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80C537 MICROCONTROLLER REMOTE LABFOR A COMPLETE E-LEARNING TEACHING

M. Gilibert1, J. Picazo1; M.E. Auer2, A. Pester2; J. Cusidó1, J.A. Ortega1

1Technical University of Catalonia2Carinthia University of Applied Sciences

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Index

● Introduction 3● Development hardware: µDEE537 4● Development software: µVision2 5● Virtual learning environment 6● Remote laboratory approach 7● Remote lab software 8● Human board interface 9● Hardware mock-up modifications 11● Conclusions 12● Future work 13● References 14

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Microcontrollers:

● Basic subject in electronic engineering degrees● Practical programming exercises● Presence laboratory mock-ups

Higher educational trends:

● Problem Based Learning approach● Further accessibility to laboratory resources● Facility to work avoiding displacements

Remote Labs:

● Help to improve the learning process

Introduction

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Development hardware: µDEE537

Main board:• Microcontroller 80537• Memories• Leds• Switches

Expansion board:• Keyboard• Display• Temperature sensor• Position sensor• Analogue I/O

MAIN BOARD EXPANSION BOARD

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Development software: µVision2

• Edit• Assemble• Debug

– Simulator– Target

µDEE-537

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Virtual learning environment

e-Learning Platform:

● Telematic communication environment● Container for theoretical contents ● Accessible by means of a standard web

browser: http://micros-ct.upc.es

Simulator µSim537:

● Practise without expensive equipment● Use from home via Internet

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Remote laboratory approach

RS-232

CITRIX server

LabVIEW server

users

Microcontroller system

Power supply

DAQ Data Acquisition boardNI PCI-6229

IP camera

• CITRIX server debug information remotely• LabVIEW server remote human board interaction

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Remote lab software

LabVIEW server:

● National Instruments (NI) LabVIEW 8

● NI DAQmx driver

CITRIX server:

● Keil µVision 2

● Citrix MetaFrame

Client computer:

● NI LabVIEW Run-Time engine 8

● Web browser

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Human board interface

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User access control to permit the access to the physical system

Human board interface

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Switch on the board and reset the

microcontroller

To monitor the state of the leds

Switch control to change the state of the switches

Virtual keyboard to replicate the pressed key

To generate a signal to feed the analogue input

To visualise and measure the signals of the A/D converter

Value change of position and temperature

sensor

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Hardware mock-up modifications

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Relay remotely controlled, to switch on and off the board

Buffer 3-state required for the correct function of the remote keyboard

Temperature and position sensor removed

Conclusions

• New self made remote lab for the 8051 microcontroller family has beenpresented, including successful practical results

• New changes in the learning process– Useful tool in PBL approach– Lab resources available 24 hours per day

• Improvement of the students satisfaction– Flexible schedule– Minimum displacements

• A complete e-learning teaching is achieved combining the virtual environmentwith the Microcontroller Remote Lab

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Future work

• The user access has to be more secure and tough

• The VIs could be putted on the web in a way that avoids the user to download any extra software to run the application

• The possibility of contemplating more than one user working at the same time

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