Remote Learning: Implementing IIoT and Industry 4.0 Technologies Using PLCs

Rapid technology advances related to Internet of Things (IoT), Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Industry 4.0 technologies have led to a need of software and hardware knowledge that students must learn and apply in an academic environment so that, after graduation, they can accelerate the adoption of these technologies in industrial and commercial workplaces. The purpose of the paper is to present the remote learning approach in teaching ways to implement these technologies using Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) and to describe the open-source Information Technologies (IT) and Operational Technologies (OT) options and choices that can be implemented in a remote learning mode. A remote delivering strategy of the PLC courses has been successfully developed for both lectures and labs without compromising the quality. The PLC courses were re-designed with high-quality and large quantity of practice modules and were synchronously delivered with the aims of cultivating students’ technical competency to solve the real problems in industry and paving the foundation for their future professional career. The paper describes some of these courses, focuses on the courses related to teaching Industry 4.0 and IIoT technologies, and provides a detailed description of how remote learning has been implemented in automation courses and projects. The experience that students gained via PLC courses is applicable for senior courses, capstone projects, co-op employment, and full-time jobs in manufacturing and automation industry.