STUDY

The conventional manual method to taking record of examination attendance in academic institutions like the University of Benin (UNIBEN) has some issues like impersonation, human error, and manipulation. The Examination Guard Terminal (EGT), which is biometric-based, was developed to solve the problems of the traditional approach to recording examination attendance. The methodology was used to establish the functional requirements of the EGT. The EGT was to be portable, enable real-time fingerprint verification, and enable recording of attendance. The hardware components was selected based on its performance, cost, and availability. The ESP32 DevKit-C microcontroller was selected because of its dual-core processor and Wi-Fi capabilities. The AS608 Optical Fingerprint Module was selected because of its fast reaction time and easy use. The 2.8-inch TFT LCD was selected because of its clear display. Conceptual and detailed design for the circuits was developed, making use of the UART protocol for the fingerprint sensor and the SPI protocol for the display and data logging for the SD card. The software that was used for the project was based on the Arduino platform and consist of two modes for efficient functionality: one for Enrollment (Access Point Captive Mode) and another for Verification (Wi-Fi Mode). Testing and analysis for efficiency were done in a simulated examination environment with 30 students. This helped in understanding the efficiency of the prototype. The project showed high efficiency in terms of average student verification in 2.44 seconds. Most importantly, the project showed a Zero False Acceptance Rate (FAR) and Zero False Rejection Rate (FRR), which confirms the EGT's basic reliability and accuracy in terms of identity verification. In conclusion, the project successfully developed a functional prototype for the Examination Guard Terminal. Recommendations for further improvement: Upgrading the system to a multi-biometric system and using a faster processor like Raspberry Pi 5.to enhance speed and security further.

This study investigates the potential of utilizing the kinetic energy dissipated by vehicles traversing speed breakers as a sustainable source for power generation. With increasing vehicular traffic, a significant amount of energy is wasted as heat and friction when vehicles slow down and pass over these road infrastructure elements. This research explores various electromechanical mechanisms, including rack and pinion, gear and flywheel, and spring coil systems, to convert this otherwise lost kinetic energy into usable electrical energy. The core principle involves capturing the vertical displacement and subsequent kinetic energy of a vehicle as it passes over a specially designed speed breaker mechanism. This mechanical energy is then converted into rotational motion, which drives an electrical generator (dynamo) to produce electricity through electromagnetic induction. The generated electrical power can be stored in batteries or directly used to power nearby infrastructure such as streetlights, traffic signals, and signage, particularly in high-traffic areas like urban roads, parking lots, and toll plazas. This study analyzed the design considerations, efficiency, and potential power output of such systems under varying traffic conditions and vehicle weights. It also explored the practicality and costeffectiveness of implementing these energy-harvesting speed breakers compared to traditional power sources. Furthermore, the environmental benefits of this approach, including the reduction of reliance on conventional energy sources and the minimization of greenhouse gas emissions, were discussed. The findings of this research highlight the potential of speed breakers as a distributed and renewable energy generation technology, As well as proposes the adoption of Hybrid Energy Systems, Design Parameters Optimization And Energy Storage Enhancements to increase the possibility of transforming everyday road infrastructure into energy-producing systems, this technology holds promise for advancing renewable energy development, and contributing to a better future.