Occupancy Scanner: by Thao Nguyen and Ivan Mendez

Due to the Covid 19 pandemic and public places limiting the number of people in at one time, me and my partner Thao Nguyen created an Occupancy scanner for our school project. The scanner has an LCD screen at the front of the boxes displaying how many people have gone in and out. The Occupancy scanner will be a cheaper alternative will cost roughly around $90 dollars.

Parts and Tools

Parts List

1.1-Arduino Mega 2560

2. uxcell 2 Pairs Infrared Ray Through-Beam Reflection Optical Sensor

3.Male to Male Jumper Wires

4.Male to Female Jumper Wires

5.1- LCD Screen 16x2

6. 1- 10K Ohm Potentiometer Knob for Breadboard

7. 1- 400 Pin Breadboard

8. 1- ALITOVE 5V 3A 15W AC 100V~240V to DC Power Supply Adapter Converter

9. 1- 220 ohm Resistor

10. Optional: 3- 3d Printed Boxes

11. Optional: 3- 3d Printed Tops

Tools List

1. Optional: 3d Printer

2. Electrical Tape

3. Screwdriver

4. Soldering Iron

5. Solder

6. Arduino IDE

So you are going to hook up the LCD as follows...

1. LCD RS pin to digital pin 12
2. LCD Enable pin to digital pin 11

3. LCD D4 pin to digital pin 5

4. LCD D5 pin to digital pin 4

5. LCD D6 pin to digital pin 3

6. LCD D7 pin to digital pin 2

7. LCD R/W pin to GND

8. LCD VSS pin to GND

9. LCD VCC pin to 5V

10. LCD LED+ to 5V through a 220 ohm resistor

11. LCD LED- to GND

12. Wire a 10k pot to +5V and GND

13. Wiper pin of Potentiometer connects to Pin 3 or LCD VO

Don't mind the Arduino UNO I used for the picture all connections are going to be connected to Mega 2560. Disclaimer use a simple code to test your LCD to ensure that it is in proper working order.

So to connect the sensors you are going to connect as follows...

1. Receiver 1 Black wire connects to pin 7 on Arduino, Brown wire connects to positive rail, Blue wire connects to negative rail.

2. Receiver 2 Black wire connects to pin 8 on Arduino, Brown wire connects to positive rail, Blue wire connects to negative rail.

3. Transmitter 1 and 2 Brown wire connects to positive rail, Blue wire connects to negative rail.

The power supply that I am using has a female terminal connector. Unscrew the terminals and strip two jumper wires exposing the cooper innards. Other side of jumper wire to be male connector. Then insert the exposed wire into the female terminal then screw the terminals. When done connect the male side of the jumper wires to the negative and positive rails the female terminal connectors has a label showing positive and negative. Make sure to connect one jumper wire from positive rail to 5v to Arduino then one jumper wire to GND on Arduino. Also take time to ensure that connections are correct.

Connect your Arduino to your computer. Upload code to the device.

Before testing code ensure that the sensors are in line with each other. Make sure that the sensors are in pairs of receiver and transmitter. Connect the female terminal connector to Power supply male the connect the to an outlet.

When doing this step be sure to be careful not to disconnect any connection. Because once in the box it is hard to connect things to together. Unless you have tiny hands. But remember to have patience.

Whatever you choose to put everything will be up to you. Also I am planning on putting everything on a prototyping board and making more upgrades. Will love to hear feedback and any upgrades or modifications you all make.