Integration of IIoT and AR technologies into training & teaching via laboratory equipment

The article considers the integration of the Augmented Reality (AR) and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technologies into teaching and training via a laboratory complex, designed for the practical lab classes for the engineering students. The purpose of this integration is to acquire skills in debugging such and similar systems and to analyse the relevance of these technologies in various industries, including the electric power industry. Particular attention is paid to the electric drive systems control. The paper describes the relevance of these technologies for the educational process and the industry. It also explains the need for the existing industrial automation systems modernization. A review of existing AR and IIoT technologies is presented. The article is largely devoted to the description of the laboratory complex modernization, including the ThingWorx software, as the latter allows implementing both the AR technology and the IIoT. The paper also describes the hardware and lays out the experiment, consisting of the remote start of the electric drive and the control of its operating temperature by means of a sensor. The presented AR section includes a model of frequency converter and the model of asynchronous electric drive. The conclusion presents the results, i.e. the list of advantages and disadvantages of the ThingWorx AR software platform, the modernization outcome.