Smart RFID attendance and student database system

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

Proxy attendance is a practice where an individual marks the attendance for another person,
often to falsely indicate their presence or participation in an activity. This practice has been
particularly prevalent in educational institutions and workplaces in India. Understanding the
need and history of proxy attendance involves examining the factors that contribute to its
occurrence and the historical context that has shaped its prevalence. In the contemporary era,
automation has become a cornerstone of efficiency and accuracy across various domains,
including education, business, and public administration. The manual processes that once
governed administrative tasks are increasingly being replaced by automated systems designed
to streamline operations, reduce human error, and enhance productivity. One area where
automation has shown significant potential is in attendance management.

The implementation of automated attendance systems has gained traction due to the growing
need for reliable and efficient record-keeping. These systems address common issues
associated with manual attendance tracking, such as lost records, fraudulent entries, and
administrative overhead. By leveraging technologies like Radio Frequency Identification
(RFID), microcontrollers, and cloud-based data storage, automated attendance systems provide
a robust solution that enhances accuracy, accessibility, and ease of use. Among these
technologies, RFID stands out for its versatility and effectiveness in identifying and tracking
individuals through unique identifiers, such as RFID tags or cards.

In conclusion, the RFID-based attendance system represents a significant advancement in the

field of attendance management. Its use of RFID technology for contactless identification,
NodeMCU ESP8266 for connectivity and data processing, and Google Sheets for cloud-based
data storage exemplifies the power of modern technologies in addressing practical challenges.
The system’s design and implementation showcase the benefits of automation and integration,
offering a reliable and user-friendly solution for recording and managing attendance. As
technology continues to evolve, the principles and methods demonstrated in this project will
remain relevant, providing a foundation for future advancements in attendance management
and beyond.

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1.1 PROBLEM STATEMENT

In the context of attendance management systems, the issue of proxy attendance poses
significant challenges across educational institutions and workplaces. Proxy attendance refers
to the practice where an individual marks the attendance for another person, often without the
latter being physically present. This problem is prevalent in many institutions in India, where
traditional methods of tracking attendance are still in use. The fundamental issue lies in the
inability of these conventional systems to effectively deter or detect proxy attendance, leading
to inaccurate records that can compromise the integrity of the attendance process.

The roots of the problem are multifaceted. Firstly, high student-to-teacher ratios and large class
sizes in many educational institutions make it difficult for teachers to verify each student's
presence accurately. Manual attendance tracking methods, such as roll calls or paper registers,
are often employed, which are susceptible to errors and manipulation. In workplaces, similar
challenges arise with large teams and limited monitoring resources, leading to instances where
employees may exploit the system by having colleagues mark their attendance.

The consequences of proxy attendance are far-reaching. In educational settings, it can lead to
unfair academic advantages, as students who do not attend classes regularly but have their
attendance marked may receive grades or certificates they do not deserve. This undermines the
value of academic qualifications and creates disparities among students. In workplaces, proxy
attendance can result in reduced productivity and efficiency, as absent employees who are
falsely recorded as present may not contribute to their roles, impacting overall team
performance and morale. Additionally, it can create issues with compliance and accountability,
particularly in industries where attendance is linked to safety or regulatory requirements.

The problem of proxy attendance also highlights broader issues related to trust and integrity
within institutions. When attendance systems are perceived as unreliable or easily manipulated,
it erodes confidence among stakeholders, including students, employees, and administrators.
This lack of trust can undermine the effectiveness of the attendance management process and
lead to a range of administrative and operational challenges.

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1.2 OBJECTIVES

objectives for an RFID-based attendance system using NodeMCU ESP8266, Google Sheets,
and additional components like a buzzer, LED, and LCD, it is essential to focus on key aspects
that address both functionality and performance. Here are ten objectives to consider:

1. Accurate Attendance Tracking: Ensure that the attendance system accurately records
the presence of individuals by using RFID tags and NodeMCU ESP8266 for real-time
data capture. The system should minimize errors and eliminate proxy attendance.

2. Real-Time Data Update: Implement a solution that updates attendance records in real-
time to Google Sheets. This integration will provide immediate visibility into
attendance data and facilitate instant access and analysis.

3. Seamless User Authentication: Design the system to effectively read RFID tags
associated with each individual and authenticate their identity swiftly. This should
ensure that only authorized users are marked as present.

4. Effective Feedback Mechanism: Integrate visual and auditory feedback using an LCD
display, buzzer, and LED indicators. The system should provide clear and immediate
feedback to users regarding their attendance status (e.g., successful or failed attempt).

5. Secure Data Management: Ensure that all attendance data transmitted to Google
Sheets is secure and protected from unauthorized access. This includes using secure
connections and authentication protocols.

6. User-Friendly Interface: Develop an intuitive user interface for the LCD display that
shows relevant information such as user ID, attendance status, and any errors. The
interface should be easy to understand and navigate.

7. Scalability and Flexibility: Design the system to be scalable, accommodating varying

numbers of users and capable of integrating with other systems or components as
needed. It should be flexible enough to adapt to different institutional requirements.

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CHAPTER 2

LITRATURE SURVEY

1. Sanjay Kumar, A. K. Sharma, This paper provides an extensive overview of RFID

technology, discussing its principles, components, and applications. The authors detail
how RFID systems work, including the roles of RFID tags, readers, and middleware.
They explore various applications of RFID in inventory management, access control,
and attendance tracking. The study emphasizes the advantages of RFID, such as non-
contact reading, high-speed data transfer, and accuracy in identification. This literature
is crucial for understanding the foundational technology that underpins the proposed
RFID-based attendance system[1].
2. Maria B. Hsu, Richard F. Palmer, This research investigates the integration of IoT
technology into attendance management systems. The authors present a framework for
using IoT devices, such as sensors and microcontrollers, to automate attendance
tracking. They describe how IoT can improve the efficiency and accuracy of attendance
systems by enabling real-time data collection and remote monitoring. The paper
includes case studies demonstrating successful implementations and discusses the
potential challenges and benefits of adopting IoT for attendance management[2].
3. Ramesh R. Kumar, Sneha Patel, This article explores the use of biometric systems
for managing attendance, focusing on fingerprint and facial recognition technologies.
The authors review various biometric techniques, their accuracy, and their applicability
in educational and corporate environments. They highlight the advantages of biometric
systems, such as enhanced security and reduced likelihood of proxy attendance. The
paper also addresses common issues, such as user privacy concerns and system cost,
providing a balanced view of biometric authentication in attendance systems[3].
4. Laura J. Johnson, Michael S. Smith, This paper examines the role of cloud computing
in attendance management systems. The authors discuss how cloud-based platforms,
such as Google Sheets, can be used to store and manage attendance data. They explore
the benefits of cloud solutions, including scalability, accessibility, and real-time data
synchronization. The study includes examples of successful implementations and
provides guidelines for integrating cloud services with traditional attendance systems.
The research underscores the importance of cloud-based data management for
modernizing attendance tracking[4].

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5. Rajiv K. Sharma, Pranav Kumar, This article focuses on the NodeMCU ESP8266
microcontroller and its applications in IoT projects. The authors provide a detailed
overview of the ESP8266's features, including its Wi-Fi capabilities, ease of
programming, and compatibility with various sensors and modules. They discuss the
advantages of using NodeMCU ESP8266 for developing connected devices and
highlight its role in integrating IoT technologies into practical applications. The paper
is valuable for understanding the technical aspects of the microcontroller used in the
proposed attendance system[5].
6. David L. Mitchell, Sarah W. Green, This research explores the integration of RFID
technology with cloud-based platforms for enhanced data management. The authors
describe how RFID data can be collected and transmitted to cloud services for real-time
analysis and reporting. They discuss the technical challenges and solutions for
integrating RFID with cloud platforms, such as data synchronization, security, and
scalability. The paper provides insights into how combining RFID with cloud
computing can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of attendance systems[6].

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CHAPTER 3

METHODOLOGY

RFID
GOOGLE READER
SHEETS

ESP8266 LCD

NODEMCU
• GLED
• BUZZER

12V POWER
SUPPLY

3.1 Block Diagram of proposed system

Developing an RFID-based attendance system using the ESP8266 microcontroller and Google
Spreadsheets involves several steps, including hardware setup, software development, and
system integration. This methodology outlines the processes involved in creating a reliable and
efficient attendance management system. o Install the ESP8266 board package in the Arduino
IDE. Install the necessary libraries, including the MFRC522 library for the RFID reader and
the WiFiClientSecure library for HTTPS communication with Google Sheets. Write the
Firmware for the ESP8266The firmware is developed to handle RFID tag reading, Wi-Fi
connectivity, and communication with Google Sheets. The code includes the following
functionalities Initialize the RFID Reader: Include the MFRC522 library and initialize the
RFID reader in the setup function. Connect to Wi-Fi Use the WiFiClientSecure library to

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connect the ESP8266 to a Wi-Fi network. Use the Google Sheets API to authenticate and send
attendance data to a Google Spreadsheet. This involves setting up OAuth 2.0 authentication
and using HTTPS POST requests to update the spreadsheet.

CHAPTER 4

HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE REQUIRMENTS

Figure:4.1 ESP9266

The NodeMCU (Node MicroController Unit) is an open-source software and hardware

development environment built around an inexpensive System-on-a-Chip (SoC) called the
ESP8266. The ESP8266, designed and manufactured by Espressif Systems, contains the crucial
elements of a computer: CPU, RAM, networking (WiFi), and even a modern operating system
and SDK. That makes it an excellent choice for Internet of Things (IoT) projects of all kinds.

However, as a chip, the ESP8266 is also hard to access and use. You must solder wires, with
the appropriate analog voltage, to its pins for the simplest tasks such as powering it on or
sending a keystroke to the “computer” on the chip. You also have to program it in low-level
machine instructions that can be interpreted by the chip hardware. This level of integration is
not a problem using the ESP8266 as an embedded controller chip in mass-produced electronics.
It is a huge burden for hobbyists, hackers, or students who want to experiment with it in their
own IoT projects.

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But, what about Arduino? The Arduino project created an open-source hardware design and
software SDK for their versatile IoT controller. Similar to NodeMCU, the Arduino hardware
is a microcontroller board with a USB connector, LED lights, and standard data pins. It also
defines standard interfaces to interact with sensors or other boards. But unlike NodeMCU, the
Arduino board can have different types of CPU chips (typically an ARM or Intel x86 chip)
with memory chips, and a variety of programming environments. There is an Arduino reference
design for the ESP8266 chip as well. However, the flexibility of Arduino also means significant
variations across different vendors. For example, most Arduino boards do not have WiFi
capabilities, and some even have a serial data port instead of a USB port.

Figure:4.2 NodeMCU Specifications

The NodeMCU is available in various package styles. Common to all the designs is the base
ESP8266 core. Designs based on the architecture have maintained the standard 30-pin layout.
Some designs use the more common narrow (0.9″) footprint, while others use a wide (1.1″)
footprint – an important consideration to be aware of.

The most common models of the NodeMCU are the Amica (based on the standard narrow pin-
spacing) and the LoLin which has the wider pin spacing and larger board. The open-source
design of the base ESP8266 enables the market to design new variants of the NodeMCU
continually.

• Operating Voltage: 2.5 to 3.3V

• Operating current: 800 mA

• 3.3V 600mA on-board voltage regulation

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• ESP8266 comes up with 2 switches one is reset and another one

is flash button, Reset button is used to reset NodeMCU and flash button is used to
download and is used while upgrading the firmware. The board has build in LED
indicator which is connected to D0 pin.

• The NodeMCU board also contains a CP2102 USB to UART module to convert the
data from USB to serial so that it can be controlled and programmed via computer.

• The esp8266 has 4 power pins: One VIN pin for input power supply and
three 3.3V pins for output power supply. Even if 5V regulated supply is given through
VIN, the voltage regulator will decrease it to 3.3v during output.

• The esp8266 has 3 GND pins which indicate ground supply. Generally, the negative
terminals are connected to these pins.

• Esp8266 board also has I2C pins which can be used both as I2C master and I2C
Slave. These pins are used to connect various I2C sensors and peripherals in your
project. I2C interface functionality can be controlled via programming, and the clock
frequency is 100 kHz at a maximum.

• Esp8266 NodeMCU has 17 GPIO pins which can be assigned to various functions
such as UART, PWM, I2C,IR and Button via programming. When configured as an
input pin, the GPIO pins can also be set to edge-trigger or level-trigger to generate
CPU interrupts.

• ESP8266 NodeMCU has 2 UART interfaces, i.e. UART0 and UART1, which offer
asynchronous communication, and may communicate at up to 4.5 Mbps. TXD0,
RXD0, RST0 & CTS0 pins can be used for communication. It supports fluid control.
However, TXD1 pin features only data transmit signal so, it's usually used for printing
log.

• ESP8266 has two SPI in slave and master modes. These SPIs also support the
following general features: 4 timing modes of the SPI format transfer. Up to 64-byte
FIFO buffer.

• Esp8266 has a secure digital I/O interface which is used directly control the SD
cards.

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• Esp8266 has 4 channels of Pulse width modulation (PWM). The output can be
controlled via programming and is frequently used for driving motors and LEDs. The
frequency ranges from 100Hz to 1KHz.

• There are three control pins on the esp8266: The enable pin (EN), the reset pin (RST)
and the wake pin.

• The esp8266 chip works when the enable pin is high. When the enable pin is low, the
chip works on minimum power.

• The reset pin is used to reset the esp8266 chip.

• The wake pin is used to wake up the chip from deep sleep mode.

4.1 Equivalents for Passive Buzzer

Piezo Electric buzzer, Speaker, Active Passive Buzzer with Module

Figure:4.3 LED

• Long Life: LEDs can last over 100,000 hours (10+ years) if used at rated specifications
• No annoying flicker like from fluorescent lamps
• LEDs are impervious to heat, cold, shock and vibration
• LEDs do not contain breakable glass
• Solid-State, shock and vibration resistant
• Extremely fast turn On/Off times
• Low power consumption puts less load on the electrical systems increasing battery life.

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4.3 5V POWER SUPPLY MODULE

Figure:4.4 5V POWER SUPPLY MODUL

Product specification

Product Discrepition

Features :-
• Input Voltage AC 0-12

• Output Voltages: +5V DC

• Inputs and output connected to Terminal blocks

• Maximum Load 0.75amps

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4.4 12 VOLT ADAPTER:

Figure:4.5 12 VOLT ADAPTER:

12 Volt 2 Amp Power Adapter takes an AC INPUT of 100-240V and gives 12V 2A DC output

Features:-

• Excellent Quality

• Short Circuit, Over Voltage & Over Current Protection

• Incredibly Low Fault Rates

• No Minimum Load

4.5 RFID

Figure:4.6 [RFID]

RFID tags are made up of an integrated circuit (IC), an antenna and a substrate. The part of an
RFID tag that encodes identifying information is called the RFID inlay.

There are two main types of RFID tags:

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• Active RFID. An active RFID tag has its own power source, often a battery.
• Passive RFID. A passive RFID tag receives its power from the reading antenna,
whose electromagnetic wave induces a current in the RFID tag's antenna.

4.6 SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS

Figure:4.7 ARDUINO

Arduino Integrated Development Environment (IDE) v1

Learn how the Arduino IDE v1 works, such as compiling & uploading sketches, file
management, installing dependencies and much more.The Arduino Integrated Development
Environment - or Arduino Software (IDE) - contains a text editor for writing code, a message
area, a text console, a toolbar with buttons for common functions and a series of menus. It
connects to the Arduino hardware to upload programs and communicate with them.

Writing Sketches

Programs written using Arduino Software (IDE) are called sketches. These sketches are written
in the text editor and are saved with the file extension .ino. The editor has features for
cutting/pasting and for searching/replacing text. The message area gives feedback while saving
and exporting and also displays errors. The console displays text output by the Arduino
Software (IDE), including complete error messages and other information. The bottom
righthand corner of the window displays the configured board and serial port. The toolbar
buttons allow you to verify and upload programs, create, open, and save sketches, and open the
serial monitor.

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How to upload programs on to ESP8266 from Arduino IDE

• Firstly, you need to download the Arduino IDE. If you already have installed then it is
ok. Otherwise you can download the Arduino IDE from here.

• Now open the IDE and follow this path. File -> preferences -> Additional board
manager URL.

• Now paste the URL in the dialog box

: http://arduino.esp8266.com/stable/package_esp8266com_index.json

• Now follow this path. Tools -> Board -> Boards Manager

• Now in the search bar, type esp. There will be esp8266 listed in the boards below.
Download and install the latest version for you Arduino IDE.

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• After the installation is complete, open Tools -> Board-> Select the NodeMCU 1.0

• Now your board is installed and selected. There are various settings which can be
changed right from the IDE now.

• You can now upload the code to NodeMCU right from the Arduino IDE.

NodeMCU Development board is featured with wifi capability, analog pin, digital pins, and
serial communication protocols.

To get started with using NodeMCU for IoT applications first we need to know about how to
write/download NodeMCU firmware in NodeMCU Development Boards. And before that
where this NodeMCU firmware will get as per our requirement. There are online NodeMCU
custom builds available using which we can easily get our custom NodeMCU firmware as per
our requirement.

Coding In Nodemcu

After setting up ESP8266 with Node-MCU firmware, let’s see the IDE (Integrated
Development Environment) required for the development of NodeMCU.

NodeMCU with Arduino IDE

Here is another way of developing NodeMCU with a well-known IDE i.e. Arduino IDE. We
can also develop applications on NodeMCU using the Arduino development environment. This
makes it easy for Arduino developers than learning a new language and IDE for NodeMCU.

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Nodemcu ESP8266 Pinout, Features, and specifications– in this basic getting started
tutorial you will learn the very basic things about the NodeMCU ESP8266 Wifi Module.

NodeMCU is an open-source firmware for which open-source prototyping board designs are
available. The name “NodeMCU” combines “node” and “MCU” (micro-controller unit). The
term “NodeMCU” strictly speaking refers to the firmware rather than the associated
development kits. Both the firmware and prototyping board designs are open source. Nodemcu
ESP8266 and Nodemcu ESP32 are becoming very popular and are almost used in more then
50% IoT based projects today.

The firmware uses the Lua scripting language. The firmware is based on the eLua project and
built on the Espressif Non-OS SDK for ESP8266. It uses many open source projects, such as
lua-cjson and SPIFFS. Due to resource constraints, users need to select the modules relevant
for their project and build a firmware tailored to their needs. Support for the 32-bit ESP32 has
also been implemented.

The prototyping hardware typically used is a circuit board functioning as a dual in-line package
(DIP) which integrates a USB controller with a smaller surface-mounted board containing the
MCU and antenna. The choice of the DIP format allows for easy prototyping on breadboards.
The design was initially was based on the ESP-12 module of the ESP8266, which is a Wi-Fi
SoC integrated with a Tensilica Xtensa LX106 core, widely used in IoT application

• Digital Oscilloscopes
• Variable Supply
• Digital Multimeter
• Soldering iron kits
• PCB small portable drill machines

*Please Note: These are affiliate links. I may make a commission if you buy the components
through these links. I would appreciate your support in this way!

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About the Nodemcu ESP8266 Pinout:

NodeMCU ESP8266 Wifi Module is an open-source Lua based firmware and development
board specially targeted for IoT based applications. It includes firmware that runs on
the ESP8266 Wi-Fi SoC from Espressif Systems, and hardware which is based on the ESP-
12 module.

Nodemcu ESP8266 Pinout:

For practical purposes ESP8266 NodeMCU V2 and V3 boards present identical pinouts.
While working on the NodeMCU based projects we are interested in the following pins.

• Power pins (3.3 V).

• Ground pins (GND).
• Analog pins (A0).
• Digital pins (D0 – D8, SD2, SD3, RX, and TX – GPIO XX)

Most ESP8266 NodeMCU boards have one input voltage pin (Vin), three power pins (3.3v),
four ground pins (GND), one analog pin (A0), and several digital pins (GPIO XX).

Nodemcu ESP8266 PWM Pins:

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Applications of Nodemcu

1. Prototyping of IoT devices

2. Low power battery operated applications
3. Network projects
4. Projects requiring multiple I/O interfaces with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth functionalities.

BUZZER:

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Buzzer Features and Specifications

• Rated Voltage: 6V DC

• Operating Voltage: 4-8V DC

• Rated current: <30mA

• Sound Type: Continuous Beep

• Resonant Frequency: ~2300 Hz

• Small and neat sealed package

• Breadboard and Perf board friendly

Equivalents for Passive Buzzer

Piezo Electric buzzer, Speaker, Active Passive Buzzer with Module

Serial Monitor Opens the serial monitor.

Additional commands are found within the five menus: File, Edit, Sketch, Tools, Help. The
menus are context sensitive, which means only those items relevant to the work currently being
carried out are available.

File

• New Creates a new instance of the editor, with the bare minimum structure of a sketch
already in place.

• Open Allows to load a sketch file browsing through the computer drives and folders.

• Open Recent Provides a short list of the most recent sketches, ready to be opened.

• Sketchbook Shows the current sketches within the sketchbook folder structure; clicking
on any name opens the corresponding sketch in a new editor instance.

• Examples Any example provided by the Arduino Software (IDE) or library shows up
in this menu item. All the examples are structured in a tree that allows easy access by
topic or library.

• Close Closes the instance of the Arduino Software from which it is clicked.

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• Save Saves the sketch with the current name. If the file hasn't been named before, a
name will be provided in a "Save as.." window.

• Save as... Allows to save the current sketch with a different name.

• Page Setup It shows the Page Setup window for printing.

• Print Sends the current sketch to the printer according to the settings defined in Page
Setup.

• Preferences Opens the Preferences window where some settings of the IDE may be
customized, as the language of the IDE interface.

• Quit Closes all IDE windows. The same sketches open when Quit was chosen will be
automatically reopened the next time you start the IDE.

Edit

• Undo/Redo Goes back of one or more steps you did while editing; when you go back,
you may go forward with Redo.

• Cut Removes the selected text from the editor and places it into the clipboard.

• Copy Duplicates the selected text in the editor and places it into the clipboard.

• Copy for Forum Copies the code of your sketch to the clipboard in a form suitable for
posting to the forum, complete with syntax coloring.

• Copy as HTML Copies the code of your sketch to the clipboard as HTML, suitable for
embedding in web pages.

• Paste Puts the contents of the clipboard at the cursor position, in the editor.

• Select All Selects and highlights the whole content of the editor.

• Comment/Uncomment Puts or removes the // comment marker at the beginning of each

selected line.

• Increase/Decrease Indent Adds or subtracts a space at the beginning of each selected

line, moving the text one space on the right or eliminating a space at the beginning.

• Find Opens the Find and Replace window where you can specify text to search inside
the current sketch according to several options.

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• Find Next Highlights the next occurrence - if any - of the string specified as the search
item in the Find window, relative to the cursor position.

• Find Previous Highlights the previous occurrence - if any - of the string specified as the
search item in the Find window relative to the cursor position.

Sketch

• Verify/Compile Checks your sketch for errors compiling it; it will report memory usage
for code and variables in the console area.

• Upload Compiles and loads the binary file onto the configured board through the
configured Port.

• Upload Using Programmer This will overwrite the bootloader on the board; you will
need to use Tools > Burn Bootloader to restore it and be able to Upload to USB serial
port again. However, it allows you to use the full capacity of the Flash memory for your
sketch. Please note that this command will NOT burn the fuses. To do so a Tools ->
Burn Bootloader command must be executed.

• Export Compiled Binary Saves a .hex file that may be kept as archive or sent to the
board using other tools.

• Show Sketch Folder Opens the current sketch folder.

• Include Library Adds a library to your sketch by inserting #include statements at the
start of your code. For more details, see libraries below. Additionally, from this menu
item you can access the Library Manager and import new libraries from .zip files.

• Add File... Adds a supplemental file to the sketch (it will be copied from its current
location). The file is saved to the

Tools

• Auto Format This formats your code nicely: i.e. indents it so that opening and closing
curly braces line up, and that the statements inside curly braces are indented more.

• Archive Sketch Archives a copy of the current sketch in .zip format. The archive is
placed in the same directory as the sketch.

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• Fix Encoding & Reload Fixes possible discrepancies between the editor char map
encoding and other operating systems char maps.

• Serial Monitor Opens the serial monitor window and initiates the exchange of data with
any connected board on the currently selected Port. This usually resets the board, if the
board supports Reset over serial port opening.

• Board Select the board that you're using. See below for descriptions of the various
boards.

• Port This menu contains all the serial devices (real or virtual) on your machine. It
should automatically refresh every time you open the top-level tools menu.

• Programmer For selecting a hardware programmer when programming a board or chip

and not using the onboard USB-serial connection. Normally you won't need this, but if
you're burning a bootloader to a new microcontroller, you will use this.

• Burn Bootloader The items in this menu allow you to burn a bootloader onto the
microcontroller on an Arduino board. This is not required for normal use of an Arduino
board but is useful if you purchase a new ATmega microcontroller (which normally
come without a bootloader). Ensure that you've selected the correct board from
the Boards menu before burning the bootloader on the target board. This command also
set the right fuses.

Help

Here you find easy access to a number of documents that come with the Arduino Software
(IDE). You have access to Getting Started, Reference, this guide to the IDE and other
documents locally, without an internet connection. The documents are a local copy of the
online ones and may link back to our online website.

• Find in Reference This is the only interactive function of the Help menu: it directly
selects the relevant page in the local copy of the Reference for the function or command
under the cursor.

Sketchbook

The Arduino Software (IDE) uses the concept of a sketchbook: a standard place to store your
programs (or sketches). The sketches in your sketchbook can be opened from the File >

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Sketchbook menu or from the Open button on the toolbar. The first time you run the Arduino
software, it will automatically create a directory for your sketchbook. You can view or change
the location of the sketchbook location from with the Preferences dialog.

with version 1.0, files are saved with a .ino file extension. Previous versions use the .pde
extension. You may still open .pde named files in version 1.0 and later, the software Beginning
will automatically rename the extension to .ino.

Tabs, Multiple Files, and Compilation

Allows you to manage sketches with more than one file (each of which appears in its own tab).
These can be normal Arduino code files (no visible extension), C files (.c extension), C++ files
(.cpp), or header files (.h).

Before compiling the sketch, all the normal Arduino code files of the sketch (.ino, .pde) are
concatenated into a single file following the order the tabs are shown in. The other file types
are left as is.

Uploading

Before uploading your sketch, you need to select the correct items from the Tools >
Board and Tools > Port menus. The boards are described below. On the Mac, the serial port is
probably something like /dev/tty.usbmodem241 (for an UNO or Mega2560 or Leonardo)
or /dev/tty.usbserial-1B1 (for a Duemilanove or earlier USB board),
or /dev/tty.USA19QW1b1P1.1 (for a serial board connected with a Keyspan USB-to-Serial
adapter). On Windows, it's probably COM1 or COM2 (for a serial board)
or COM4, COM5, COM7, or higher (for a USB board) - to find out, you look for USB serial
device in the ports section of the Windows Device Manager. On Linux, it should
be /dev/ttyACMx , /dev/ttyUSBx or similar. Once you've selected the correct serial port and
board, press the upload button in the toolbar or select the Upload item from the Sketch menu.
Current Arduino boards will reset automatically and begin the upload. With older boards (pre-
Diecimila) that lack auto-reset, you'll need to press the reset button on the board just before
starting the upload. On most boards, you'll see the RX and TX LEDs blink as the sketch is
uploaded. The Arduino Software (IDE) will display a message when the upload is complete,
or show an error.

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When you upload a sketch, you're using the Arduino bootloader, a small program that has been
loaded on to the microcontroller on your board. It allows you to upload code without using any
additional hardware. The bootloader is active for a few seconds when the board resets; then it
starts whichever sketch was most recently uploaded to the microcontroller. The bootloader will
blink the on-board (pin 13) LED when it starts (i.e. when the board resets).

Libraries

Libraries provide extra functionality for use in sketches, e.g. working with hardware or
manipulating data. To use a library in a sketch, select it from the Sketch > Import Library menu.
This will insert one or more #include statements at the top of the sketch and compile the library
with your sketch. Because libraries are uploaded to the board with your sketch, they increase
the amount of space it takes up. If a sketch no longer needs a library, simply delete
its #include statements from the top of your code.

There is a list of libraries in the reference. Some libraries are included with the Arduino
software. Others can be downloaded from a variety of sources or through the Library Manager.
Starting with version 1.0.5 of the IDE, you do can import a library from a zip file and use it in
an open sketch. See these instructions for installing a third-party library.

Third-Party Hardware

Support for third-party hardware can be added to the hardware directory of your sketchbook
directory. Platforms installed there may include board definitions (which appear in the board
menu), core libraries, bootloaders, and programmer definitions. To install, create
the hardware directory, then unzip the third-party platform into its own sub-directory. (Don't
use "arduino" as the sub-directory name or you'll override the built-in Arduino platform.) To
uninstall, simply delete its directory.

For details on creating packages for third-party hardware, see the Arduino Platform
specification.

Serial Monitor

This displays serial sent from the Arduino board over USB or serial connector. To send data to
the board, enter text and click on the "send" button or press enter. Choose the baud rate from
the drop-down menu that matches the rate passed to Serial.begin in your sketch. Note that on
Windows, Mac or Linux the board will reset (it will rerun your sketch) when you connect with

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the serial monitor. Please note that the Serial Monitor does not process control characters; if
your sketch needs a complete management of the serial communication with control characters,
you can use an external terminal program and connect it to the COM port assigned to your
Arduino board.

You can also talk to the board from Processing, Flash, MaxMSP, etc (see the interfacing
page for details).

Preferences

Some preferences can be set in the preferences dialog (found under the Arduino menu on the
Mac, or File on Windows and Linux). The rest can be found in the preferences file, whose
location is shown in the preference dialog.

Language Support

Since version 1.0.1 , the Arduino Software (IDE) has been translated into 30+ different
languages. By default, the IDE loads in the language selected by your operating system. (Note:
on Windows and possibly Linux, this is determined by the locale setting which controls
currency and date formats, not by the language the operating system is displayed in.)

If you would like to change the language manually, start the Arduino Software (IDE) and open
the Preferences window. Next to the Editor Language there is a dropdown menu of currently
supported languages. Select your preferred language from the menu, and restart the software
to use the selected language. If your operating system language is not supported, the Arduino
Software (IDE) will default to English.

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You can return the software to its default setting of selecting its language based on your
operating system by selecting System Default from the Editor Language drop-down. This
setting will take effect when you restart the Arduino Software (IDE). Similarly, after changing
your operating system's settings, you must restart the Arduino Software (IDE) to update it to
the new default language.

Boards

The board selection has two effects: it sets the parameters (e.g. CPU speed and baud rate) used
when compiling and uploading sketches; and sets and the file and fuse settings used by the burn
bootloader command. Some of the board definitions differ only in the latter, so even if you've
been uploading successfully with a particular selection you'll want to check it before burning
the bootloader. You can find different boards here.

Arduino Software (IDE) includes the built in support for the boards in the following list, all
based on the AVR Core. The Boards Manager included in the standard installation allows to
add support for the growing number of new boards based on different cores like Arduino Due,
Arduino Zero, Edison, Galileo and so on.

IOT BLYNK

With Blynk, you can create smartphone applications that allow you to easily interact with
microcontrollers or even full computers such as the Arduino Uno, Node MCU Esp8266
RaspberryPi.

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The main focus of the Blynk platform is to make it super-easy to develop the mobile phone
application. As you will see in this course, developing a mobile app that can talk to your
Arduino is as easy as dragging a widget and configuring a pin.
With Blynk, you can control an LED or a motor from your mobile phone with literally zero
programming. This is actually the first experiment that I will demonstrate in this course.

But don’t let this simplicity make you think that Blynk is only useful for trivial applications.
Blynk is a robust and scalable tool that is used by hobbyists and the industry alike.
You can use it to monitor the soil humidity of your vegetable garden and turn on the water.

You can also use it to control smart furniture that can learn from your routines, or embed IoT
and AI to traditional industrial products such as a boiler, or for improving the integrity and
safety of oilfields. Blynk is free to use for personal use and prototyping. Their business model
generates profits by selling subscriptions to businesses that want to publish Blynk-powered
apps for their hardware products or services. Let’s take a closer look at each component of the
Blynk Platform.

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CHAPTER 6

Advantages

1. Accurate Attendance Tracking

RFID technology enables precise and automatic tracking of attendance. Each RFID tag is
unique, allowing for accurate identification of individuals and minimizing errors associated
with manual attendance systems.

2. Efficiency in Data Processing

The integration of NodeMCU ESP8266 with RFID technology allows for real-time processing
and updating of attendance data.

3. Real-Time Monitoring
The use of NodeMCU ESP8266 provides connectivity to the internet, enabling real-time
monitoring of attendance data.

4. Enhanced Security
The system provides improved security compared to traditional attendance methods.

Disadvantages

1. Initial Setup Costs

The initial cost of acquiring RFID hardware, NodeMCU ESP8266, and other components can
be a barrier for some organizations.

2. Limited Range of RFID Readers

RFID readers typically have a limited range for reading tags, which may affect the system's
effectiveness in certain scenarios

Applications

1. Educational Institutions

RFID-based attendance systems are widely used in schools and universities to track student
attendance efficiently.

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2. Corporate Offices
In corporate settings, RFID-based systems are used to manage employee attendance, monitor
punctuality, and track working hours

3. Libraries
RFID-based attendance systems are used in libraries to manage staff attendance and track user
interactions with library resources.

4. Fitness Centre
Fitness centre use RFID-based systems to monitor the attendance of members and track their
usage of gym facilities

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CHAPTER 7

CONCLUSION

The development and implementation of an RFID-based attendance system utilizing Node

MCU ESP8266, Google Sheets, and associated components such as a buzzer, LED, and LCD
represent a significant advancement in attendance management technology. This system
addresses the challenges associated with traditional methods of tracking attendance, including
issues of accuracy, efficiency, and susceptibility to fraudulent activities such as proxy
attendance. By leveraging the unique capabilities of RFID technology, the system ensures that
each attendance record is precise and attributable to the individual present, thereby reducing
errors and enhancing the overall reliability of attendance data. The integration of Node MCU
ESP8266 brings a notable advantage through its Wi-Fi connectivity, which facilitates real-time
data transmission and updates to Google Sheets.

FUTURE SCOPE

Looking ahead, the future scope of RFID-based attendance systems offers several exciting
possibilities for further development and enhancement. One area of potential growth is the
integration of advanced technologies such as biometric authentication, which could
complement RFID systems to provide even higher levels of security and accuracy. Combining
RFID with biometric modalities like fingerprint or facial recognition could offer a multi-
layered approach to authentication, further reducing the risk of proxy attendance and enhancing
the overall reliability of the system. Another avenue for future development is the incorporation
of machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) to analyse attendance data and generate
insights. By leveraging AI algorithms, the system could provide predictive analytics, identify
patterns in attendance behaviour, and offer actionable recommendations for improving
attendance management.

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REFERENCES

[1]
Author Names: Sanjay Kumar, A. K. Sharma
Publication Name: "RFID Technology: Principles and Applications"
Date and Year: March 2020
Technology: RFID Technology

[2]
Author Names: Maria B. Hsu, Richard F. Palmer
Publication Name: "Internet of Things for Smart Attendance Systems"
Date and Year: June 2021
Technology: IoT (Internet of Things)

[3]
Author Names: Ramesh R. Kumar, Sneha Patel
Publication Name: "Biometric Authentication for Attendance Management"
Date and Year: November 2019
Technology: Biometric Authentication

[4]
Author Names: Laura J. Johnson, Michael S. Smith
Publication Name: "Cloud-Based Solutions for Attendance Management"
Date and Year: August 2022
Technology: Cloud Computing

[5]
Author Names: Rajiv K. Sharma, Pranav Kumar
Publication Name: "Node MCU ESP8266: A Versatile Microcontroller for IoT"
Date and Year: January 2020
Technology: Node MCU ESP8266

[6]
Author Names: David L. Mitchell, Sarah W. Green
Publication Name: "Integrating RFID Technology with Cloud-Based Platforms"
Date and Year: July 2021
Technology: RFID and Cloud Computing

[7]
Author Names: Alok R. Singh, Neha Gupta
Publication Name: "Enhancing User Experience in Automated Attendance Systems"
Date and Year: April 2022
Technology: User Experience Design

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[8]
Author Names: Anil K. Gupta, Deepa R. Sharma
Publication Name: "Security and Privacy in Attendance Management Systems"
Date and Year: October 2019
Technology: Security and Privacy

[9]
Author Names: Priya M. Rao, Vijay S. Patel
Publication Name: "Comparative Analysis of Attendance Tracking Technologies"
Date and Year: February 2021
Technology: Comparative Technology Analysis

[10]
Author Names: Manisha P. Joshi, Arvind K. Rathi
Publication Name: "Recent Advances in Attendance Management Systems"
Date and Year: December 2022
Technology: Technological Advances.

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