RoombaCreate® for Remote Laboratories

Abstract

Internet has advanced significantly with the aid of electronics and communication technologies. This allows us to undertake ambitious activities over the Internet, which are unthinkable even few years back. With this new scenario, performing experiments that involve real hardware remotely over the web is now a reality. Controlling hardware experiments remotely is labeled as remote laboratory. Considering the complexities of technologies involved with remote laboratories, hardware experimental systems need to be customized before they can be integrated within a remote laboratory system. One such system is a mobile robot that can be used for various student learning laboratory activities. This paper reports the customizing of a commercial mobile robot known as RoombaCreate® so that it can be integrated within a remote laboratory facility. The process involves automated movement with obstacles avoidance, wireless control, real-time video, and control over the web.