Concurrent experimentation in NCSLab: A scalable approach for online laboratories

Lei，Zhongcheng1; Zhou，Hong1; Hu，Wenshan1; Liu，Guo Ping2

2023-11-01

10.1016/j.future.2023.05.014

Future Generation Computer Systems   Impact Factor & Quartile

0167-739X

1872-7115

The scheduling of user access to test rigs is vital for online laboratories, as a good access scheduling scheme can reduce waiting time and improve the utilization of experimentation systems. To enhance the benefits of online laboratories and also improve user experience, a novel system that is constructed based on front-end and back-end separation has been explored in this paper, which is scalable with a complex four-tier architecture supporting both remote and virtual experiments. A concurrent scheme that allows many users to conduct real-time interactive experiments with a single test rig has been implemented. The new system enables massive access for virtual experimentation and saves users from booking sessions in advance or queuing. To verify the effectiveness of the system, a renewable energy system has been developed, thus, users can concurrently conduct experiments with different control algorithms and monitoring interfaces for research and education purposes. A scalability test was conducted, the results of which showed that 94.67% of 300 users can concurrently access the same virtual laboratory, proving the scalability and concurrency features of the proposed system. The system demonstrated a throughput of 499.4 requests per second without errors during a 30-second performance test with 1600 concurrent users, where each user established 10 connections.

Concurrent experimentation Education Front-end and back-end separation Massive access Online laboratories

SCI

English

Others

China Postdoctoral Science Foundation[2022T150496];Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities[2042023kf0095];National Natural Science Foundation of China[62073247];National Natural Science Foundation of China[62103308];

Computer Science

Computer Science, Theory & Methods

WOS:001021787900001

ELSEVIER

2-s2.0-85162140334

Scopus

1.Department of Artificial Intelligence and Automation,Wuhan University,Wuhan,430072,China
2.Center for Control Science and Technology,Southern University of Science and Technology,Shenzhen,518055,China

Lei，Zhongcheng,Zhou，Hong,Hu，Wenshan,et al. Concurrent experimentation in NCSLab: A scalable approach for online laboratories[J]. Future Generation Computer Systems,2023,148:139-149.

Lei，Zhongcheng,Zhou，Hong,Hu，Wenshan,&Liu，Guo Ping.(2023).Concurrent experimentation in NCSLab: A scalable approach for online laboratories.Future Generation Computer Systems,148,139-149.

Lei，Zhongcheng,et al."Concurrent experimentation in NCSLab: A scalable approach for online laboratories".Future Generation Computer Systems 148(2023):139-149.