New Tools in Hardware and Software Design Applied for Remote Photovoltaic Laboratory

This chapter aims to present a system for remote laboratories dedicated to solar cells in the context of contemporary research development in the field of renewable energy. The system is based on the NI ELVIS rapid prototyping platform, the LabVIEW graphical programming language, remote control techniques, and an original add-on for studying solar cells developed for the platform. The completed NI ELVIS add-on, called SolarLab, is a modular board, which allows users to perform eighteen different lab experiments. Using the developed driver, users can create their own applications according to their needs. Thus, SolarLab can be used for both education and research purposes. DOI: 10.4018/978-1-61350-186-3.ch003

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