RFID Shopping Trolly with Google Sheet & Telegram Interface

RFID Shopping Trolley Project Report

**1. Introduction**

This report details the development of a smart shopping trolley system utilizing RFID technology for automatic item identification and billing. The system aims to enhance the customer shopping experience by eliminating checkout lines and offering a convenient shopping method.

**2. System Components**

* **Hardware:**
* Arduino Nano: Microcontroller for processing data
* RC522 RFID Module: Reads RFID tags attached to items
* 20×4 LCD: Displays item details, quantity, and total cost
* ESP32 WiFi Module: Enables data transmission to Google Sheets and Telegram channel
* Push Button: Triggers cart update function
* MT3608 Boost Module: Increases battery voltage for powering components
* 3.7V Battery with TP4056 Charger Board: Provides power to the system
* 16 RFID Cards: Programmable cards for associating items and values

**3. System Functionality**

* **Item Setup:** Each of the four item types has four RFID cards programmed with the item name and corresponding amount.
* **Shopping Process:**
* User places tagged items in the shopping cart.
* Pressing the update cart button initiates the RFID reading process.
* The RC522 module identifies the item based on the RFID tag.
* Arduino Nano retrieves the programmed item details (name and amount) from the card.
* The system keeps track of item quantity and calculates the total cost.
* The LCD displays information on all four item types, including their quantity and the overall total.
* **Data Transmission:**
* ESP32 WiFi module transmits the shopping cart data (item details, quantity, total cost) to a designated Google Sheet.
* Additionally, the data can be sent to a Telegram channel for real-time updates or further processing.

**4. Software Development**

The project requires programming the Arduino Nano to handle RFID tag reading, data processing, LCD display control, and communication with the ESP32 WiFi module. Libraries specific to the RFID module, LCD, and ESP32 WiFi will be necessary for implementing the functionalities.

**5. System Advantages**

* **Reduced Checkout Time:** Eliminates the need for checkout lines, leading to a faster and more efficient shopping experience.
* **Improved Customer Convenience:** Users can track their shopping progress and total cost in real-time on the LCD display.
* **Data Tracking:** Automated data transmission to Google Sheets facilitates inventory management and analysis.
* **Scalability:** The system can be potentially expanded to accommodate more item types and RFID cards.

**6. Future Improvements**

* **Integration with Payment System:** Implementing a payment module (e.g., NFC reader) would allow users to directly pay for their shopping at the cart.
* **Inventory Management System:** A centralized system could track item stock levels and send alerts for restocking needs.
* **Weight Sensor Integration:** Adding a weight sensor could improve accuracy, especially for items with variable weights.

**7. Conclusion**

This RFID-based shopping trolley project demonstrates a practical application of RFID technology to enhance the shopping experience. The system offers convenience, reduces checkout times, and provides valuable data for improved inventory management. By implementing the proposed improvements, the project can be further developed into a robust and comprehensive smart shopping solution.

**8. Appendix**

The appendix can include:

* Schematics for connecting the hardware components
* Arduino code for implementing the functionalities
* Sample code for programming RFID cards