With the constant growth of devices connected to the internet, many researchers focus their interest on the development of Remote Laboratories, taking advantage of the numerous electronic open-source platforms. The aim of this work is to propose a compact solution (hardware and software) for the implementation of a low-cost open-access remote laboratory. The key concept is using Python, a programming language that is strong, flexible and rich of free external packages. Specifically, Python is used at the same time as: (i) a microframework with server functionalities, (ii) a control unit that drives an Arduino microcontroller and a Raspberry Pi microcomputer. The software to access the laboratory is realized as a web client interface by using HTML5 and JavaScript. This software is light enough to be run on an average personal computer. The concept of Remote Laboratory allows students to be able to carry out didactic experiences without constraints with regard to space and time, being it accessible from everywhere with just a PC or even a smart device (smartphone, tablet, etc.). With this remote laboratory, students can do real measurements of physical quantities and perform real activities while accessing the system from any place, thus allowing students of distance learning universities to do real experiments.

Abstract The China Seismo‐Electromagnetic Satellite (CSES) space mission—also known as Limadou in Italian—is a scientific collaboration between China and Italy that aims to investigate the structure and dynamics of the iono/magnetosphere, and in particular to study the possible correlation of perturbations to the occurrence of high‐magnitude seismic events. The Chinese satellite houses the Italian high‐energy particle detector (HEPD), an apparatus composed of a silicon tracker and a calorimeter system, which detects electrons and protons in the energy ranges 3–100 and 30–200 MeV, respectively. The satellite was launched on February 2, 2018; after a commissioning phase dedicated to the setting of an optimal configuration, HEPD is fully operational since July 28, 2018. After a general overview of the CSES‐Limadou mission, this article presents the structure of the HEPD apparatus and describes the design and implementation of the software for the embedded computer system that is responsible for HEPD management. The onboard software runs on the digital signal processors of two electronic boards (CPU and data acquisition), monitors system status, handles instrument data acquisition, performs periodic calibration of the subdetectors, performs data compression, and communicates with the satellite. An overview of HEPD in‐flight operations and performance is given in the last section.

Internet of Things (IoT) is widely recognized as one of the pillars of the digital transformation and it is one of the technologies whose market is growing faster. The diffusion of IoT services and technologies is an important opportunity for the growth and development of companies and the labor market. To support the adoption and diffusion of IoT technologies, it is necessary to qualify and/or re-train professionals and technicians in the sector. Among the various initiatives created in this regard, the European project IoT4SMEs in three years has developed interesting studies and produced useful open educational resources. In particular, in this work the authors report the main project outcomes and their impact on the target groups.

Internet of Things (IoT) technologies are quickly entering in every aspect of our life, definitely changing the way we interact with smart objects. Such technologies allows to set-up solutions that can be used not just for practical activities, but also for didactic and research. This paper presents the development of an IoT-based environmental monitoring system for indoor workplaces. The remotely accessible monitoring system allows the students to add/remove sensors to the network, configure the nodes and the network, deal with different kind of sensors and controllers, analyze and postprocess the collected data. It also allows to compare the energy consumptions for environmental control with the real environmental wellness. The implemented network and the available didactic scenarios are discussed.

Summary In this paper, the flight software architecture of the EUSO‐SPB mission is described. The JEM‐EUSO program aims at developing an advanced large space‐borne UV telescope designed to detect ultra high energy cosmic rays. In this framework, the EUSO‐SPB experiment is the third pathfinder mission of the JEM‐EUSO program, the second that has been launched on a stratospheric balloon to test the technological readiness of the detectors and to carry out some preliminary scientific observations. The EUSO‐SPB software has a modular structure conceived to control all the instruments and the ancillary subsystems, to acquire data, and to manage data transfer to ground. System programming in C and C++ languages and Bash scripts have been used to implement and run the modules. The software runs on the data processor, an onboard computer that communicates with several payload blocks, the UV sensor, and the synchronization and time tagging board. The control software module controls all the subsystems, provides communication to ground through the NASA telemetry or the Internet, runs the acquisition control and download software, and manages the execution of the acquisition software. The acquisition software module directly operates the subsystems for the data acquisition activity. The acquisition control and download software module runs the acquisition software upon request of the control software and transfers scientific data to ground. The software system performed as expected during the flight on April 2017.

Cloud Computing is a breakthrough paradigm and even more a key aspect for the digital transformation of companies, the Public Administration and Society. The IN-CLOUD project, funded by the European Union, aims to train and qualify professionals able to introduce and manage cloud-based services and technologies in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Public Administrations. Among all the outcomes of the project, a smart open online tool has been designed for adaptive education. The tool is able to assess the needs of each different user and to propose a customized learning path, optimally fitting his/her didactic needs and expectations.

In this paper we present the Edutronics project, a new game-based equipment to introduce kids to Electronics by means of a fun learning environment based on learning by doing. The equipment has been developed as a graduation project by a group of Egyptian students, enrolled in a double degree program in ICT Engineering, organized by Uninettuno University (Italy) and Helwan University (Egypt). The equipment is composed by a hardware platform and a controlling software. The hardware platform consists of a didactic kit designed to allow to build electric circuits in a amusing and safe way. The controlling software has been developed as a mobile application and provides the students with exercises to be solved. Today's ubiquity of social networks is enabled through a Facebook profile in order to publish one's results. An Arduino board with Bluetooth shield connects the hardware to the software and is able to check the correctness of each exercise solutions. Such an equipment is targeted to young students of primary to high schools in order to introduce them to Electronics in a safe way and with an affordable cost for schools.

Engineering students have a natural strong desire to see how their laboriously acquired knowledge has effective application in real life. A small group of students were involved to apply their knowledge of computer science, electronics, and electrical engineering to something unusual and with a social impact: driving a wheelchair by using brain-computer interfaces. Today's development of these interfaces are not yet so advanced to be effectively used in health devices and must be considered very carefully. This led to a pilot experiment that kept all the charm of the original goal, but would have no drawbacks if something should go wrong: moving a small cart, based on Arduino boards, interfaced with a normal laptop to a commercial and affordable brainwave sensing headset. Being the driver not onboard, a Bluetooth connection has been used to send commands to the cart. Results are twofold. The cart actually moved where requested, and this is even more noticeable after considering that the people involved had limited time training and had no reduced mobility, which means less psychological involvement, otherwise recognized as an important factor of success. The group manifested a strong interest in every part of the project, giving them awareness of their actual skills and their actual ability to autonomously acquire new skills as needed. This study is the outcome of the International Telematic University Uninettuno and Helwan University (Cairo, Egypt) in a four year long cooperation for a double degree (one recognized in Italy and all Europe and the other in Egypt). The students involved had completed all the exams and were going to graduate. This project was devised for one of their MS thesis.