AUTOMATED LABORATORY

We were given a task of automating various aspects of our department labs.

Although automation is possible to almost anything with todays technology, we
kept in mind the economic feasibility and the practical implement ability. We
address four basic problems and discussed them below.
AUTOMATED ATTENDANCE
This setup essentially takes 3 parameters to update a students attendance.
Namely the card scanned via RFID or NFC. The ID card essentially tells the
microcomputer what inputs to expect and then takes a picture of the student
followed by a fingerprint and check for whether or not the inputs tally. The two
additional inputs are to make the system fool proof and minimize the error.
The ID card entries can me mimicked and used for proxy attendance by other
students and therefore we need extra inputs to verify the same. But Image
processing is prone to errors in terms of lighting conditions and other factors like
a drastic change because of a haircut or shave and so on.
COMPONENT CHECK
This is an automated solution to properly classify ICs and other components into
boxes and keep a check on their count and availability. A passive tag on each
component identifies that component and is read by active readers based on
RFID or NFC. But since this system can be abused by using the tag alone if
separated from the component to fake the component, an additional input to
verify the component is used. This involves the usage of a separate sensitive
load cell to check the overall weight of the components in the box to make sure
that the result obtained tallies with the information obtained from the RFID/NFC
count.
AUTOMATED ERROR CHECKING SYSTEM
This is a computer based machine learning system which aims to help students
rectify errors in their circuits. Most of times, student redoes the entire circuit if
he/she does not get the output. This system helps the student understand
his/her errors. It comprises of a computer based system connected to a server.
The students while performing the experiment get a chance to log the
error/problem faced by them. Thus, it acts like a virtual diary which helps the
students understand their mistakes. It helps them prepare for their examinations
as they would not repeat the same errors again. Over a period of time the
computer system starts learning about the various errors associated with
different experiments. After this, if a student performs an experiment and gets
an error, the computer system will be able to predict what the error in the circuit
might be. Thus, the computer system would start behaving as a virtual lab
assistant.

COMPONENT SORTING AND SEGREGATION

This system aims to resolve the problem faced by the lab attender to sort and
segregate the components. This system is a continuation of the component
check system. Here, the components required by each experiment are already
sorted into small boxes. When the student selects what experiment he/she wants
to perform, that component box drops(similar to a wending machine).At the end
of the experiment the students place all their boxes on a conveyor belt system
which sorts them into appropriate cubicles (in the cupboard). This involves the
reading of RFID tags put on the boxes which basically gives information about
where the component box has to be placed. The lift & the conveyor belt system
moves them to the appropriate position.