The TSAS (Towards Smart Attendance System) project aims to create a smart

attendance tracking system for educational institutions. Instead of the traditional method of
taking attendance manually, this system would use technology to automate the process.
This automation helps not only with recording attendance but also with tracking student
engagement and punctuality.

Key Objectives:

1. Automate Attendance: Replace the manual roll-call with technology like facial
recognition or RFID cards. This way, students are marked present simply by being
in the room or by swiping a card. It saves time and reduces human error.
2. Analyze Engagement: Beyond tracking who is present, the system would collect
data on engagement and punctuality. For example, it could help teachers
understand attendance patterns, punctuality trends, and identify students who might
need support.
3. Optimize Energy Use: Make the system energy-efficient. For example, cameras or
sensors could activate only when students are in the room, saving energy and
extending the lifespan of the devices.
4. Ensure Privacy and Security: Handle students’ data with care, ensuring that
privacy laws are followed. This is important since the system would collect sensitive
data like attendance and possibly facial recognition information.

Deliverables

The project involves building:

● A functional prototype that demonstrates the attendance system.

● A technical report on the system’s design, security measures, and energy
optimization.
● Documentation explaining how the system works.
● A video or simulation showing how it operates in practice.

1. Hybrid Attendance Verification

● Face Recognition with Fallback to QR/RFID: Use face recognition as the primary
method and QR or RFID as a backup. This ensures attendance verification even in
low-light conditions or for students without an RFID.
● Voice-Activated Attendance: Add voice recognition as an alternative, especially for
younger students or students with accessibility needs.

2. Intelligent Power Management

 ● Dynamic Camera Activation: Use motion detectors to activate cameras only when
someone enters the room, reducing power consumption during idle times.
● Ambient Light Adjustment: Install light sensors to adjust camera exposure
automatically based on the room's lighting, conserving power and ensuring better
image quality.
● Scheduled Downtime for Maintenance: Configure the system to enter low-power or
maintenance mode during breaks, reducing energy usage when classrooms are
unoccupied.

3. Edge Processing for Faster Data Handling

● On-Device Face Recognition: Use edge devices (e.g., Raspberry Pi) to process
facial recognition locally. This minimizes data transfer to servers, improving speed
and protecting student privacy.
● Real-Time Data Compression: Compress data before storing or transferring it,
conserving bandwidth and reducing storage requirements.

4. Privacy-Centric Data Management

● On-Demand Data Deletion: Give institutions the option to automatically delete

attendance data after a certain period, ensuring only essential data is kept.
● Anonymized Data Analytics: Strip personal identifiers from engagement data while
analyzing attendance patterns, allowing useful insights without compromising privacy.

5. Customized Engagement Insights

● Activity-Level Tracking: Implement basic analysis on participation levels (e.g., body

posture, interaction) to gauge engagement. This can help identify students who may
need additional support.
● Teacher-Specific Metrics: Allow teachers to customize what metrics they’d like to
see (punctuality, attendance frequency, etc.) for personalized and actionable insights.

6. Energy-Efficient Resource Allocation

● Shared Camera Feeds: Use one camera to serve multiple classrooms with
advanced algorithms that detect individuals’ locations, limiting the need for multiple
cameras in the same area.
● Centralized Data Storage: Instead of each device storing data independently, sync
them to a centralized server at scheduled intervals to optimize data processing and
storage needs.

7. User-Friendly Interaction through Mobile and Web Apps

● Real-Time Notifications: Send attendance or engagement notifications to teachers,

parents, or students via an app, making it easy to monitor attendance in real time.
● Mobile-Friendly Dashboard: A responsive dashboard enables teachers and
administrators to track attendance and review engagement metrics conveniently from
any device.
Technical Needs

1. Hardware
○ Raspberry Pi 4 (for edge processing and low-cost computing)
○ ESP32 (for RFID scanning and low-power connectivity)
○ Camera Module (compatible with Raspberry Pi for facial recognition)
○ RFID/NFC Sensors (for alternative or dual authentication)
○ Wi-Fi Router (for network connectivity)
○ Optional: Portable power sources (if you need a mobile demo setup)
2. Software and Tools
○ Operating System: Raspbian OS for Raspberry Pi
○ Programming Languages: Python for development, JavaScript/HTML/CSS
for front-end (optional)
○ Machine Learning Library: OpenCV for facial recognition; TensorFlow Lite
(optimized for edge devices)
○ Database: SQLite or Firebase (for small-scale, real-time data storage)
○ Development Environment: Jupyter Notebook (for prototyping ML models),
Visual Studio Code (for coding)
○ Data Analysis: Pandas, NumPy for engagement analysis
○ Energy Monitoring Tools: PowerTOP (Linux) to optimize energy on
Raspberry Pi
○ Privacy and Security: Implement basic encryption libraries in Python (like
PyCryptodome) for secure data handling
○ Video Creation: OBS Studio (screen recording), Canva or Adobe Premiere
(video editing)

Detailed 7-Day Plan

Day 1: Planning and Setup

● Objective: Finalize the plan, assign roles, and set up the hardware and software
environment.
● Tasks:
○ Define team roles: e.g., programming, hardware setup, data analysis,
documentation, and video editing.
○ Install Raspbian OS on the Raspberry Pi.
○ Set up Python and essential libraries (OpenCV, TensorFlow Lite, Pandas,
etc.).
○ Test the camera module and RFID/NFC sensors to ensure compatibility.

Day 2: Develop Core Attendance System

● Objective: Implement facial recognition and RFID/NFC scanning.

● Tasks:
○ Implement a simple face recognition model using OpenCV, training it to
recognize team members as a test.
 ○ Program the RFID/NFC sensor to register IDs and store them in a database
(SQLite/Firebase).
○ Integrate both face recognition and RFID scanning into a unified attendance
module.
○ Test the attendance system, ensuring the database correctly logs entries.

Day 3: Develop the Analytics and Engagement Analysis Module

● Objective: Build engagement metrics and data tracking.

● Tasks:
○ Create Python scripts to analyze attendance logs for punctuality and
frequency.
○ Implement basic engagement analysis based on facial expressions (using
OpenCV).
○ Log engagement and attendance data into the database with time-stamped
entries.
○ Review data for preliminary patterns and anomalies for analysis.

Day 4: Optimize System for Energy Efficiency and Security

● Objective: Apply energy optimization and basic security measures.

● Tasks:
○ Use PowerTOP or similar tools to analyze power usage on the Raspberry Pi.
○ Configure system settings for low-power operation (e.g., camera sleep mode
when inactive).
○ Implement basic data encryption for attendance records using
PyCryptodome.
○ Test energy consumption and security protocols to verify they meet challenge
requirements.

Day 5: Develop Dashboard Interface and Documentation

● Objective: Create a user-friendly interface and begin documentation.

● Tasks:
○ Develop a simple web-based or mobile interface for teachers/admins to view
attendance and engagement stats.
○ Document the system's architecture, flow, and key functions (include
diagrams and screenshots).
○ Start writing the technical report, including design decisions, security
measures, and energy optimizations.

Day 6: System Testing, Debugging, and Report Completion

● Objective: Conduct final tests, debug, and complete all documentation.

● Tasks:
○ Run end-to-end tests for attendance, engagement tracking, and energy use.
○ Perform debugging to resolve any issues found during testing.
○ Finalize the technical report and documentation, ensuring all requirements
are covered.
Day 7: Prepare Video Demonstration and Review

● Objective: Record a video demo, complete last-minute revisions, and submit.

● Tasks:
○ Record a demonstration of the working system, showcasing all core
functionalities (attendance, engagement analysis, energy efficiency).
○ Edit the video to highlight key aspects and include voiceover or captions if
needed.
○ Do a final review of the documentation, technical report, and video before
submission.

Using RFID and AI together in an attendance system is a powerful approach to combine

physical identification with automated data analysis. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how
to integrate both technologies in your project:

1. System Overview

The system will use:

● RFID for quick physical identification of students as they enter a classroom.

● AI (Machine Learning) for facial recognition or engagement analysis, adding a layer
of verification or engagement insights.

This dual approach enhances accuracy and provides additional data insights.

2. Components and Tools Needed

● Hardware:
○ RFID reader and tags (to identify students uniquely)
○ Camera (to capture student images for facial recognition)
○ Processing Unit (e.g., Raspberry Pi for edge processing, ESP32 for RFID)
● Software:
○ Python: The main programming language for integration.
○ OpenCV: For facial recognition or engagement analysis.
○ TensorFlow Lite: If you need advanced machine learning models for AI on
Raspberry Pi.
○ Database: SQLite or Firebase to store attendance and engagement data.
○ Encryption Libraries: PyCryptodome or similar for securing data.

3. System Architecture

● RFID Module: Reads the RFID tag each student carries (e.g., a card or keychain)
and logs the student’s ID in the database.
 ● AI Module (Facial Recognition): Captures a photo of the student after the RFID
scan for verification or to analyze engagement.
● Data Synchronization: Store attendance data in a database that logs RFID and AI
data for cross-verification.

4. Integration Steps

Step 1: RFID Attendance Logging

● Connect the RFID reader to the Raspberry Pi or ESP32.

● Write a script that reads the RFID tag when a student scans it. Store the RFID tag ID,
timestamp, and location in a database.

Example code snippet in Python:

python
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import serial

import time

import sqlite3

# Set up the RFID reader

rfid_reader = serial.Serial('/dev/ttyUSB0', 9600) # Adjust for your

port

# Set up database

conn = sqlite3.connect('attendance.db')

cursor = conn.cursor()

cursor.execute('''CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS attendance (rfid_id

TEXT, timestamp TEXT)''')

def log_rfid():

while True:

if rfid_reader.in_waiting:
 rfid_id = rfid_reader.readline().decode().strip()

timestamp = time.strftime('%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S')

cursor.execute('INSERT INTO attendance (rfid_id,

timestamp) VALUES (?, ?)', (rfid_id, timestamp))

conn.commit()

print(f"RFID {rfid_id} logged at {timestamp}")

log_rfid()

Step 2: AI-Based Facial Recognition

● Set up a camera and configure OpenCV for facial recognition.

● When a student scans their RFID, capture a photo for cross-verification.
● Compare the captured image with pre-registered photos using OpenCV’s face
recognition functions.

Example facial recognition steps:

python
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import cv2

import face_recognition

# Load known faces (Assume face images of students have been

preloaded with labels)

known_faces = [face_recognition.load_image_file("student1.jpg")]

known_encodings = [face_recognition.face_encodings(face)[0] for face

in known_faces]

# Capture and process image

def recognize_face():

cap = cv2.VideoCapture(0)
 ret, frame = cap.read()

if ret:

face_locations = face_recognition.face_locations(frame)

face_encodings = face_recognition.face_encodings(frame,
face_locations)

for face_encoding in face_encodings:

matches =
face_recognition.compare_faces(known_encodings, face_encoding)

if True in matches:

match_index = matches.index(True)

student_id = f"Student {match_index + 1}"

print(f"Face recognized: {student_id}")

return student_id

cap.release()

recognized_student = recognize_face()

Step 3: Combine RFID and AI for Dual Verification

● When a student swipes their RFID tag, trigger the camera to capture their image.
● Use RFID as the initial identification and facial recognition as verification to
confirm the student’s identity.
● If both methods match, log the student as present in the database.

python

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def log_attendance(rfid_id):

recognized_student = recognize_face()
 if recognized_student and recognized_student == rfid_id:

cursor.execute('INSERT INTO attendance (rfid_id, timestamp)

VALUES (?, ?)', (rfid_id, time.strftime('%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S')))

conn.commit()

print(f"Attendance confirmed for {recognized_student}")

else:

print("RFID and facial recognition did not match")

log_attendance("Student1")

Step 4: Engagement and Punctuality Analysis

● Log arrival times and duration of each student’s attendance in the database.
● Analyze patterns, such as repeated lateness or absence, using Python and data
analysis libraries (e.g., Pandas).

5. Video Demo and Documentation

● Video: Record a demo showing the RFID and facial recognition working together.
● Documentation: Describe the architecture, functions, and data flow.

Summary Workflow:

1. Student Scans RFID → RFID logs initial entry

2. Camera Captures Image → Facial recognition confirms identity
3. Database Logs Attendance → Timestamped data stored for analysis

This setup ensures a reliable, automated attendance system using both