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Remote Laboratory Collaboration

Abstract

This current NSF DUE Project titled --The development of a Remotely Accessible Rapid Prototyping Laboratory-- is promoting an awareness of rapid prototyping technology through the development of a remotely accessible rapid prototyping laboratory. This project is: (a) introducing cutting-edge rapid prototyping technology to four-year engineering and technology students, (b) increasing overall student diversity in engineering and technology education, (c) enhancing student learning in advanced manufacturing technologies, (d) modernizing laboratory facilities for a wide regional area, and (e) encouraging undergraduate student research projects. The evaluation plan is focusing on student learning and is also comparing the relative advantages of remote and traditional laboratories. Through this project, many more users are benefiting from state-of-the-art rapid prototyping technology, thereby better justifying the cost of purchasing and maintaining the overall facility. Currently, this lab has been used by three technology programs in TX, KY, and TN. The current practices made by schools and feedback received from the students with an IRB-approved survey instrument will be reported in this paper. This paper will provide new insights into the strengths and weaknesses of remote access environments for both the design/manufacturing technology and distance education communities.

Background and Participating Institutions

The Rapid Prototyping Laboratory was established in Fall 2003 and funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF)-Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE) 0311586 grant and Tennessee Tech University (TTU) matching support. Since that time, many high school students and student(s) studying computer aided design/computer numerical control have practiced with this technology. In order to further extend a remote access capability to this current laboratory and let more engineering and technology students learn this technology via distance learning tools, a new NSF grant was awarded in Summer 20061. Since that time, the Remotely Accessible Rapid Prototyping Laboratory (RRPL) has been developed, implemented and disseminated2-3. Workshops for Pre-K16 (P16) teachers have been organized for the dissemination of Rapid Prototyping and this project. A project website and scheduling tool have also been developed and feedback from students and teachers were collected via online polls.

The RRPL access steps are summarized below: • An accessing interface to view the lab has been developed4. • A scheduling tool was implemented so that students can identify their part submission and delivery dates online5. • Prototyping process has been performed and teams observed the entire process using Zoom, Tilt, Pan, and Audio connections of the RRPL facilities as can be seen in Figure 1. • Produced parts were delivered using United States Postal Service-Express Delivery System. Tracking numbers were provided to all teams.

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Fidan, I., & Yildiz, F., & Bahadir, E. (2009, June), Remote Laboratory Collaboration Paper presented at 2009 Annual Conference & Exposition, Austin, Texas. 10.18260/1-2--5094