Abstract— The present project is intending as a new training approach based on the communication technology and the interaction between future engineers and technicians students. The first phase of the global project was consisted of developing of an automated mini-plant for containers recycling process and was realized by engineering students attending the project-based design courses. The second phase is consisting in development of the virtual environment allowing interactions between the students and between the students and the mini-plant. A laboratory activity has been conducted on the modules of the mini-plant. Future engineers and technicians have the mission to design, program and troubleshoot while they are working simultaneously. The obtained results demonstrate that the engineers and technicians students communicate effectively but they have different skills and competences. The training objectives have been achieved and the learned lessons will be exploited to enhance the training level and the competences in the future.

Index Terms— Virtual environment, engineering education, sequential automation, communication.

The authors are with the University of Quebec at Rimouski, 300 allee des Ursulines, Rimouski (Quebec) Canada (tel: 418-723-1986 ext 1949, 418-723-1986 ext 1997, 418-723-1986 ext 1541; e-mail: noureddine_barka@uqar.ca, jean-sebastien_deschenes@uqar.ca, jean_brousseau@uqar.ca).

Cite: Noureddine Barka, Jean-Sébastien Deschênes, and Jean Brousseau, " Laboratory Activities in Industrial Sequential Automation through a Virtual and Physical Environment," International Journal of e-Education, e-Business, e-Management and e-Learning vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 85-89, 2013.