Remote learning has definitely been in focus at educational institutions lately, so I thought I’d share another interesting way I encountered it while taking classes here.
In the intro to turbomachinery classes, we (along with students from partner universities) got a chance to perform several experiments testing the theory we were learning, all through a browser window from the comfort of a couch. Here’s how it worked:
There are several remote lab facilities around KTH set up for this purpose. For example, one is a rig designed to test pumping systems with pumps in parallel and series that demonstrate how different variables change the flow
Another is a wind tunnel with a traverse and an aerodynamic probe which you can use to measure the flow behind whatever is placed in the test section. For us it was a stationary row of turbine blades but in a later lab, a dynamic row will be used.
Every group signs up for a time with the instructor during which they can log into the web interface controlling the test rig along with several live cameras.
From that interface, you’re given control of many different variables and once the data is gathered, it gets emailed to you in a nice neat package so you could do your analysis. Then of course comes the more difficult part of putting together the report.
