Highly configurable low cost remote laboratory with integrated support for learning â?? Hardware design

Abstract

This paper presents a flexible and low cost design specification for a remote laboratory platform for electronics laboratories. The system utilises a motherboard design and this paper presents both the design of the motherboard, various designs for add on cards and shows how to configure the setup. The design is focused on providing the user with a combination of easy setup and a large freedom in reconfiguration all provided as a low cost solution. The solution is designed to facilitate a natural flow in the creation of all forms of remote laboratories, from the prototyping level up to a permanent installation. This motherboard has connector for both configuration cards, programmable and static as well as for standardized add-on boards for all the configurable components in the laboratory circuit. Acquisition hardware can easily be changed both during development and after the creation of the lab.