Web-based virtual engineering laboratory (VE-LAB) for real-time control of a hybrid electric vehicle starter/alternator

This paper describes the development and implementation of a novel, virtual engineering laboratory (VE-LAB) that uses the World Wide Web for real-time interactive control of a motor experimentation platform. Using a standard Web browser, VE-LAB allows a hybrid electric vehicle starter/alternator to be remotely and interactively operated in real-time by research scientists across the globe. VE-LAB technology has applications to distance learning, distributed remote diagnostics, monitoring, and control systems. Experimental results feature remote Web-based starter/alternator efficiency mapping from across the country.