(277d) Gaming for Engineering: Virtual Unit Operation Laboratory Via Unity

As COVID-19 crippled the world, the necessity of online teaching resources became more evident. Among different courses, laboratories and studios are still facing a greater challenge in preserving learning outcome of the course. The mainstream approach for the online lab-based courses are in-home kits, demonstration videos, and live-feed of admin-controlled labs. However, these solutions are still lacking few key ingredients. Replicating the hands-on experience, learning by trial and error, and on-site peer interaction which are bread and butter of the learning process in higher education. There is a growing interest in implementing simulated labs in the engineering curriculum. Simulated labs feature independence in experimental design, low cost experimental runs, interactive platform, and refreshing aesthetics. In particular, simulation is suitable for engineering labs that require high temperature/pressure and vacuum condition which triggers the cost associated with each run and upkeep of the instrumentation. As the cost of high-tech experimentations drop by adopting a similar concept in virtual reality world, conventional educational labs are remaining the bottle neck of the transition process towards fully online degrees. To create a replica of the physical lab in order to respond to current demand for distance learning and future demand for fully online programs, a Unity powered virtual lab has been developed to enable individuals, both instructors and students, to perform experimentations via an interactive platform, collect data, and apply analysis. In addition, conventional in-person labs are lacking the flexibility of the experimental design due to limited scenarios that are applicable and safety issues which could potentially prevent the promotion of critical thinking. Here, we have developed 4 modules of (1) Heat exchangers, (2) Pipes and Fittings, (3) Thermal Chamber, and (4) Pumps and Compressors as a replica of physical lab. The simulation has been tested by the same students that were present in the physical lab as well as video-called experimental sessions and their satisfaction has been measured compared. This tool can be utilized by schools for offering hybrid or fully online laboratory courses, individuals who are interested in chemical engineering world, and online teaching platforms that are considering online degree programs.