Deploying web-based control laboratory using HTML5

The achievements in Internet and communication technology make remote learning and online laboratory possible in the last few decades, which not only provides opportunities for people in rural areas in developing countries, but also offer simple alternatives for those who already have access to educational resources. With the evolution of Web technologies, it is relatively easy to facilitate laboratory deployments, thus, more and more different online laboratories emerge. However, Hyper Text Mark-up Language (HTML5) and related standards (e.g. WebGL, CSS3) which are future trends and provide full-featured environment are rare so far. In this paper, a new HTML5 version of Networked Control System Laboratory (NCSLab) which has been developing for over 10 years since 2006, is introduced. The 3D version of NCSLab has been developing for almost 5 years in Wuhan University (WHU), whose rendering solution is changed from Flash 3D engine to HTML5. Therefore, Flash player plug-in is no more needed. User can login the system to perform experiments with better user experience since most Web browsers are compatible with HTML5.