NetLab wins ITEK innovation award
An
on-line remote laboratory for engineering students has claimed top prize in
this year’s ITEK Science and Engineering Innovation Award.Students Andrew Sprok and Scott Carr were awarded $500 in prize money from ITEK, the commercial arm of the University of South Australia, for their research enabling students to conduct electrical and electronic experiments via the internet.
The team was presented with their award on October 22 at the School of Electrical and Information Engineering at Mawson Lakes by Head of School Professor Andrew Nafalski and ITEK project manager for commercialisation, Shane Cheek.
“It is great to be recognised as the top of the class in our project. We would also like to think that it provides encouragement for the first year students in terms of what they can achieve in their studies,” said Sprok.
Prof Nafalski acknowledged the support from ITEK in sponsoring this award which recognises the project with most commercial promise amongst final year students.
“We had a number of important projects this year related to technology and learning which is testimony to the high quality of entries received,” he said.
NetLab replicates a ‘physical’ laboratory session through an interface with controlled instruments allowing component values to be changed, as well as real-life visual feedback using a remote-controlled camera.
It is anticipated that students accessing NetLab will have increased flexibility in laboratory sessions, with the potential for other universities and institutions to access the on-line laboratory in the future.