VirtLAB: A Low-Cost Platform for Electronics Lab Experiments

Area of Science:

• Electrical Engineering
• Educational Technology
• Remote Learning

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted traditional university electronics laboratory courses.
• Limited access to physical lab infrastructure hindered practical student training.
• Existing off-the-shelf electronics equipment is not optimally suited for remote home-based laboratory experiments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and develop a very-low-cost experimental board for remote electronics education.
• To provide students with essential laboratory tools for home-based practical learning.
• To address the challenges posed by the pandemic on electronics teaching.

Main Methods:

• Designed and developed a novel, low-cost experimental board integrating programmable circuitry (microcontroller and FPGA).
• Incorporated essential measurement instruments: digital storage oscilloscope, multimeter, analog signal generator, logic state analyzer, and digital pattern generator.
• Manufactured a functional prototype board for analog and digital electronics experiments.

Main Results:

• A functional and cost-effective experimental board was successfully designed and manufactured.
• The board integrates programmable prototyping and key measurement instruments.
• The developed board proved effective in master's and PhD level courses.

Conclusions:

• The developed experimental board offers a viable solution for remote electronics laboratory education.
• This low-cost, integrated system enables practical learning experiences outside traditional lab settings.
• The successful implementation demonstrates the potential for widespread adoption in higher education.