RFID Dropbox Logger

Breadboard (generic)

RFID Reader Module

Maker service

Jumper wires (generic)

Arduino Web Editor

Adafruit IO

Arduino Yun

<h3 >Overview</h3>Have you ever wanted a system that keeps track of the time at which your employees arrive to work, have you ever wanted to check the time at which a person enters your room (I have), this device aims to make all of that as simple as possible. RFIDDropboxLogger will keep track of everyone scanning an RFID card using an RFID module and will write to Dropbox whenever it happens to keep you updated with all the information. Thanks to IFTTT, this is all possible and easy to do.<div id="gallery"><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/fc3882fe-a42f-463d-9f1d-172f03f89d88.JPG /><figcaption>A Single Component</figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/c6e7d809-8174-4dd2-a966-6572d9e55b3b.JPG /><figcaption>RFID Module</figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/6da3ac6b-c3ff-4fd4-a44b-41194eeb5ab7.png /><figcaption>Result</figcaption></div><h3 >Functionality</h3>This project will require IFTTT to work, to connect to IFTTT we will have to use another cloud-based platform called Adafruit IO. This platform will allow us to easily connect our Arduino Yún to the Cloud and then to IFTTT. Here is an image illustrating the process.<figure><img src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/4cf743b6-50ef-474a-acc8-f57ac667a8ce.png /><figcaption> </figcaption></figure>The Arduino Yún will monitor the RFID module searching for a card, when one is detected, the micro controller will increment the value to send by 1 and then parse the value to Adafruit IO. Using an IFTTT trigger, whenever a change in value is detected on Adafruit IO, (in our case, the variable incrementation) the app will trigger a Dropbox trigger which will append the time at which an RFID card had been scanned to a text file. Note that this operation will last approximately 15 minutes. Here is an image illustrating the code.<figure><img src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/57d8a849-6903-44f7-8337-756f5c998bef.png /><figcaption>Code Overview</figcaption></figure><ul ><li ><code >If(RFID Card Present)</code> will check if an RFID card is present.</li></ul><ul ><li ><code >Increase value</code> will increment the value to send by 1.</li></ul><ul ><li ><code >Send value</code> will send the incremented value to Adafruit IO.</li></ul>An Adafruit IO and IFTTT accounts are required to create the project, a guide to creating these is in Constructing the Project below.<h3 >Benefits</h3>The user operating this project will benefit in:<ul ><li >Monitoring RFID usage</li></ul><ul ><li >Monitoring time of RFID usage </li></ul><ul ><li >Monitoring amount of times the RFID module has been used</li></ul><h3 >Constructing the Project</h3>Step 1: Required Apparatus The project requires very few things.<ul ><li >Jumper Wires (Male to Male &amp; Male to Female)</li></ul><ul ><li >1 <a href="https://store.arduino.cc/arduino-yun">Arduino Yún</a></li></ul><ul ><li >1 <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/HALJIA-Sensor-Reader-Keychain-Arduino/dp/B01F6MK3B2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519496014&sr=8-1&keywords=rfid+module+rc522">RFID Module (RC522)</a></li></ul><ul ><li >1 Breadboard</li></ul><figure><img src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/12848386-d50f-4565-9bac-119bddc0c851.JPG /><figcaption>All the Components</figcaption></figure>Step 2: Connecting the CircuitA simple circuit, just connect the RFID module to the Arduino Yún. Here is an image displaying the project's schematics.<figure><img src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/848f8c62-cf1a-418b-ba2f-42dd24dcb759.png /><figcaption>The Schematics</figcaption></figure>Step 3: Acknowledging the CodeThere are three main parts to the code:<ul ><li >connect to MQTT</li></ul><ul ><li >search for RFID</li></ul><ul ><li >send value</li></ul>Each part will be explained below.<ul ><li >Connect to MQTT</li></ul><pre ><code >void MQTTConnect() { int8_t ret; if(mqtt.connected()) // if already connected { return; } if(proDebug == 1) { Serial.println(&#34;Connecting to Server&#34;); } while((ret = mqtt.connect()) != 0) // attempt to connect { if(proDebug == 1) { Serial.print(&#34; Error - &#34;); Serial.println(mqtt.connectErrorString(ret)); Serial.println(&#34; Attempting Reconnection in 5 seconds&#34;); } mqtt.disconnect(); delay(5000); } if(proDebug == 1) { Serial.println(&#34; Success - Connection Established&#34;); Serial.println(&#34;Scan Card&#34;); Serial.println(&#34;&#34;); } } </code></pre>This part of the code will connect the Arduino to MQTT services on Adafruit IO, this will allow the Arduino Yún to write to a Feed on Adafruit IO.<ul ><li >Search for RFID</li></ul><pre ><code >if(!mfrc522.PICC_IsNewCardPresent()) { return; } if(!mfrc522.PICC_ReadCardSerial()) { return; } String content = &#34;&#34;; // string to store card id // store card id for(byte i = 0; i &lt; mfrc522.uid.size; i++) { // store the card id number in a variable content.concat(String(mfrc522.uid.uidByte[i] &lt; 0x10 ? &#34; 0&#34; : &#34; &#34;)); content.concat(String(mfrc522.uid.uidByte[i], HEX)); } </code></pre>This part will search for a new RFID card and continue with the code once one is found, the card's ID is also collected and stored to a variable though not essential.<ul ><li >Send Value</li></ul><pre ><code >valueToSend++; // increase value to trigger write if(proDebug == 1) { Serial.print(&#34;Publishing &#34;); Serial.println(valueToSend); } Console.println(valueToSend); if(!sendToDropbox.publish(valueToSend)) { if(proDebug == 1) { Serial.println(F(&#34; Error - Failed to Send Data&#34;)); } } else { if(proDebug == 1) { Serial.println(F(&#34; Success - Data Sent&#34;)); } } </code></pre>This part will increase the send value variable by 1 so that IFTTT can detect a change. Then the value will be sent to Adafruit IO, after the variable is parsed, the Arduino will verify that it has been sent.This loop will repeat continuously allowing cards to be constantly scanned, it may take about 15 minutes for IFTTT to check if the value on the Adafruit IO feed has changed.Setting up the VariablesEnsure that all variables marked TODO are edited to preference. Insert your Adafruit IO credentials in the appropriate sections (configuration illustrated below) and set proDebug to 1 or 0. Note that mode 1 will enable debugging and will require connection to a Mac/PC and the Serial Monitor open to work. Default set to 1.Libraries<ul ><li >Bridge &amp; Bridge Client - copyright (c) Arduino LLC under the GNU Lesser General Public Licence, this library is in the public domain.</li></ul><ul ><li >Console - copyright (c) 2013 Arduino LLC under the GNU Lesser General Public Licence, this library is in the public domain.</li></ul><ul ><li >SPI - copyright (c) 2015 Hristo Gochkov under the GNU Lesser General Public Licence, this library is in the public domain.</li></ul><ul ><li >MFRC522 - this library is in the public domain.</li></ul><ul ><li >Adafruit MQTT &amp; Adafruit MQTT Client - copyright (c) 2015 Adafruit Industries under the <a href="https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT">MIT Licence</a>.</li></ul>Adafruit IO Setup<ul ><li >Step 1: Download libraries</li></ul>The first thing to do is to open the Arduino Library manager and search for Adafruit_MQTT_Library, and then download it.<ul ><li >Step 2: Create an Adafruit IO account</li></ul>Follow the images below illustrating this process.<ul ><li >Step 3: Configure Adafruit IO</li></ul>Follow these images to configure feeds for the Adafruit IO communication with IFTTT.<div id="gallery"><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/e21f7725-aa13-4f2c-b125-8f52477ba03c.png /><figcaption>Click on the feeds button in the menu on the left side of the page</figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/d7da4263-5ec1-4720-adc4-45ce2b98e769.png /><figcaption>Click on Actions in the fallowing window</figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/5ed65f21-3fd1-4b85-ab61-77116a63f79b.png /><figcaption>Click on Create a New Feed form the dropdown menu</figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/2ed6fea1-d7bf-4b2f-a6ee-855dbd18d939.png /><figcaption>Call this feed "sendToDropbox"</figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/897b8d69-e837-4a95-a0fb-c3d14073267a.png /><figcaption>Repeat the steps to create another feed called "subscribeA" and you are done</figcaption></div>IFTTT SetupNearly there, now we have to configure IFTTT to finish the project off. Use the following steps to configure IFTTT; if you already have an IFTTT account, you may skip the first step.<ul ><li >Step 1: Create an IFTTT Account</li></ul>You can download the IFTTT app for <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ifttt/id660944635?mt=8">Apple</a> or <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ifttt.ifttt&hl=en">Android</a> if you want, the setup in this tutorial will be done on the app, but it can also be done on the <a href="https://ifttt.com/discover">IFTTT Website</a>. Follow the images below to set up your account.<div id="gallery"><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/80a71b43-4511-4e4a-9de5-a4e9ab5913e3.png /><figcaption>Open ifttt.com, Click the Sign Up button at the top right corner of the page</figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/94d34c5f-597e-4fd5-963d-f9f901feee57.png /><figcaption>Choose to Sign Up with Google or Facebook and fallow the steps provided</figcaption></div><ul ><li >Step 2: Create a Trigger</li></ul>We will use the app for this step as it is slightly easier, follow the images for the setup.<div id="gallery"><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/ed214f62-f11c-4bab-805f-13fa143fe3d8.JPG /><figcaption>Open the IFTTT app, Click on My Applets at the bottom of the screen</figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/33c33626-b549-40ab-9cca-cd8f00adb60d.JPG /><figcaption>Click on the + button at the top right corner of the page</figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/6f5b10cc-cd93-4977-9959-55ad689cea08.JPG /><figcaption>select the + button on the page that opens</figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/7d8b993c-6606-42b6-9605-aea6207828a8.JPG /><figcaption>On the fallowing page, search for "Adafruit" in the search bar and click on the trigger below, you will be instructed to connect to Adafruit, fallow the steps</figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/e0d938b6-452c-4694-b79e-a0477a8a3ea6.JPG /><figcaption>Chose "Any New Data" on the fallowing window</figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/593a886c-773f-4188-9f89-ef37296c49e3.JPG /><figcaption>Click on the Feed Name Box and choose sendToDropbox, click next when you are done.</figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/bb4a626a-14d7-4673-b2c5-00b26455de0f.JPG /><figcaption>Now click the other + button on the opening page</figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/d5c26769-03ff-4c7b-8e83-d7962f46080d.JPG /><figcaption>Search for "Dropbox" in the search bar, you will be instructed to link your Dropbox account, fallow the steps given</figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/5ae06a22-3ed2-4748-9a21-f747ec664b2d.JPG /><figcaption>Now click on Append to a text file</figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/433ae511-6e6a-4d49-972a-dbd4871fb09c.JPG /><figcaption>Set the name, content and folder path of the file, for best experience, keep content the same as in image, click next</figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/17726b1e-d70b-471a-9aa3-f4a1ecf3eb91.JPG /><figcaption>Now enable Notifications if you want and you will receive a notification every time the Applet triggers, click Finish</figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/cadd6c6b-10e8-41f0-b92b-6b9547c55ce9.JPG /><figcaption>You are all set!</figcaption></div>SetupFollow the images below to get the credentials required for the project.<div id="gallery"><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/b165ab11-ad96-4364-adae-260b64e0b10b.png /><figcaption>Open io.adafruit.com, select Dashboards from the left side menu</figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/d91cefa3-6d54-4052-8460-db8fe6ce1315.png /><figcaption>Click on a dashboard or create one by selecting Actions | New Dashboard</figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/dd790bf4-5872-4125-9c15-3dab8473215f.png /><figcaption>Now click on the Key icon at the top right of the page</figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/cb3aacaf-597c-4fad-ac15-0e7e15a06a90.png /><figcaption>Copy the Active key and paste it in the required location in the Arduino Sketch</figcaption></div>Obtaining your username is easy, just copy your username and paste it in the required location int the Arduino Sketch. Now connect your Arduino Yún to your Mac/PC and upload the code.<h3 >Background</h3>I was recently thinking of a way to track the number of times an RFID module has been used, and to monitor the time at which it has. I happened to think about Dropbox at the same time and decided to create an Arduino Yun that parses RFID module operation data to a text file on Dropbox. The Arduino Yun will monitor the amount of times that the RFID module has been activated and if set up, IFTTT will send the user a notification with the number of times that the module has been activated for. <figure><img src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/506d7794-3526-4c5f-bc41-1329e8fb5877.JPG /><figcaption>RFIDDropboxLogger</figcaption></figure>

RFIDDropboxLogger

Image

File

RFID Dropbox Logger

Log data to a text file on Dropbox whenever an RFID card is scanned.