Parallel Robots. IFAC-Papers On Line, 51(4), 178-183.
  • Favario, L. (2018, December). Remote Programming Environments: the Robotic Laboratory Case. In 2018 IEEE International Conference on Teaching, Assessment, and Learning for Engineering (TALE), 820-824.
  • Jara, C. A., Candelas, F. A., & Torres, F. (2008). Virtual and remote laboratory for robotics e-learning. In Computer Aided Chemical Engineering, 25, 1193-1198.
  • Román-Ibáñez, V., Pujol-López, F. A., Mora-Mora, H., Pertegal-Felices, M. L., & Jimeno-Morenilla, A. (2018). A low-cost immersive virtual reality system for teaching robotic manipulators programming. Sustainability, 10(4), 1102.
  • Xu, X., Guo, P., Zhai, J., & Zeng, X. (2020). Robotic kinematics teaching system with virtual reality, remote control and an on–site laboratory. International Journal of Mechanical Engineering Education, 48(3), 197-220.
  • Yayan, U. (2020). Virtual Robotic Laboratory (Uplat) Cloud Challenge [Video]. Youtube. https://youtu.be/rggLZCkaN6k
  • Helming, Jonas; Koegel, Maximilian (2018-06-20). "What is Eclipse Theia?". EclipseSource. Retrieved 2022-03-12.

Eğitim ve Araştırma Amaçlı Sanal Robotik Laboratuvarı ve Materyallerinin Geliştirilmesi

Year 2022, Volume: 9 Issue: 1, 514 - 540, 30.06.2022
https://doi.org/10.35193/bseufbd.1089501

Abstract

Robotik çağı, daha önce hiç olmadığı yakın. Bu yeni çağda robotik eğitim, herkes için kaliteli ve erişilebilir olmalıdır. Bu çalışmada, sanal robotik laboratuvara (U-Plat) dayalı uzaktan eğitimin geleceği için yıkıcı bir teknoloji sunulmuştur. Oluşturulan robotik eğitim platformu, kullanıcıların internet arayüzleri kullanarak sanal bir robotik laboratuvara ve eğitim programlarına erişmelerini sağlar. Bu ortam, simüle edilmiş robotları kontrol etmelerine, gerçekleştirilen deney sonuçlarını analiz etmelerine ve değerlendirmelerine olanak tanır. U-Plat, araştırmacılara, öğrencilere ve robotik alanında çalışmalar yapan kişilere Robot İşletim Sistemini (ROS) öğrenme ve başlangıç seviyesinden ileri seviyeye robotik eğitimi ile bilgilerini artırma şansı verir. Ayrıca U-Plat, araştırmacılara kodlarını çevrimiçi platformda deneme fırsatı verir. U-Plat, geleneksel öğrenme yöntemleriyle kıyaslanacak olursa, açık kaynaklı bir sistem olması sebebiyle, ROS alıştırmalarının daha kolay ve etkili bir şekilde öğrenme/öğretme platformu olarak görülebilir. Eğitim için gerekli tüm araçlar, kullanıcı deneyimleri göz önünde bulundurularak sadeleştirilmiş bir arayüz ile sunulmaktadır. Bu araçlar, bulut ve Docker konteyner sistemleri kullanılarak, web arayüzü üzerinden kullanıcıya sunulur. Bu sistem, dört farklı türde mobil robotun görev bazlı eğitimleri ile birlikte sunulmaktadır.Sonuç olarak, U-Plat gelecekteki laboratuvar araştırmalarına ve uzaktan robotik eğitime liderlik edebilecek yeni bir robotik öğrenme platformudur.

References

  • Yayan, U., Akar, B., Inan, F., & Yazici, A. (2014). Development of indoor navigation software for intelligent wheelchair. In 2014 IEEE International Symposium on Innovations in Intelligent Systems and Applications (INISTA) Proceedings, 325-329.
  • Edrees, M. E. (2013). eLearning 2.0: Learning management systems readiness. In 2013 Fourth International Conference on e-Learning" Best Practices in Management, Design and Development of e-Courses: Standards of Excellence and Creativity", 90-96.
  • Gomes, L., & Seta, B. (2009). Current trends in remote laboratories. IEEE Transactions on industrial electronics, 56(12), 4744-4756.
  • Lin, Y., Wang, S., Wu, Q., & Chen, L. (2019). Key technologies and solutions of remote distributed virtual laboratory for E-learning and E-education. Mobile Networks and Applications, 24(1), 18-24.
  • Schmid, C., Eikaas, T. I., Foss, B., & Gillet, D. (2001). A remote laboratory experimentation network. IFAC Proceedings Volumes, 34(9), 515-520.
  • Alkhaldi, T., Pranata, I., & Athauda, R. I. (2016). A review of contemporary virtual and remote laboratory implementations: observations and findings. Journal of Computers in Education, 3(3), 329-351.
  • Tzafestas, S. G. (2009). Web-based control and robotics education.
  • Santana, I., Ferre, M., Izaguirre, E., Aracil, R., & Hernandez, L. (2012). Remote laboratories for education and research purposes in automatic control systems. IEEE transactions on industrial informatics, 9(1), 547-556.
  • Minamide, A., Yamada, H., Takemata, K., & Hastie, M. (2012). Redesigned Long-Distance-Controlled Robot System for distance education. In 2012 7th International Conference on Computing and Convergence Technology (ICCCT), 472-475.
  • McKee, G., & Barson, R. (1995). NETROLAB: a networked laboratory for robotics education, 8, 8.
  • Casini, M., Garulli, A., Giannitrapani, A., & Vicino, A. (2010). A matlab-based remote lab for multi-robot experiments. IFAC Proceedings Volumes, 42(24), 162-167.
  • Casini, M., Garulli, A., Giannitrapani, A., & Vicino, A. (2014). A remote lab for experiments with a team of mobile robots. Sensors, 14(9), 16486-16507.
  • Neamtu, D. V., Fabregas, E., Wyns, B., De Keyser, R., Dormido, S., & Ionescu, C. M. (2011). A remote laboratory for mobile robot applications. IFAC Proceedings Volumes, 44(1), 7280-7285.
  • Xue, X., Yang, S. X., & Meng, M. H. (2005). Remote sensing and teleoperation of a mobile robot via the internet. In 2005 IEEE International Conference on Information Acquisition, 6.
  • Petrovič, P., & Balogh, R. (2012). Deployment of Remotely-Accessible Robotics Laboratory. International Journal of Online Engineering, 8.
  • Yang, X., Petriu, D. C., Whalen, T. E., & Petriu, E. F. M. (2004). A web-based 3d virtual robot remote control system. In Canadian Conference on Electrical and Computer Engineering 2004 (IEEE Cat. No. 04CH37513), 2, 955-958.
  • Casini, M., Chinello, F., Prattichizzo, D., & Vicino, A. (2008). RACT: A remote lab for robotics experiments. IFAC Proceedings Volumes, 41(2), 8153-8158.
  • Marin, R., León, G., Wirz, R., Sales, J., Claver, J. M., Sanz, P. J., & Fernández, J. (2009). Remote programming of network robots within the UJI industrial robotics telelaboratory: FPGA vision and SNRP network protocol. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, 56(12), 4806-4816.
  • Kuzucuoglu, A. E., & Erdemir, G. (2011). Development of a web-based control and robotic applications laboratory for control engineering education. Information technology and control, 40(4), 352-358.
  • Ionescu, C. M., Fabregas, E., Cristescu, S. M., Dormido, S., & De Keyser, R. (2013). A remote laboratory as an innovative educational tool for practicing control engineering concepts. IEEE Transactions on Education, 56(4), 436-442.
  • Balestrino, A., Caiti, A., & Crisostomi, E. (2008). From remote experiments to web-based learning objects: An advanced telelaboratory for robotics and control systems. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, 56(12), 4817-4825.
  • Masár, I., Bischoff, A., & Gerke, M. (2004). Remote experimentation in distance education for control engineers. Proceedings of Virtual University, 16-17.
  • Šafarič, R., Truntič, M., Hercog, D., & Pačnik, G. (2005). Control and robotics remote laboratory for engineering education. International Journal of Online Engineering, 1(1), 1-8.
  • Dwivedi, Y. K., Hughes, D. L., Coombs, C., Constantiou, I., Duan, Y., Edwards, J. S., ... & Upadhyay, N. (2020). Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on information management research and practice: Transforming education, work and life. International journal of information management, 55, 102211.
  • Sagiroglu, S., Yilmaz, N., & Wani, M. A. (2006). Web robot learning powered by bluetooth communication system. In 2006 5th International Conference on Machine Learning and Applications (ICMLA'06), 149-156.
  • Popescu, D., Selisteanu, D., Dinulescu, I., & Popescu, L. C. (2008, July). Web based telematics application for robotics. In 2008 The Third International Multi-Conference on Computing in the Global Information Technology (iccgi 2008), 19-24.
  • Potkonjak, V., Vukobratović, M., Jovanović, K., & Medenica, M. (2010). Virtual Mechatronic/Robotic laboratory–A step further in distance learning. Computers & Education, 55(2), 465-475.
  • Moody, J. A. O., Alonso, R. E. S., Barbosa, J. J. G., & Morales, G. R. (2016). Virtual laboratories for training in industrial robotics. IEEE Latin America Transactions, 14(2), 665-672.
  • Ghayoor, F. (2020). A MATLAB-based virtual robotics laboratory: Demonstrated by a two-wheeled inverted pendulum. The International Journal of Electrical Engineering & Education, 57(4), 301-320.
  • Suwasono, S., Prihanto, D., Wahyono, I. D., & Nafalski, A. (2017). Virtual Laboratory for Line Follower Robot Competition. International Journal of Electrical and Computer Engineering, 7(4), 2253.
  • Lin, M., San, L., & Ding, Y. (2020, March). Construction of robotic virtual laboratory system based on Unity3D. In IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 768(7), 072084.
  • Peidró, A., Tendero, C., Marín, J. M., Gil, A., Payá, L., & Reinoso, O. (2018). m-PaRoLa: a Mobile Virtual Laboratory for Studying the Kinematics of Five-bar and 3RRR Planar Parallel Robots. IFAC-Papers On Line, 51(4), 178-183.
  • Favario, L. (2018, December). Remote Programming Environments: the Robotic Laboratory Case. In 2018 IEEE International Conference on Teaching, Assessment, and Learning for Engineering (TALE), 820-824.
  • Jara, C. A., Candelas, F. A., & Torres, F. (2008). Virtual and remote laboratory for robotics e-learning. In Computer Aided Chemical Engineering, 25, 1193-1198.
  • Román-Ibáñez, V., Pujol-López, F. A., Mora-Mora, H., Pertegal-Felices, M. L., & Jimeno-Morenilla, A. (2018). A low-cost immersive virtual reality system for teaching robotic manipulators programming. Sustainability, 10(4), 1102.
  • Xu, X., Guo, P., Zhai, J., & Zeng, X. (2020). Robotic kinematics teaching system with virtual reality, remote control and an on–site laboratory. International Journal of Mechanical Engineering Education, 48(3), 197-220.
  • Yayan, U. (2020). Virtual Robotic Laboratory (Uplat) Cloud Challenge [Video]. Youtube. https://youtu.be/rggLZCkaN6k
  • Helming, Jonas; Koegel, Maximilian (2018-06-20). "What is Eclipse Theia?". EclipseSource. Retrieved 2022-03-12.
There are 38 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Engineering
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Alim Kerem Erdoğmuş 0000-0001-5111-5965

Uğur Yayan 0000-0003-1394-5209

Publication Date June 30, 2022
Submission Date March 18, 2022
Acceptance Date May 11, 2022
Published in Issue Year 2022 Volume: 9 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Erdoğmuş, A. K., & Yayan, U. (2022). Development of Virtual Robotic Laboratory and Materials for Education and Research. Bilecik Şeyh Edebali Üniversitesi Fen Bilimleri Dergisi, 9(1), 514-540. https://doi.org/10.35193/bseufbd.1089501