NOTICE: Much of this content is being moved to the doc/ sub-folder.

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abstract: | Build and demonstrate a system that records attendance by reading RFID tags. The system will consist of:
a) a WiFi-connected microcontroller and RFID reader,
b) several RFID tags,
c) an online database to record tag readings,
d) a program to use records in the database to compute student attendance.
This project will require you to integrate embedded microprocessors (Arduino), an RFID reader system, and Internet access. date: Fall 2017 title: 'Internet of Things — RFID Attendance System'

Project Goals

Successful completion of this project will include the following milestones:

• Connect a WiFi-connected micro-controller (C ) to the Valpo wireless network.

• Post data from the C to the web service ThingSpeak.

• Read the unique serial number (EPC) from an RFID tag using an RFID reader.

• Post the EPC to a specific ThingSpeak channel.

• Use Matlab in the cloud to read the database and compute a daily attendance report.

Details

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RFID stands for “Radio-frequency Identification.” Much like a barcode, this technology allows for items or things to be identified. However, the system is entirely electronic and works without the tags requiring a battery to be identified. You will combine several existing items together to create a system that wirelessly takes attendance and records the data on the Internet. You will be using an RFID reader from ThingMagic, a Sparkfun development board, an Arduino microcontroller, and an online database from Mathworks.

RFID Reader

You will use the SparkFun Simultaneous RFID Reader - M6E Nano from Sparkfun. The website is https://www.sparkfun.com/products/14066. Sparkfun provides many libraries that will enable you to quickly get started.

Arduino microcontroller

You will use the SparkFun WiFi Shield - ESP8266 available from https://www.sparkfun.com/products/13287. This board features the ESP8266, which has both a microcontroller and a WiFi radio on the same chip. You will use the Arduino programming environment to a) interface the RFID reader and get data from tags b) upload the data received from the tag to the Internet using WiFi.

If you wish to use a different computer for programming, you will need to install some extra board definitions and libraries in your Arduino IDE. This guide was prepared with the Arduino IDE version 1.8.5.

• Install the Arduino core for the ESP8266 by following the instructions at https://github.com/esp8266/Arduino#installing-with-boards-manager.

• Select board: “Sparkfun ESP8266 Thing” from the Tools $\rightarrow$ Board menu.

• Install the SparkFun Simultaneous RFID Tag Reader Library using the Arduino Library Manager. Open this from the menu item: Sketch $\rightarrow$ Include Library $\rightarrow$ Manage Libraries. Then search for the library by name.

The documentation for the ESP8266 Arduino core is found at:
https://arduino-esp8266.readthedocs.io/en/latest/index.html

Mathworks Thingspeak

Mathworks (makers of MATLAB), provide an online service for ‘things’ to store data they collect. You will create a new Thingspeak channel and use the provided protocol, or Application Programming Interface (API) to push your data to the Thingspeak channel. (Don’t worry, it sounds scary, but it’s surprisingly easy.)

Attendance Interface

Lastly, you will use a computer program such as MATLAB to download the data from Thingspeak that contains dates and times of tags read, and compare those to a list of students. From that information, you will keep track of who is in attendance and report this.

Workspace

You will be able to work in Gellersen 166, the Electronics Lab (a.k.a. “Junior Lab”).

Suggested Timeline

• Day 1 (Friday) — Instructor briefing; Connect the RFID reader to the Arduino Thing Dev and read a set of tag ‘TID’s; Create a Thingspeak channel. (Find ThingDev MAC address and give to professors).

• Day 2 (Monday) — Practice the Thingspeak API; Connect ThingDev to the Valparaiso WiFi network and upload data to the Thingspeak channel; Begin filtering data

• Day 3 (Tuesday) — Combine RFID reader program and Thingspeak WiFi program; Begin uploading tag data to Thingspeak; Begin MATLAB program to pull down data from Thingspeak.

• Day 4 (Wednesday) — Let MATLAB program filter data by time or date; Display tag id’s in attendance; Compare tag id’s to a list of students and print out names of students in attendance and names of students absent.

• Day 5 (Thursday) — In-class presentation!

Note: Final Demonstration by 5:00 PM on Friday, November 3^rd^!