An interactive virtual laboratory for dynamics and control systems in an undergraduate mechanical engineering curriculum-a case study

Abstract

Providing engineering students with the necessary practical skills is essential. This is typically achieved through face-to-face delivery of several engineering laboratories. To avoid the shortcoming in students’ skills attainment, several institutions have proposed indirect delivery of engineering laboratories through on-line simulations or interactive platforms. The use of remote virtual laboratories has been widely recognised for the past decade as a complimentary tool in the constantly evolving world of modern engineering. Delivering mechanical engineering laboratories has become more challenging in different important areas, such as manufacturing, dynamics, control and others. In this article, the authors articulate the use of interactive virtual laboratories as a teaching method of dynamics and control systems laboratory. The interactive virtual laboratories are delivered remotely to junior year mechanical engineering students during the lockdown of university facilities. The use of the interactive mechanical engineering laboratories has ensured the attainment of learning outcomes associated with the delivery of dynamics and control systems laboratory