Connecting hardware to Easy Java Simulations: from

MPTL’18: 18º International Conference on Multimedia in Physics Teaching and Learning

Connecting hardware to Easy Java Simulations: from virtual experiments to remote/local labs Easy Java Simulations (EJS) is a popular tool that facilitates the creation of interactive simulations in Java, mainly for teaching or learning purposes. Recent versions of EJS include the concept of Model Elements, which allows user with programming skills to include new functionalities to EJS. Once created, other users can drag and drop these model elements and use their extended functionalities by invoking the Java methods provided by the elements. We introduce in this talk a collection of new model elements that we have developed to allow EJS simulations to directly access different hardware instruments by granting access to Data Acquisition Boards and actuators. This makes it possible to read sensors, access I/O boards and Single Board Computers, as well as generate output signals to control DC engines, servomotors, etc. In particular, these new model elements are oriented to access two families of devices with low cost and wide acceptance in the educational field: products for USB sensing and controlling created by the Canadian company Phidgets Inc. (http://www.phidgets.com) and Arduino boards (http://www.arduino.com). There is a wide range of devices already supported by our model elements, including I/O boards (analog and digital inputs and outputs), relays, controllers for several kinds of engines (DC engines, servos...), sensors (GPS, accelerometers, gyroscope, compass, thermocouples, proximity, etc.) and single boards computers (running GNU/Linux operating system) with an integrated I/O board. Some of the equipment can also be controlled remotely via a TCP/IP connection. Arduino is an open-source electronics prototyping platform that has recently experienced a great success in educational settings. Our Arduino model element grants access to various existing Arduino boards (Uno, Mega, Ethernet, Due, etc.), allowing the following operations on these boards: • Reading digital inputs. • Writing on digital outputs. • Reading analog inputs. • Using PWM control. • Using servomotors. • Accessing to intelligent sensors with I2C interface (under experimentation).