
A laboratory stand is a complex of equipment intended for studying on it experimentally the physical phenomena and technical parameters of objects.
Depending on the generation, the laboratory stand can be attributed to one of the following types:
1. Specialized laboratory stand (1st generation)
Designed to study one object, which provides the minimum cost of the stand.
Significant disadvantages - for organizing a lesson in frontal form, many stands and a large area of the room are required.
2. Universal laboratory stand (2nd generation)
Its difference from the first is designed to study a group of objects.
Contains the invariant part for objects (signal sources, power supplies, measuring instruments, etc.) and special equipment for the object. At the 2nd generation stands, universal measuring devices and improved controls (semiconductor regulators, semi-automatic executive mechanisms, etc.) are used.
Its advantages are a reduction in the number of necessary stands and areas, it is easier to work in the front way, since the same interchangeable objects can be put on all stands.
Disadvantages - the equipment complicated and not cheap, increasing operation costs.
3. Automated (3rd generation)
This stand is an automated workplace, which contains a computer connected to a conjugation device with an object. Measuring devices are not needed. They were replaced by sensors connected to the mating device. The functions of the experimenter crossed from the field of direct management of the studied object to the operator functions.
Advantages - a decrease in current operations and more efficient use of time (to solve creative problems). Disadvantages are ineffective computer use. Connecting a computer to each stand is an expensive pleasure, taking into account the fact that the loading coefficient for the year of such equipment is low.
4. Laboratory stand with remote collective access (4th generation)
This is an attempt to overcome the main drawback of the 3rd generation laboratory stand while maintaining its advantages. The computer has additional tasks of the server with remote access. It becomes possible to access many experimenters to one stand without limiting in a distance.