IOT Enhanced Biometric Attendance System

Introduction

In today’s digital era, monitoring attendance for businesses, educational institutions, and various organizations is vital for operational efficiency. The IoT-Enhanced Biometric Attendance System is a revolutionary solution that integrates fingerprint authentication with Internet of Things (IoT) technology, allowing for remote, secure, and real-time attendance tracking.

How It Works

The system comprises a microcontroller-based circuit that includes a fingerprint sensor, push buttons, a Wi-Fi module, and an LCD display. It uses IOTGecko, a powerful IoT platform, to develop the online attendance interface. Here’s how it functions:

• Registration: Users first register their fingerprints, which are stored in the system with associated class or department information.
• Authentication: Each time a registered user scans their fingerprint, the system authenticates and logs the entry.
• IoT Integration: Authenticated data is sent in real-time to IOTGecko using Gecko development API codes, updating the online system.
• Remote Monitoring: Attendance data is accessible online, allowing administrators to monitor attendance from any location.

Key Components

• Atmega Microcontroller: Acts as the brain of the system, processing all inputs and outputs.
• Fingerprint Sensor: Captures and stores fingerprint data for authentication.
• Wi-Fi Module: Enables internet connectivity to communicate with the IoT platform.
• LCD Display: Shows status and instructions for easy user interaction.

Advantages

• Enhanced Security: Biometric authentication minimizes fraudulent entries.
• Remote Accessibility: Attendance data can be monitored from anywhere, facilitating better management.
• Real-Time Updates: Instant data transmission ensures up-to-date attendance records.
• Reduced Administrative Work: Automates the attendance process, reducing manual tasks.

Applications

• Corporate Offices: Streamlines employee attendance tracking for HR management.
• Educational Institutions: Monitors student attendance efficiently.
• Public Sector: Enhances transparency and accountability in attendance recording.

Conclusion

The IoT-Enhanced Biometric Attendance System is not just an upgrade; it’s a transformative approach to traditional attendance methods. By integrating biometric authentication with IoT, it provides a secure, efficient, and scalable solution that adapts to the dynamic needs of modern organizations.

Sample Code

#include <Adafruit_Fingerprint.h>
#include <ESP8266WiFi.h>
#include <WiFiClient.h>

// Replace with your network credentials
const char* ssid = "YOUR_SSID";
const char* password = "YOUR_PASSWORD";

// Replace with the host you want to send data to, e.g., your IoT platform
const char* host = "your.iotplatform.com";

// Fingerprint sensor & UART
int getFingerprintIDez();

Adafruit_Fingerprint finger = Adafruit_Fingerprint(&Serial1);

void setup()  
{
  Serial.begin(9600);
  Serial.println("Biometric Attendance System Starting");

  // Initializing fingerprint sensor
  finger.begin(57600);
  if (finger.verifyPassword()) {
    Serial.println("Found fingerprint sensor!");
  } else {
    Serial.println("Did not find fingerprint sensor :(");
  }

  // Connect to WiFi
  WiFi.begin(ssid, password);
  while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) {
    delay(500);
    Serial.print(".");
  }
  Serial.println("WiFi connected");
}

void loop()                    
{
  // Get fingerprint ID
  int id = getFingerprintIDez();
  delay(50);            // Don't need to run this at full speed.

  if (id != -1)
  {
    // If a valid fingerprint is detected, send data to IoT platform
    WiFiClient client;
    const int httpPort = 80;
    if (!client.connect(host, httpPort)) {
      Serial.println("Connection failed");
      return;
    }

    // Create a URL for the request
    String url = "/api/new_attendance?user_id=" + String(id);

    // Send the request to the server
    client.print(String("GET ") + url + " HTTP/1.1\r\n" +
                 "Host: " + host + "\r\n" + 
                 "Connection: close\r\n\r\n");
  }
}

// Function to get fingerprint ID
int getFingerprintIDez() {
  uint8_t p = finger.getImage();
  if (p != FINGERPRINT_OK)  return -1;

  p = finger.image2Tz();
  if (p != FINGERPRINT_OK)  return -1;

  p = finger.fingerFastSearch();
  if (p != FINGERPRINT_OK)  return -1;
  
  // Found a match!
  Serial.print("Found ID #"); Serial.print(finger.fingerID); 
  Serial.print(" with confidence of "); Serial.println(finger.confidence);
  return finger.fingerID;
}

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