1. The Future of Remote Laboratories: Enhancing Personalized Learning Through the Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, and Mixed Reality

Accelerated advancements in communication and computer technology have facilitated the creation of e-learning systems to meet the increasing demand for education and challenges caused by crises and wars. Interactive e-learning systems provide students with access to courses at any time and from any location through the internet. Applied science programs faced challenges with incorporating e-learning and blended learning into existing educational environments due to their dependence on laboratories and workshops for practical training. Consequently, efforts have been initiated to utilize modern technologies in the creation of laboratories accessible through the internet. In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in utilizing artificial intelligence, Internet of things, and mixed reality technologies for the development of remote laboratories. These applications allow students to engage with laboratory experiments that include both virtual and physical units from any location and at any time, using their mobile phones, tablets, or personal computers. The purpose of this chapter is to investigate the role that artificial intelligence and internet of things technologies play in the process of developing remote laboratories that are based on mixed reality technology. The laboratory is comprised of a variety of experiments that are designed to improve the practical portion of the specialization. To motivate students to improve their theoretical understanding and develop skills, the experiment is designed to make use of both real components that are present in the laboratory as well as simulated components that are part of an interactive environment. Artificial intelligence algorithms are employed to manage the educational process in the laboratory, assess the student’s academic proficiency, and provide them with suitable educational resources for the lab. Additionally, the design of experiments for the mechatronics lab and the renewable energy lab will be discussed. These labs serve as an interactive educational platform that enables students to engage with experimental components, acquire knowledge regarding the operation of each element, carry out tests, and submit technical reports. By incorporating the Internet of things and mixed reality technologies into the design of remote labs, an interactive environment is created that improves learning quality and skill acquisition. These labs give educational institutions the chance to work together to create innovative, high-caliber, and successful programs that resolve the problems caused by the availability and high cost of laboratory equipment, as well as the lack of technical staff needed by traditional labs.