Enhancing Accessibility for Real-Time Remote Laboratories: A Web-Based Solution with Automated Validation and Access Control

The use of remote laboratories nowadays offers multiple advantages like accessibility, cost-effectiveness, flexibility, and safety. However, ensuring a secure and uniform interface for a remote laboratory remains a challenge. In this paper, we present the development of the Real-Time Remote Lab Bridge Server (or simply BridgeServer), a tiny web server that provides secure and transparent access to remote labs, without the necessity of a third-party software or password sharing. Its key features are the serve of a web-based remote desktop session created with locally stored credentials, secure file downloads, session time administration, and automated access control thanks to the validation with an Application Programming Interface (API) of a Booking System. This solution maintains control, employs consistent credentials for all users, and prevents direct access to lab equipment control software. We provide a real-world use case that exemplifies the flexibility of our solution simplifying access to a third-party software remote lab without any need for code modifications. We successfully solved access challenges in an international network of real-time remote labs deployed in Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe, particularly for Windows-based lab control software.