A Mini Project Report

on
RFID BASED ATTENDANCE SYSTEM
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the
requirement of University of Mumbai for the

Degree of Bachelor of Engineering

In
Information Technology
By

Omkar Gurav [TU4F2021011]

Anvay Gorule [TU4F2021018]
Sanket Patil [TU4F2021021]
Omkar Gole [TU4F2021013]

Under the Guidance of

Dr. Sujata Kadu

Department of Information Technology Engineering

TERNA ENGINEERING COLLEGE

NERUL(W), NAVI MUMBAI – 400706

UNIVERSITY OF MUMBAI ACADEMIC YEAR

2022-2023

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 APPROVAL SHEET
PROJECT REPORT APPROVAL

This Mini Project Report – an entitled “Rfid Based Attendance System” by following
students is approved for the degree of T.E. in “Information Technology ”.

Submitted by:

Omkar Gurav TU4F2021011

Anvay Gorule TU4F2021018
Sanket Patil TU4F2021021
Omkar Gole TU4F2021013

__________________
Internal Examiner(s)
Dr. Sujata Kadu

__________________
External Examiner(s)

Date: 25/04/2023
Place: Terna Engineering College, Nerul

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 INDEX

Sr No. Table of Contents Page No

i. Declaration……...………………………………….................... 6

ii. Acknowledgement………………………………….................... 7

iii. Certificate………………...…………………………………….. 8

iv. Abstract……………………...…………………………………. 9

1. Introduction…………………...………………………………... 10
1.1 Objectives…………………………………………………... 11

2. Literature Survey………………...……………………………... 12

3. Methodology……………………...……………………………. 14
3.1 Problem Statement…………………………………………. 14
3.2 Proposed Methodology……………………………………...15
3.3 Hardware and Software Requirements……………………... 16
3.4 Block Diagram……………………………………………... 19

4. Implementation and Result………………................................... 20

4.1 Circuit Diagram…………………………………………….. 20
4.2 Results……………………………………………………… 21

5. Conclusion……………………………………………………… 23

References…………………………………………………….... 24

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 LIST OF FIGURES

Fig. No. Table of Contents Page No

(3.3.1) Node MCU (ESP 8266)………………………....................... 16

(3.3.2) RFID Reader……...….………………………….................... 16

(3.3.3) RFID Tag……………...…………………………………….. 17

(3.3.4) LED Screen………………….....................…………………. 17

(3.3.5) I2C Module………………………………………………….. 18

(4.1) Block Diagram..…..………...……………………………….. 20

(4.2.1) Circuit Diagram………………………………………...…… 21

(4.2.2) Before Scanning………………………………………….…. 22

(4.2.3) After Scanning………………………………………………. 23

(4.2.4) Attendance Recorded………………………………..……... 24

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 LIST OF TABLES

Fig. No. Table of Contents Page No

(2.1) Summarized Literature Survey….……………....................... 12

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 DECLARATION

We declare that following written submission is in our own words and where we have taken
the others idea/fact/submission we have mentioned that. We understand that any violation or
misuse of the above will cause disciplinary action by the institute.

Signature of Students

_____________________
Omkar Gurav
[TU4F2021011]

_____________________
Anvay Gorule
[TU4F2021018]

_____________________
Sanket Patil
[TU4F2021021]

_____________________
Omkar Gole
[TU4F2021013]

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

No project is ever complete without the guidance of those expert who have already traded
this past before and hence become master of it and as a result, our leader. So, we would like
to take this opportunity to take all those individuals how have helped us in visualizing this
project.

We express our deep gratitude to our project guide Dr. Sujata Kadu for providing timely
assistant to our query and guidance that she gave owing to her experience in this field for
past many years. She had indeed been a lighthouse for us in this journey.

We would also take this opportunity to thank our project coordinator Dr. Sujata Kadu for
her guidance in selecting this project and also for providing us all this details on proper
presentation of this project. We extend our sincerity appreciation to all our Professors form
Terna Engineering College, Nerul for their valuable inside and tip during the designing of the
project.

Their contributions have been valuable in so many ways that we find it difficult to
acknowledge of them individual. We also great full to our HOD Dr. Vaishali Khairnar,
Principal Dr. L. K. Ragha for extending their help directly and indirectly through various
channel in our project work.

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 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the project entitled “RFID BASED ATTENDANCE SYSTEM ” is a
bonafide work of “Omkar Gurav” (TU4F2021011), “Anvay Gorule” (TU4F2021018),
“Sanket Patil” (TU4F2021021) and “Omkar Gole” (TU4F2021013) submitted to the
University of Mumbai in partial fulfillment of the requirement for TE-IT SEM VI for course:
SL Lab for the award of the degree of “Bachelor of Engineering” in “Information
Technology”

______________ _____________
Dr. Sujata Kadu Dr. Sujata Kadu
Supervisor / Guide Project Coordinator

_____________________ ____________________
Dr. Vaishali Khairnar Dr. L. K. Ragha
Head of Department Principal

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 ABSTRACT

Attendance management is a crucial aspect of any educational institution, but traditional

manual attendance systems can be time-consuming, error-prone, and easily manipulated.
With the advancement of technology, RFID-based attendance systems are becoming
increasingly popular due to their ability to automate the attendance process, providing a
reliable, efficient, and accurate solution.

The technology involves the use of radio waves to communicate between two main
components of the system; a transponder or a tag which is located on the object that needs to
be identified, and a transceiver or a reader.In an RFID-based attendance system, each student
or staff member is assigned an RFID tag that contains a unique identification number. The
tag is placed in a position that allows it to be easily read by the RFID reader when the
individual enters or exits the classroom. The reader collects the information from the tag and
forwards it to a central server or database, which is used to process and analyze attendance
data.

RFID-based attendance systems have several benefits, including real-time tracking of

attendance, improved accuracy, reduced paperwork, and increased efficiency. With the
ability to collect and analyze data, institutions can gain valuable insights into attendance
trends, identify potential issues, and take corrective measures to improve attendance
rates.Overall, RFID-based attendance systems provide an effective solution to traditional
manual attendance systems, offering a more efficient, reliable, and accurate way to manage
attendance in educational institutions.

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 CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION

Traditional manual attendance systems are prone to errors, time-consuming, and can be
easily manipulated. In recent years, RFID-based attendance systems using NodeMCU and
real-time Google Sheets have emerged as a reliable and efficient solution to automate the
attendance process.

RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification, a non-contact technology that uses radio
waves to communicate between an RFID tag and an RFID reader. In an RFID-based
attendance system using NodeMCU and Google Sheets, each student or staff member is
assigned an RFID tag that contains a unique identification number. The NodeMCU is used to
communicate with the RFID reader, collect the attendance data, and send it to a real-time
Google Sheet for processing and analysis.

The RFID-based attendance system using NodeMCU and Google Sheets has several
advantages over traditional manual attendance systems. These include real-time tracking of
attendance, improved accuracy, reduced paperwork, and increased efficiency. With the
ability to collect and analyze data, institutions can gain valuable insights into attendance
trends, identify potential issues, and take corrective measures to improve attendance rates.

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 1.2 OBJECTIVES

● The Implementation of this project is centered to simplify already existing manual

attendance system.

● Students can easily use this system to mark their attendance, hence saving time during
lectures.

● Teachers can easily keep track of student’s attendance data.

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 CHAPTER 2
LITERATURE SURVEY

Sr Publication Title Technology Advantages Drawbacks

No. & Year Used

1. IEEE RFID Arduino, Integrate RFID It cannot send

Conference Attendance RFID tags in students email to the
on IoT 2022. System using Reader, ID cards, and guardians in
Arduino and RFID Tags, RFID receivers case if the
Excel. Excel. will be installed in student is
respective classes absent.
for the Attendance
process.
.

2. IEEE RFID NodeMCU This system It saves the

Conference Attendance (ESP2866), , would detect that data in the
on IoT 2021. System using RFID Tags, UID to check for notepad which
NodeMCU RFID individual's data is hard to read
and Notepad. Reader, using Micro and the user
Notepad. Controllers like needs to
NodeMCU. It also convert it to
generates the appropriate
attendance report format.
in the Notepad.

3 2019 Student RFID The Roll Number It does not

International Attendance Reader, of the student is work well for
Conference System Using RFID Tags, issued inside rfid large system or
on Technical RFID and Arduino tags which are a more intelligent
Education Arduino. Uno, RTC part of student’s system.
(ICTechEd6). Module, ID Card. The
Liquid microcontroller
Crystal enters the data to
Display, the database.
Arduino
IDE, Proteus
Design Suite

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4. Engineering Roll Number RFID tag, The RFID tags are More time is
and Based RFID embedded with required to
technology Attendance Reader, Student ID and embed the
research System. Arduino the Arduino enters student id in
2018. UNO, student attendance each card.
Arduino data inside the
IDE, PLX- Excel Sheet..
DAQ tool,
LCD,
buzzer,
LED.

5. Conference Design of EM 18 RFID Involves a GSM Software

on Smart RFID Based Reader, system to send configuration is
Innovations. Student RFID tag, notifications to more complex.
2014 Attendance ATMEGA the parents
System with 128 whenever the
Notification microcontrol reader scans the
to Parents ler with ID hence
Using GSM. LCD, confirming the
MAX232 attendance.
IC, GSM
SIM 300.

6. Conference Smart RFID tag, SAS will fetch the Does not
on Human- Attendance RFID appropriate data possess
Computer System. Reader, from RFID advance
Interaction, MySQL, database in order methods like
Optimization PHP. to execute the Finger print in
and Robotic attendance taking the system.
Applications . process.
2007.
Table 2.1 – Summarized Literature Survey

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 CHAPTER 3
METHODOLODY
3.1 PROBLEM STATEMENT

The problem with traditional manual attendance systems in educational institutions is that
they are prone to errors, time-consuming, and can be easily manipulated. There is a need for
a reliable and efficient solution that can automate the attendance process, provide accurate
and real-time attendance tracking, and reduce paperwork. The solution should also be able to
collect and analyze attendance data to gain valuable insights into attendance trends, identify
potential issues, and take corrective measures to improve attendance rates. The RFID-based
attendance system using NodeMCU and Google Sheets offers a potential solution to address
these challenges and revolutionize attendance management in educational institutions.

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 3.2 PROPOSED METHODOLOGY

In the proposed system,the first step, each student or staff member is assigned an RFID tag
that contains a unique identification number. The RFID tag is a small electronic device that
contains a microchip and an antenna. The microchip stores information about the object to
which it is attached, while the antenna is used to communicate with the RFID reader using
radio waves.

The RFID reader and NodeMCU are integrated to enable the collection and transmission of
attendance data to a real-time Google Sheet. The RFID reader emits radio waves and receives
information from the RFID tags. The NodeMCU is programmed to communicate with the
RFID reader and collect the attendance data.The NodeMCU is programmed to send the
attendance data to a real-time Google Sheet, which can be accessed by authorized personnel
for further analysis. The Google Sheet can be set up to receive the attendance data
automatically as soon as it is collected by the NodeMCU.The attendance data collected in the
Google Sheet is processed and analyzed to gain valuable insights into attendance trends,
identify potential issues, and take corrective measures to improve attendance rates. The data
can be analyzed using various techniques, such as data visualization, statistical analysis, and
machine learning.

Reports can be generated from the attendance data collected in the Google Sheet to provide a
summary of attendance records for individual students or staff members, as well as the entire
institution. The reports can be customized to meet the specific requirements of the institution,
such as daily attendance records, weekly attendance records, monthly attendance records, etc.

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 3.3 HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS
3.3.1 HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS

1. NodeMCU
Node MCU is open-source platform, its hardware design is open for edit/modify/build. It has
powerful on-board processing and storage capabilities that allow it to be integrated with the
sensor specific devices.

Fig. 3.3.1 – NodeMCU (ESP 8266)

2. RFID Reader
A radio frequency identification reader (RFID reader) is a device used to gather information
from an RFID tag, which is used to track individual objects. Radio waves are used to transfer
data from the tag to a reader.

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 Fig. 3.3.2 – RFID Reader
3. RFID Tags
RFID tags are a type of tracking system that uses radio frequency to search, identify, track,
and communicate with items and people. Essentially, RFID tags are smart labels that can
store a range of information from serial numbers, to a short description, and even pages of
data.

Fig. 3.3.3 – RFID Tag

4. LED Screen
A LED display is a flat panel display that uses an array of light-emitting diodes as pixels for
a video display. Their brightness allows them to be used outdoors where they are visible in
the sun for store signs and billboards.

Fig. 3.3.4 – LED Screen

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5. LED Screen
Very useful module to interface serial connection to parallel data, specially used for LCD
displays etc. I2C Module has inbuilt PCF8574 I2C chip that converts I2C serial data to
parallel data for the LCD display.

Fig. 3.3.5 – I2C Module

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 3.3.2 SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS

1. Arduino IDE
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. So basically, it is an open-source IDE which makes it
easy to write code and upload it to the board. This software can be used with any Arduino
board.

2. Google Excel Sheets

Google Sheets is a web-based application which allows users to edit, organize, and analyze
different types of information. It allows collaborations, and multiple users can edit and
format files in real-time, and any changes made to the spreadsheet can be tracked by a
revision history.

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 3.4 BLOCK DIAGRAM

Fig. 3.4 – Block Diagram (RFID Attendance System )

The above block diagram basically depicts The RFID tag is a small electronic device that
contains a microchip and an antenna. Each student or staff member is assigned an RFID tag
that contains a unique identification number. The microchip stores information about the
object to which it is attached, while the antenna is used to communicate with the RFID reader
using radio waves.The RFID reader emits radio waves and receives information from the
RFID tags. It processes the information received from the RFID tag and sends it to the
NodeMCU for further processing.
The NodeMCU is a small Wi-Fi enabled microcontroller board that is used to collect
attendance data from the RFID reader and send it to a real-time Google Sheet. The
NodeMCU is programmed to communicate with the RFID reader and collect the attendance
data. It then sends the attendance data to the Google Sheet through the internet.The Google
Sheet is used to store the attendance data collected by the NodeMCU. It provides a real-time
platform for accessing and analyzing attendance data. The Google Sheet is programmed to
receive the attendance data automatically as soon as it is collected by the NodeMCU.
The attendance data collected in the Google Sheet is processed and analyzed to gain valuable
insights into attendance trends, identify potential issues, and take corrective measures to
improve attendance rates. Data analysis can be performed using various techniques such as
data visualization, statistical analysis, and machine learning.

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 CHAPTER 4
IMPLEMENTATION AND RESULTS
4.1 CIRCUIT DIAGRAM

Fig. 4.1 Circuit Diagram

The proposed system has been implemented using the above circuit diagram, the above
diagram i.e., Fig 4.1 represents all the connections for the RFID Attendance System. In the
above circuit diagram, four digital pins of NodeMCU connected with the RFID reader
module. One of the digital pins of NodeMCU is connection with LED screen through a I2C
Module for data transfer. Two are connected with Nodemcu, and last one with the ground.
LED is connected to thE Nodemcu for power supply. Similar connection is done for the LED.
VCC and Ground connections are done with respect to the components.

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 4.2 RESULTS

Fig. 4.2.1 – Before Scanning

Fig. 4.2.3 After Scanning

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Fig. 4.2.4 – Attendance Recorded

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 CHAPTER 5
CONCLUSION

A RFID based attendance system was built and implemented using NodeMCU and Google
Sheets offers a reliable and efficient solution for attendance management in educational
institutions. By automating the attendance process, it provides real-time tracking of
attendance, improved accuracy, reduced paperwork, and increased efficiency. The system
also offers the ability to collect and analyze data, which can provide valuable insights into
attendance trends, identify potential issues, and take corrective measures to improve
attendance rates.

Overall, the RFID-based attendance system has the potential to revolutionize attendance
management in educational institutions. It offers a reliable and efficient solution that can
save time and resources, reduce errors, and provide valuable insights into attendance trends,
ultimately leading to improved attendance rates and better academic outcomes for students.

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 REFERENCES

[1] Abellana, Lord Kelvin. (2022). RFID Attendance System using Arduino and Excel.
In 2022 conference on internet of things: Smart innovation and usages (IoT-SIU) (pp. 1-4).
IEEE.

[2] Perin, Max Angelo. (2021). RFID Attendance System using NodeMCU and Google
Sheets. In 2021 conference on I-SMAC (IoT in Social, Mobile, Analytics and Cloud)(I-
SMAC) (pp. 709-713). IEEE.

[3]Saxena, A. (n.d.). (PDF) RFID based attendance system. In 2019 Conference on Technical
Education (ICTechEd6) (pp. 1-4). IEEE.

[4] R., Nivetha, et al. Student Attendance System Using RFID. Oct.2018 IOSR Journal of
Electronics and Communication Engineering (IOSR-JECE), 6(1), 65-75.

[5] Swamy, S. R., Prasad, K. N., & Tripathi, P. (2014, October). Design of RFID Based
Student Attendance System with Notification to Parents Using GSM.In 2014 Conference on
Smart Innovations in Design, Environment, Management, Planning and Computing
(ICSIDEMPC) (pp. 75-81). IEEE.

[6] B. Mustafa, M. W. Iqbal, M. Saeed, A. R. Shafqat, H. Sajjad and M. R. Naqvi, "Smart

Attendance System," 2007 Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, Optimization and
Robotic Applications (HORA), 2021, pp. 1-6, doi: 10.1109/HORA52670.2021.9461276.

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