Top 20 RFID Project Ideas

Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) is a technology that uses radio-frequency electromagnetic fields to transfer information from a tag to RFID reader for identification purposes. The tags do not require battery power. They derive power from the electromagnetic field generated from the reader. Some tags are also available which have their own power source. When it comes to RFID project ideas students always find them simple and interesting. There are many such projects available on the internet. We have listed down the top 20 simple RFID project ideas.

RFID project ideas for Security

In security access system, RFID is in inductively coupling with the reader. When a card is swiped against the reader, modulated data from the card is sent to the reader which in turn is fed to the microcontroller. The card used is the identity card for a particular person and carries his/her details. If this data matches with that stored in the database of the microcontroller, the person is given access to the secured area. This is indicated by a lamp being switched on. The status of authority of the person is also displayed on a LCD interfaced with the microcontroller.

More details about this can be found at: RFID based Security system

Attendance System

Here an RFID tag is used, which is indirectly connected to the RFID reader using inductive coupling method. As the tag or the card is swiped against the reader, the tag receives a carrier signal from the reader and in turn modulates the carrier signal and sends it back. The reader receives this modulated signal and sends this data to the microcontroller. The microcontroller compares this data with the existing data and on pressing the status push button, the status of the card holder is shown on the display, indicating the attendance of the cardholder.

More details about this can be found at: RFID based attendance system

Automatic car parking

RFID based car parking uses a microcontroller along with sensing circuits, monitoring entry and exit of cars. The car owners are allowed an entry only when their RFID card is swiped. The amount in the card automatically gets reduced with a display indication besides indicating the available number of parking. An H-bridge arrangement operates the entry and exit boom motors operating clockwise and anticlockwise for opening and closing. A buzzer sound comes while the card is swiped. Upon every entry of a car the parking availability gets reduced by one number while every exit increases the number.

More details about this can be found at: RFID based automatic vehicle parking

Access control System

An RFID reader emits a low-level radio frequency magnetic field that energies the tag. The tag responds to the reader’s query and announces its presence via radio waves, transmitting its unique identification data. This data is decoded by the reader and passed to the local application system via middle ware. The middle ware acts as an interface between the reader and the RFID application system. The system then searches and matches the identity code with information stored in the host database or back end system. In this way, accessibility or authorisation for further processing can be granted or refused, depending on results received by the reader and processed by the database.

More details about this can be found at: RFID based Access Control

Library automation

RFID based library management facilitates the fast issuing, reissuing and returning of books with the help of RFID enabled modules. It directly provides the book information and library member information to the library management system and does not need manual typing. The monitoring module continuously monitors the movement of books across the gates, so that the books taken out without prior issuing are traced easily and alarms the librarians. The searching module provides the fast searching of books using RFID handheld reader. Physical location of the books can be easily located using this module.

More details about this can be found at: RFID library automation

RFID project ideas for Toll Booth Automation

The microcontroller reads the RFID card number from the RFID reader. It sends this data to the LCD so that the person operating this product reads various informative messages. Microcontroller senses the command given using keypad and receives signal from the IR receiver. It sends the data to the motor or buzzer depending upon the RFID card number and balance inside the card. Toll booth automation reduces human effort, improves security and avoids jam at toll centre.

More details about this system can be found at: RFID based Electronic toll collection

Bus ticketing and accident information provider system

The passengers are counted using IR sensor and the distance travelled by passenger is calculated automatically using motor and u-slot sensor, and the corresponding amount is debited from RFID card. In addition to that, the occurrence of accident information is automatically transmitted to the nearest hospital using GSM and GPS. IR transmitter and receiver are placed straight to each other, so the transmitted IR ray is received by IR receiver. When passenger crosses the IR transmitter and receiver, the rays received will be interrupted. Here the microcontroller, Atmel 89C52, has flash type reprogrammable memory. The RFID tag is rechargeable and can be recharged at the bus depot or nearest retail shop.

More information on this, is available at: Bus ticketing and accident information provider system

Railway reservation

The passengers will be provided with RFID tags. These tags contain a unique number. The passengers have to enter the source and destination areas to travel. The system calculates the amount to be paid and displays it on the LCD. The user has to show his RFID tag before the reader. The reader reads the number from the tag and records the ticket number on the tag number. The passenger has to finally pay the fare. The RFID reader will be present even in the train. When the passenger enters into the train, he has to show his RFID tag once again at the reader. The reader reads the number and checks whether this number has taken the ticket or not. Buzzer indication will indicate if the passenger has not taken the ticket.

More details can be found from the pdf RFID based railway reservation

RFID based Passport

The project designed is an authentication system where the passport holder is authorized through RFID technology. The passport holder would have an RFID tag which contains all the passport details like name, number, nationality etc. This tag has to be swiped over the reader and the information thus read is provided to a microcontroller. This information is matched with the one stored in the microcontroller, if the data matches microcontroller displays a confirmation message otherwise displays a denial message on a LCD screen. The status of a particular person can also be obtained through a status button in the system.

More details can be downloaded from the pdf RFID based Passport

Anti-theft auto security system with an immobilizer

The immobilizer uses the active RFID technology where the tag is generated with comparatively large character sets. The receiving unit is intelligently integrated into three control circuits in the vehicle, namely, ignition circuit, power control unit, and automatic gear changing system, enabling it to bring the vehicle speed down to zero in a safe step by step manner. The anti-theft auto security system proposed here was tested under different weather conditions and possible signal distortion situations to verify its reliability.

More details can be downloaded from the pdf RFID based anti-theft auto security system

RFID project ideas for Banking system

When the card is brought near to the RFID module it reads the id code card and then compares with the id code present in the system. If it matches then the door gets opened in clockwise direction and the person gets in. The door is automatically closed at a defined time. Every time we make a transaction, we need to enter user id and password using keypad. For a successful match, Id transaction is enabled, else denied. If the password does not match after three successive failures, the system gets locked and further transaction are denied. The transaction denial is indicated by a buzzer.

More details can be found on RFID based banking system

Patient monitoring system

Every patient is provided with a unique RFID number and all the details regarding the patient and treatments are stored in a centralized database which is retrieved by the server. The second section is patient tracking where in case of any emergency in a closed environment the patient is provided with assistance in a short span of time. The patient is regularly monitored by the temperature and heartbeat sensor. The moment values cross a normal range, message is sent through GSM/GPS to the nearest hospital with its location and also to a relative. Assistance is provided accordingly to the patient.

More details can be downloaded from the pdf: RFID patient monitoring system

Touch screen museum guide

RFID comprises a reader and a tag. The reader receives the identity of an object from the embedded tag wirelessly using radio waves and then compares it with the corresponding identification stored in the database. When a match is found, detailed information is retrieved and user can able to listen the audio clip of the painting, with these our project is providing images related to that painting. This project focuses on to make a user friendly device for making easy guideline to tourist with combination of audio and image facility.

More details about this project are available at: RFID based touch Screen Museum Guide System

Intelligent vehicle control

This system deals with automatic vehicle speed limit on roads by solar powered RFID technology to control automobiles. An RFID reader present in the vehicle senses the vehicle speed limit on the tag as a reference speed input (attached to the speed limit signboard). Here, active RFID tag is used in the signboard which is battery powered from a solar panel. This reference speed is given to the electronic control unit. Meanwhile the vehicle speed sensor present in the wheel gives the actual speed of the vehicle on road. The output of this ECU unit is given to the proposed braking system present in the automobiles.

More details can be found at: Intelligent vehicle control

Event tracking system for sports

Each player will have a unique RFID tag connected to him/her to identify him when he/she has crossed the line. The system includes low frequency RFID reader and tags working at 125 kHz frequency to fetch the information from the player and process it through microcontroller. The name of the player who crosses the line first is then displayed on a LCD connected to it. For example in racing game who have crossed the line first will be tough to judge if the distance between two racers is very less. In that case we can use the RFID tags to identify who has crossed the line first.

More detail can be found at: Event tracking system for sports

RFID project ideas for Petrol bunk automation

Each vehicle is fit with a prepaid card. When a car arrives at the gate, the RFID reader reads the card. The gate is opened only when the card is valid. Once entered the user will be shown the balance amount available on the card and he must select an option to dispense the fuel. The system checks whether the user has entered a valid data that is the amount should not exceed the balance available in the card. After dispensing petrol, information about available balance is sent to the user’s mobile phone using GSM.

More about this can be found at: Petrol bunk automation

Automatic door lock system

The automatic door lock system consists of a reader, a controller and door lock. Here a reader reads the RFID tags, a controller is used to accept the data from the reader and control the o/p of the door lock. The RFID reader is placed on the outside of the door and it is detached from the controller confidentially so no one can avoid the security by breaking open the RFID reader and trying to short circuit the reader. The controller of this project receives serial information from the RFID reader and controls the door lock and the LED.

More details about this project can be found at: Automatic door lock system

Airport luggage security scanning system

Read-only tags are typically passive and are programmed with a unique set of data that cannot be modified. The reader has three main functions: energizing, demodulating and decoding. The antenna emits radio signals to activate the tag and to read and write data to it. Here we are using RFID based security scanning system to check the luggage in highly secured areas like airports, railway stations, in various places where security is primary concern. Here we are placing the luggage bags which are to be scanned.

More details can be found at: RFID based airport luggage handling system

Voting machine

RFID card has been used for identification of a person before giving his vote by placing his card before the reader module. When the card is placed before the reader, the details stored with unique number in the microcontroller will be checked and displayed. If he/she is eligible for voting, they’ll be sent to voting unit where they will be casting their vote. If they violate any of the rules like giving their vote more than once or if he/she is not eligible person, then an alarming buzzer is activated.

More details can be found at: RFID based Electronic voting machine

Object locators

This system is proposed for the assistance of blind people. The system incorporates a mobile RFID reader with object management system with three main functionalities: to access and manage an integrated Zigbee transceiver for transmitting the tag’s information. Utensils and other objects in a building carry the tags and transmit data wirelessly to the server embedded. An audio file, recorded for each unique object resides on the server. The reader reads PC which in turn scans for the particular id in the database and plays the corresponding audio file.

More information about this can be found at: RFID based Object locators

Enthusiasts always come up with new RFID project ideas from time to time. If you have any such idea, let us know in the comments below. We also welcome RFID project ideas from contributors.