Estudio y propuesta de implementación de software libre de simulación mediante laboratorios virtuales para el desarrollo de competencias prácticas en las carreras de Electrónica y Automatización y de Electricidad de la UCSG.

Abstract

The research aimed to design a virtual laboratory using open-source simulation software to support practical activities in the Electronics and Automation and Electrical Engineering programs at the Catholic University of Santiago de Guayaquil. The applied, documentary, technical, and projective research was based not only on an analysis of curricula and syllabi but also on a survey of 50 fifth- and sixth-semester students and a comparison of Qucs-S, SimulIDE, Scilab/Xcos, OpenModelica, and pandapower. The findings identified three overlapping courses for both programs: Electrical Circuits, Alternating Current Circuits, and Electronics. The technological review revealed that Qucs-S is particularly relevant for Electrical Circuits and Alternating Current Circuits, while SimulIDE is more prevalent for Electronics. SimulIDE was selected for a technical and functional evaluation, which was conducted on a personal computer. This evaluation allowed for verification of the software's installation, operation, construction of an electrical circuit, parameter modification, and simulation execution. The technical specifications of the equipment used were then compared with those of the computers available at the Faculty as a criterion for evaluating compatibility. The proposal suggests the possibility of using existing technological resources and free software to complement in-person experiences, but also leaves open the possibility of using other tools depending on future academic needs.