Design of a Virtual Reality-Based Open-Source Hardware Platform for Virtual Experimentation

In the current wave of digital education, the convergence of Virtual Reality (VR) technology with open-source hardware presents revolutionary opportunities for experimental teaching. This study designs and implements an open-source hardware virtual experiment platform based on the Arduino Uno microcontroller. Utilizing the Unity3D engine and other auxiliary software tools, a desktop virtual experiment system has been constructed. This system encompasses 12 basic experiments ranging from simple circuit design to complex programming tasks and integrates two complex case scenarios: Smart Farming and Intelligent Transportation Systems. By simulating intelligent systems, this platform offers students an immersive learning environment with multi-sensory interaction, significantly boosting their enthusiasm and engagement. Furthermore, the platform's risk-free experimental environment and use of low-cost hardware render it an economically efficient teaching tool, particularly suitable for budget-constrained educational settings. The outcomes of this study highlight the immense potential of VR technology and open-source hardware in enhancing educational quality and promoting comprehensive student development, offering new perspectives for the evolution of educational technology.