Week 14 - Demonstration. Approved. Ready.

This week is the crucial week whereby on Friday (20/12/13) will be our campus Industrial Day where I will presenting my Final Year Project to my appointed assessor. But before that important day, I have to demonstrate my complete project to my advisor Madam Nulida. In addition, I am seeking advise and improvement needed for my real presentation on Friday. Throughout the presentation, Madam Nulida seems to satisfied with my new program that been re-done/edited weeks before that. I also presented my designed poster for approval before I went to print the poster. A few alteration are needed in order to produce a good poster that according to Madam Nulida's preference. After a few FYP poster correction from my advisor:

Week 13 - Poster battle begin~

Nearing presentation week which is week 14, I have to be ready for the presentation day. There are two important things to be done before I step into the hall to present my Final Year Project.

1- Poster design.

2- Project evaluation by advisor.

Designing  a poster is not a very easy work to be done by a day. From time to time, I have to edit the layout and its design to get a nice and neat poster whereby other people will understand my project by looking at it. I hope for a no further explanation will be needed, only a demo to my project is necessary. The design need to be approve by my advisor before I printed it out.

Poster which is waiting for approval from my advisor :

Week 12 - Complete!

After a long period of time passed by, I finally managed to complete my final year project (FYP) by week twelve. With the guidance of my lecturer, this resulting in complete configuration of software and hardware that has been customized-matched with a program that was designed before. A little touch-up is applied to the design of my project for it to look more attractive and neat. With this in some way helps the understanding of other people on my project.

The new look of the hardware after being touch up :

Figure 1 : After Labeling circuit, equipment and student card.

Student ID card :

Week 11 - Done of Interfacing The Software and Hardware

By this week, I've completed interface the software with the hardware. Furthermore, the RFID SAMS is totally complete and came out with a new face of the program. Now the RFID SAMS can scan student ID and records the name of student, time in, time out and dates. all of the data will be recorded and save in the database, so in the future we will be able to look and manage the student's attendance record using a Visual Basic 6.0 software. In this week, I will show you the picture of RFID SAMS take data record of students base on the real time. 

Figure 1 : The main outlook of RFID SAMS

In the figure 1, the time, date and day is based on the real time. All the student name and ID number will display in the RFID SAMS software, and all these data must be register manually. It is the "register" button use. In this software also automatically count the attendance of the student. If the student is absent their class 3 times, the software will notice that the student will get "notice letter", and if 4 times they will be "barred".

Figure 2 : Scanner

Figure 3: Student Profile

In the figure 2 and 3, when student scan their ID, the scanner will display the student profile. In the profile we can see that the student ID number, name of student and the course. (this is for lecturer reference)

Figure 4: Display time in and time out

Figure 5 : Counting attendance record (display student warning letter and bar)

The figure 4 shows that RFID SAMS collects data from scanner and it will display date, time in and time out. At the last figure 5, the software/program will automatically counting the student data and will display the name of student that should be give a warning letter and bared.

Week 10 - Re-programming the software

As it been stated by the title, the whole week is dedicated in re-programming the software after I have succeed editing the program in the previous week. The whole 're-programming the software' thing is a crucial part because if the edited program does not synchronize with the software, then it is a meaningless thing I have done there. Re-programming the software is actually can be done in limited time since all the working is being done by the intelligent device named laptop.

Week 9 - Editing Program

After a week working hard, I finally succeed in editing the programs that comply with the requirements given by Madam Nulida. Originally, for me, there is nothing wrong with the previous program but for the sake of arguments with my advisor whereby she believed that i need to edit a few part of my program so that the project will comply with title that it brings along and also to make it presentable to others. However, I really concur with the ideas of improving the program so that it really working on with the title and what has been lingering on my advisor's mind.

Week 8 - Say hello to RFID Students Attandence Management System!

Without further ado, I made an appointment with my advisor, Madam Nulida to present the results of the project that I have been working on over this semester. This presentation, to some extent, helped me in completing and perfecting my project based on the criteria required by my advisor. After some discussion, there is a slight improvement on the overall system that should I fix to meet the requirement needed by my advisor. The correction towards the system shall be executed next week.

A complete hardware of RFID SAMS

Week 7 - Ready --> Set --> Finished!

There is no doubt that once I complete the program, this project is 100% finished and ready to be presented. I calculated the completion of this project very neatly. Without wasting even a seconds of my time, I put enormous effort in completing this project aside my other subjects. The hardware part is in line with the software part and it works according to what I want to achieve by this project.

Week 6 - Programming complete!

Throughout this entire week, I tried to complete the program which is the most crucial part of this project. The completed program will determine the effectiveness and success of this project. Although there are many difficulties encountered during the completion of this program, yet I managed to handle it patiently and successfully. After making several references and corrections, the program which caters to what I wanted was achieved. I then tried to ensure that the program together with the hardware is working perfectly. 

Week 5 - Compile Programming

As for the Development of RFID Student's Attendance Management System, this project will depends on program that I compile. By using Visual Basic software, I construct the program and there were a lot of mistakes also more things to learn to do the program.  To complete and perfecting the program, I do a lot of research and seek help from my friend to check whether the program is correct or not. With all of the commitment as an ordinary student, the program cannot be finish and it will be continue to the next week. This part is the challenging part of the project and it is like the heart of the project. If the program is not function perfectly, so there is a failure of this project. So I have to work hard on this task.

Week 4 - Build a hardware (Casing)

For the whole week 4, I tried to build hardware part of this project which is the casing for the RFID reader. It took a while for me to complete the whole design. I would like to build a casing which is by using a prospect (polypropylene plastic) and it is transparent. I choose these materials because it is durable. Transparent casing has been chosen because it makes my work looks more clean, compact and professional.

This is the picture of the project casing:

Week 3 - Design ---> Edit ---> Construct!

Throughout this week, I only focus on constructing PIC circuit. Of course it is not as easy as A, B, C but since I seek helps from my friends, I am able to construct the PIC circuit within one week. At first I doubt that the PIC circuit will work correctly, but after a few try and error, I finally success in constructing it. The circuit works fine and hopefully there will be no error afterwards. This PIC circuit is to interface the RFID reader with the computer and display at the LCD like a date, time and name of the student.
Below is the PIC 16F877A circuit:

Week 2 - Sketch a tech!

Starter of week 2 on September semester do quite a job to me. I have to focus on my current subject while doing my progress on my final year project. After finally found all the component for my project, I would like to start on working for my project design. There will be two (2) design produced for this project. One is circuit design while the other one is hardware design. The reason why I started designing first is because I want to systematically completing my project towards the end.

These are all the main component for my project:

RFID Reader

RFID Tags

LCD 4X4

PIC 16F877A

PCB BOARD

UART Converter

WIRES

Below is the sketching of the casing of the project:

Week 1 - Searching the components

The next semester of the Final Year Project have arrived. By the title of the project that I have got, "Development of RFID Students Attendance Management System", this week I make some research about this project components whatever it is available or not. Finally, all the component that I want and will use on my final year project is available, so that there will be no problems about searching my components. These are some component list that have been searched:

1 - LCD 4X4

2 - PIC 16F877A

3 - PCB board

4 - UART converter

5 - RFID reader

6 - RFID tags

Week 13 - Finalize a proposal and blog

Week 13 have come with a relief and joy because I have already completed my proposal and also my blog (http://tapex87.blogspot.com/). In this week I would like to thanks Madam Nulida Bt Ab. Aziz for giving me some advise, guidance, corrected and helping me to finish my presentation slide, proposal and blog. Besides that, I have prepared my self to proceed my Final Year Project 1 (FYP 1) to the next semester which is Final Year Project 2 (FYP 2). For this semester, I already done my FYP progress about 30% (build a software). So, I continue my progress with doing some survey for the circuit and component. I hope there will help out for my next semester progress.

Week 12 - Checking a proposal

By this week, I have met my advisor Madam Nulida Bt Abdul Aziz, she shows me that the new marking scheme of proposal have being updated at UniKL BMI FYP page (http://fyp.bmi.unikl.edu.my). So that, there were a few topic that I not done yet in the previous proposal that I send to my advisor last week. The topic like Abstract and Budgeting. So this whole week I just only touch-up my proposal. For the next week I plan to meet again my advisor to check my proposal. I spend a lot of time for the proposal because the proposal percentage assessment is quite high, 35%.

Week 11 - Continue with making a proposal

By week 14, all students FYP 1 must submit their complete proposal. So that, this week I continue my proposal, I have completed my proposal by using a guideline from FYP Website. The guideline is about the marking scheme and assignment criteria, with that I have completed my draft proposal this week. Then, I submitted to my advisor Madam Nulida Bt Ab. Aziz to check my draft proposal whether my proposal is good enough or I will fix it. I will meet my advisor again next week to check my proposal. 

Week 10 - A Presentation Day

Week 10 has come, so that I have prepared myself with a lot of preparation like studying and understanding about my project and study more about the main component in my project that is RFID. The presentation day is at Thursday (28 March 2013) at time 2pm till 5pm at Gemilang Hall, UniKL BMI. At that day, I was assess by two assessor during the presentation day. Thank God that that day were finish very well to me. Besides that, thanks to my advisor Madam Nulida Bt Ab. Aziz because she always give me a good guideline and teach me every week I met her.

Week 9 - Continue preparing for slide presentation

On Tuesday (19/3/2013), I met my advisor to discuss on my slide handed previously. She had corrected some of my mistakes on certain slides and asked me to fix the incorrect. Therefore, I only focusing on correcting my slides for next week presentation throughout this week.

Week 8 - Preparation for slides presentation

On week 10, there will be an interview for Final Year Project 1 (FYP1) by one assessor and our very own advisor. Therefore, I am doing a draft of slide presentation for Madam Nulida to check either that slide is according to the requirement or not. By the end of this week, I am going to give the draft of slide presentation to my advisor for her to check. On Thursday dated (14 March 2013), I met Madam Nulida to disscus regarding the proposal for this project and also the slide presentation submission. As the progress of my project, the software for RFID is already done.

Week 7 - Making a progress of the project

During the whole week 7, I've done some progress on building a software for RFID reader. As I develop software for RFID reader, I also done some study on RFID reader datasheet. In the datasheet, I learn how the RFID works and operates. Here some pictures of my software progress. On 7th March 2013, there's a FYP 1 briefing located at TTL 2, BMI. From there, the lecturers brief us on steps to do the slideshow for the presentation, how to present the slides and also the marking scheme for FYP 1.

    This is a attendance database by using Visual Basics 6.0

    This software can view the student profile details.

Week 6 - Searching for equipments

For starter of week 6, I have make sure that the proposal been done correctly and edited it a few time to surely make it up to be requirement and everyone can know that is my project is. After that, I've searched for the RFID reader type which eventually I will use is RS 232 in my project. The RFID reader cost me RM150.00 which I buy at Jalan Pasar (Nixie Electronics). I also have tested it (RFID reader) before I buy it.The progress on this project went smoothly as I already know the objectives of this project. Therefore, I am aware of its goal and I can make progress based on the objectives. Below is the Gantt Chart throughout my progress planning on this project and also some pictures of component of my project.

                           A RFID Reader model RS232.

                 A RFID Tags (3 pieces)

Week 5 - Creating the blog

This blog is created to update the progress that I have done every week. Madam Nulida and also students of UniKL BMI may review this blog to get further information on FYP 1 - Development of RFID Students Attendance Management System.

Week 4 - Draft of proposal

With the help of information gained from websites last week, I am making progress on the proposal. The proposal is only the drafted one. Madam Nulida will review it first and any correction on it will be inform to me by Madam Nulida. 

Week 3 - Digging more info

The new project tittle makes me have to dig more on the info regarding how the RFID works and how the process in the making of the project. All sort of information such as  what kind of RFID that is suitable for this project have to be find in the internet. Here are some of the web that I access to get the info :

- http://www.rfidjournal.com/faq/16/49 

- https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:H6tGaP_65vkJ:rfid.ctu.edu.tw/8_lab/WP 1-Attendance.pdf

Week 2 - Hunting for project's advisor

Its been a busy week! Go here and there, hunting for my project' s advisor that want to take me as his/her principle. With the projects tittle that i have in my hand, Madam Nulida asked me whether i can change the core idea of "RFID mailbox" into an idea that have the potential to make through the market and eventually can be accepted by the people. Madam Nulida suggested me project tittle of  "Development  of RFID Students Attendance Management System" to make it as my FYP and i agree to it. At last! Therefore, I change the project from "RFID mailbox"  to  "Development  of RFID Students Attendance Management System". The core idea is to make an automatic attendance system whereby the student need to tap the identity card on the machine before entering the class and also after the class. The students attendance then will be updated in the system automatically without the lecturer have to update the attendance manually as in the old system. With this upgraded system, the lecturer will then know if the students attendance up to the expectation or not. Therefore, this system can solve the existing problem where the students cannot cheat on their attendance and also the problem of status 'barred' students.

Week 1 - Search for Project Tittle

The new semester has begun. As a semester seven's student, I have to take Final Year Project 1 (FYP 1) as one of the subject on this semester. For the first week, I have come across a few project tittle that I think is suitable for me and in conjunction with that, I have to find my project advisor that can accept the project tittle. It is kind of hard for me to be really agree with the tittle since my future project advisor ( a few )want me to came out with a project tittle that can be made as an idea. Therefore, the searching of the tittle continue until the very next week. Here are some of the project tittle that I have come across with : 

- Tracking Solar System

- Automatic Etching Machine

- RFID Mailbox 

and lastly RFID Students Attendance System