Failure to meet attendance at university is unfortunately a true stereotype of many university students, which needs to be overcome. This project aims to help curb the ‘skipping’ of lectures/ seminars through an automatic attendance system where the user simply needs to scan their ID card on the way in and out of classrooms/lecture halls. This forces students to feel the need to attend lectures as it is guaranteed that if a lecture is missed, their absence will be recorded and the data will be stored.The data collect from scanning their ID cards will be stored in an online database and will keep details of which lectures are missed, the time spent in lectures etc… so, the users of the system can visually see and track their lectures and academic life.

Automated Registration System and DatabaseBy: Queen Olanrewaju Supervisor: Professor Gareth Howells

IntroductionA lot of universities record attendance by passing around a registration sheet during lectures and some don’t even take any attendance at all. This results in a lot of lectures ‘skipped’, which effects the knowledge obtained and grades of the students. I believe this can be fixed. RFID tags and readers can be used to record which students have and haven’t attended lectures, which in turn will encourage the students to attend more of their lectures curbing the issue at hand.

Aims and DeliverablesThe main aims of this project is to create a simple way to register attendance without a written signature which saves time, and stores the necessary data in a database which can be read by authorised users. Enabled through the use of a card and scanner. It would also be automated with a manual override so that the lecturers doesn’t need to worry about the attendance of students. To be able to deliver the aims I needed:

• A working RFID reader that sends data of registered students to the database made

• A working database that stores and logs the student’s attendance correctly

• The time, date, and lecture the student has attended as well as the duration stayed in said lecture

• An online portal for students, staff, and administrators of portal to be able to login and access the required data stored in the database and view attendance system, apply for concessions, and add new users

• A fast-acting registration

System DescriptionThe overall system has 3 main components, the RFID reader, Arduino Shield, and the database. The Arduino shield has been made and implemented into this system. The RFID reader which will be made, works alongside the student ID cards which will contain a RFID tag. The tags are scanned at the door of the lecture hall where the lecture or seminar is held. A RFID scanner which I plan to make will be at the door. The last component is the database. Data can be concluded by the data from the RFID reader being stored in a database, such as recorded number of lectures attended or missed, and the average duration spent in lectures.

Schematic for RFID Reader Figure 1

Arduino Shield and RFID reader Figure 2

System Flow Chart Figure 3

Testing and ResultsI tested the system systematically from every individual component such as the Arduino and LCD screen, to full software systems such as the database and website.I tested and found that all but one component purchased for the project was functioning as expected. The Arduino was faulty due to a soldering issue, which was overcome.The first built component tested was the Arduino Shield, running simple commands through it ensured it functioned correctly when attached to the Arduino. The software was tested through a similar method but with dummy data.The schematic for the RFID reader was designed.Unfortunately due to the effects of COVID-19 a full analysis of the testing and results is not available.

Faulty Arduino Figure 4

Testing Software and Arduino Figure 5Press Release