Virtual Circuits: An Augmented Reality Circuit Simulator for Engineering Students

Abstract

The abilities of Augmented Reality to overlay learning materials with contextual dynamic information and of software simulations to allow rapid and safe exploration of complex engineering concepts have already been established as beneficial in education. Access to both technologies in the classroom has been rather limited due to costs and hardware requirements. With the intention to bring these two technologies closer to engineering students, we created Virtual Circuits: a low-cost simulator app of electrical circuits designed for the classroom and autonomous study. Virtual Circuits requires only a smart-phone and a set of plastic tokens and, with the help of Augmented Reality and a simulation engine, it allows electrical engineering students to quickly explore complex concepts in their field. In this article we present the Virtual Circuits app and the results of our first field test in a real electrical engineering classroom at our university. The collected feedback from students was overwhelmingly positive hinting at tangible educational benefits and improvements in future versions of our app.