REDTAIL

Paid Self-hostedWeb

What REDTAIL is

REDTAIL is a free, open-source web platform that links simulations and digital twins with laboratory equipment students can access remotely. It supports a course workflow in which instructors pair simulated practice with remote equipment, allowing students to compare simulated and physical results. Instructors can browse and adapt exercises, while students complete activities assigned through their courses and receive access instructions from their instructor. The exercise catalog lists 19 results and includes category, device, and difficulty filters. A separate catalog lists 12 simulations, including activities involving a parking lot, keypad, breadboard, door, water tank, LED matrix, and wiper. Remote laboratories in the device catalog include an Altera DE1-SoC FPGA and an STM32 Nucleo WB55RG board. Listed exercises use tools and frameworks such as SystemVerilog, VHDL, Mbed OS, Arduino IDE, and Keil Studio Cloud. The source code is public and inspectable through GitHub. Instructors at any institution can deploy REDTAIL scenarios without physical hardware, while access to instructor solutions requires approval.

Who it suits

REDTAIL suits instructors who want to combine simulated practice with remote lab activities, and students completing course-assigned exercises. It may also fit instructors seeking scenarios that can be deployed without physical hardware.

What it does well

Combines simulated practice and remote equipment in assignments.
Catalog offers exercise and simulation listings.
Provides filters for exercise category, device, and difficulty.
Source code is publicly inspectable.

What to know first

Students receive activities and access instructions from instructors.
Instructor solutions require approval.
Public setup instructions specify Python 3.12, Node, and MySQL.

Limits

Instructor solutions require instructor approval. Self-hosting requires Python 3.12, Node, and MySQL.

Getting started

Open the REDTAIL website in a web browser.
Instructors can browse and adapt cataloged exercises and simulations.
Contact [email protected] about course use, remote-lab setups, or collaboration.
For self-hosting, follow the repository setup instructions for Python 3.12, Node, and MySQL.
Students use the exercise or lab link and access instructions supplied by their instructor.

Verdict

REDTAIL connects course exercises with both simulations and remote laboratory equipment, giving students a way to compare simulated and physical results. Its public source code and no-hardware deployment option may suit educators adapting or deploying remote lab scenarios.

Questions

Is REDTAIL free?

Yes. REDTAIL is free and open source.

Can students sign up and start on their own?

Students receive an exercise, simulation or remote-laboratory link and access instructions from their instructor.

Can instructors deploy it without lab hardware?

Yes. Instructors at any institution can deploy REDTAIL scenarios without physical hardware.

What devices and tools appear in the catalogs?

The device catalog includes remote laboratories for the Altera DE1-SoC FPGA and STM32 Nucleo WB55RG board. Listed exercise tools include SystemVerilog, VHDL, Mbed OS, Arduino IDE, and Keil Studio Cloud.

How do instructors ask about using REDTAIL?

The team invites instructors and collaborators to contact [email protected] about course use, remote-lab setups, and collaboration.

Facts from REDTAIL's own pages

Access limits: An exercise page states that instructor solutions require instructor approval and directs users to contact the REDTAIL team for access. · redtail.rhlab.ece.uw.edu, 5 Oct 2026
Access model: Students receive the exercise, simulation or remote-laboratory link, and access instructions from their instructor. · redtail.rhlab.ece.uw.edu, 11 Oct 2026
Audience: The site presents REDTAIL for instructors selecting and adapting course exercises and for students completing activities assigned through their course. · redtail.rhlab.ece.uw.edu, 11 Oct 2026
Deployment: The Remote Hub Lab page says instructors at any institution can deploy REDTAIL scenarios without physical hardware. · rhlab.ece.uw.edu, 11 Oct 2026
Development requirements: The public repository setup instructions specify Python 3.12, Node, and MySQL. · github.com, 5 Oct 2026
Exercises: The laboratory exercise catalog lists 19 exercises, including activities for FPGA and STM32 devices. · redtail.rhlab.ece.uw.edu, 11 Oct 2026
Funding: The website says it was supported by the National Science Foundation's Division of Undergraduate Education under Grant #2336745. · redtail.rhlab.ece.uw.edu, 11 Oct 2026
Funding and attribution: The website says it was supported by the National Science Foundation's Division of Undergraduate Education under Grant #2336745 and notes some content may come from third parties or outside the REDTAIL project and grant. · redtail.rhlab.ece.uw.edu, 5 Oct 2026
Hardware: The device catalog lists remote laboratories for the Altera DE1-SoC and STM32 Nucleo WB55RG. · redtail.rhlab.ece.uw.edu, 11 Oct 2026
Languages and tools: Cataloged exercises include SystemVerilog, VHDL, mbedOS, Arduino IDE, and Keil Studio Cloud activities. · redtail.rhlab.ece.uw.edu, 11 Oct 2026
Learning workflow: Students can rehearse in a simulation, use remote equipment, and compare simulated and physical results within an instructor-led assignment. · redtail.rhlab.ece.uw.edu, 11 Oct 2026
Open source: The site describes REDTAIL as open source and links to its public source code on GitHub. · redtail.rhlab.ece.uw.edu, 11 Oct 2026
Partner: REDTAIL is developed by the Remote Hub Lab at the University of Washington with LabsLand. · redtail.rhlab.ece.uw.edu, 11 Oct 2026
Purpose: REDTAIL connects simulations and digital twins to remotely accessible laboratory equipment for hands-on learning. · redtail.rhlab.ece.uw.edu, 11 Oct 2026
Simulations: The simulations catalog lists 12 scenarios, including parking lot, keypad, breadboard, door, water tank, LED matrix, and wiper examples. · redtail.rhlab.ece.uw.edu, 11 Oct 2026
Support: Instructors and collaborators are invited to contact the REDTAIL team at [email protected] about courses, remote-lab setups, or collaborations. · redtail.rhlab.ece.uw.edu, 11 Oct 2026
Tools and frameworks: Listed exercises use frameworks including SystemVerilog, VHDL, Mbed OS, Arduino IDE, and Keil Studio Cloud. · redtail.rhlab.ece.uw.edu, 5 Oct 2026

Where REDTAIL stands on Freedom251

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