Develop Labs for RemoteAcademy

Getting a lab up and running on RemoteAcademy is simple. You need a LabBox and some lab equipment. Optionally, you can also use a USB webcam to allow students to view your lab live. Mixing and matching multiple kinds of lab equipment on a single LabBox is supported.

Supported lab equipment right now include:

LabBoxes are Raspberry Pi units running our custom environment, RALE. You can download an SD card image at: [not yet available]

You'll also need an account on RemoteAcademy to make a lab to "attach" your LabBox to (and have students interact with). Labs consist of a configuration for what LabBoxes are available to run it physically, a set of switches and sliders that students can interact with to control the lab, and a "lab notebook" that consists of motivation text, questions, and answer prompts for students to work through while interacting with the lab.

Accounts on RemoteAcademy can be made, and labs created, at [not yet available]

Using Arduino

Arduinos are the best option to get started running labs with LabBoxes. Simply use our RALESerial library to facilitate Arduino <-> LabBox communication, add your own lab logic, and plug the Arduino into a free USB port on your LabBox. The LabBox will automatically detect it and make the hardware available to your lab. If you are only using Arduinos in your lab, your LabBox will automatically connect to RemoteAcademy with no need to enter the "Configure Lab Equipment" menu!

Click here to download the library

Using GPIO Pins

GPIO is straightforward to use with LabBoxes. First, add a jumper between pin 22 on your LabBox to the power pin next to it, to indicate to the LabBox that you will be using GPIO in your lab. After doing so, GPIO will show up as an option in "Configure Lab Equipment" when you turn on your LabBox. Use the configuration options presented to indicate which pins you intend to use as data collection inputs and user lab control outputs. After saving your configuration, you can connect to RemoteAcademy and start using the GPIO in your lab. When turning on your LabBox in the future, your configuration will be remembered, so you can select "Connect to RemoteAcademy" straight away if you have no changes to make.

Using the Vernier LabPro

The Vernier LabPro is an advanced device with support for many useful data collection probes that you can use in your labs. At the present time, we do not support outputting user control data through the Vernier LabPro nor do we support using more than one channel/probe on the LabPro in a given lab. To use the LabPro, simply connect it to power and plug its USB cord into your LabBox. After doing so, Vernier LabPro will show up as an option in "Configure Lab Equipment" when you turn on your LabBox. Use the configuration options presented to indicate which channel you intend to use, and, if a digital channel, what input mode your probe requires. After saving your configuration, you can connect to RemoteAcademy and start using the Vernier LabPro in your lab. When turning on your LabBox in the future, your configuration will be remembered, so you can select "Connect to RemoteAcademy" straight away if you have no changes to make.