WEEK 7

ACTIVITY: RESEARCH AND FINDINGS

This week, I did some research about the components required in our project. We divide the tasks into two parts. The project has two sides, that is the front part and back part. I did the circuit for the front part of the project, while my group partner did the back part of the project. The components need for the front part of the project are Radio Identification Frequency (RFID), Infrared Sensor, Servo Motor, and Light Emitting-Diode (LED). This week, I have studied about Radio Identification Frequency (RFID) and Arduino Uno.

Here is my research about  RFID and Arduino Uno:

1) Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)

Radio Frequency Identification reader known as RFID reader is a device used to gather information from an RFID tag, which is used to track individual objects. Radio Frequency Identification Reader is a technology similar in theory to bar codes. The RFID tag does not have to scan directly, nor does it require line-of-sight to a reader. Data stored in an RFID tag can be updated in real-time. The bar code data is read-only and cannot be changed. Other than that, RFID tags require a power source which is the bar codes only required the technology reading the bar code to have a power source.  To be read, the RFID tag must be within the range of the RFID readers where are the ranges from 3 to 300 feet. RFID technology allows several items to be quickly scanned and enables fast identification of a particular product, even though it is surrounded by several other items.

          Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system consists of three components that are an antenna, transceiver, and a transponder. When the antenna and transceiver are combined, they are referred to as a reader or as an interrogator. The RFID reader can be a portable or permanently attached network-connected device. Radiofrequency waves use to transmit signals to activate the tag. Once the tag activates, it sends a wave back to the scanning antenna, where it is translated into data. The transponder was located in the RFID tag. 

2) Arduino UNO

The Arduino Uno is an open-source microcontroller board based on the Microchip ATmega328P microcontroller and developed by Arduino. cc. It can be powered via a USB connection, external power supply, or an adapter. The external power supply must be in a range voltage between 7 to 20 volts. The adapter can be connected by plugging the plug into the boards’ power jack. Arduino consists of both a physical programmable circuit board (often referred to as a microcontroller) and a piece of software, or IDE (Integrated Development Environment) that runs on your computer, used to write and upload computer code to the physical board. Additionally, the Arduino IDE uses a simplified version of C++, making it easier to learn to program.

         The board is equipped with digital and analog input/output pins. It has 14 digital pins with 6 PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) pins and 6 analog pins. The digital pin is labeled as pin 0 to pin 13. The PWM pin is pin 3,5,6,9,10 and 11. The 6 analog pins, it was labeled as A0, A1, A2, A3, A4, and A5. Lastly, the specialty contains in Arduino Uno can be used as the main part of this project.