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2005-1661

Integration of Manufacturing Automation Laboratory Component with Distance Education

Christopher G. Fernando

Industrial Technology/Drafting & Design Engineering Technology Community & Technical College at WVU Tech Montgomery, WV 25136 Lfernando@mail.wvu.edu

Abstract

In the last two decades, there has been an increasing emphasis on manufacturing automation and flexible manufacturing work cells in order to increase the product quality and reduce inventory and there by increase the overall effectiveness and profits. Therefore, robot control and work cell programming is a highly demanding field in the industry. Due to this fact most students are keen to follow courses in robotics and manufacturing automation. This paper is about an ongoing research project for controlling a Robotic Work cell over the World Wide Web, which will provide students a greater access to the facilities in the manufacturing laboratories.

Introduction

The Internet is now providing a new and increasing important medium for distributing information world wide without time constraint, permitting information to be displayed numerically and graphically on any client platform. This has generated great impact to the way of “information/knowledge acquisition” as well as to the manufacturing/commerce automation. The ability to acquire information and even to control instruments/devices at fingertips over the Internet is becoming desirable not only to the professionals but also to the general public.

Thanks to the development of Internet Technology, distance learning and distance control of devices are emerging realities. Students nowadays can access information and receive education at home over the Internet. There have been many distance learning (web based) courses offered by academic institutions to benefit many students who might be constrained by distance and time. However, most web-based courses are “lecturing courses” that still cannot fulfill the need of engineering and technology education.

In engineering and technology programs, most courses have a laboratory component. The quality and availability of laboratory facilities are important factors to the quality of engineering and technology education. However, high-quality laboratories are very expensive to build and most

Proceedings of the 2005 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright © 2005, American Society for Engineering Education

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Fernando, C. (2005, June), Integration Of Manufacturing Automation Laboratory Component With Distance Education Paper presented at 2005 Annual Conference, Portland, Oregon. 10.18260/1-2--14570