Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering

Safety Badging Automation

FACULTY:

JASON PARTON

CODY MAGINNIS

STA:

MATTHEW STOCKTON

STUDENT WORKERS:

GAUTAM DARYANANI

NICOLE NINO

Project Overview

New machines and facilities in the School of Engineering require Safety badges to use

Testing for badges available on Blackboard through the Engineering Safety Badging Organization

Badging only available to students enrolled in the Organization

Opening Blackboard page on phone or computer only way to verify badging

Goals

Simplify process for Safety Badge Verification

Safely open new facilities up to Non-Engineering Students

Create server database containing Blackboard Grade Center Data

Automatically updated if possible

Two Major Components

Database Server

Set up

Automated update

Raspberry Pis

Programming Logic

Network Connection

USDCONNECT

Raspberry Pi

Assembled with a keypad input and two LED outputs

Keypad used to input 9 digit ID number

Red LED Light turns on if unverified

Blue LED stays on for specific time or until cancelled if verified

Programmed using Python Scripting Code

Reference csv file and search for specific ID numbers

Connecting to the USDCONNECT Server

Secure Shell (SSH) used to access database

Keypad Input Pins

Wi-Pi Connection

LED Outputs

Database Server

Set up physical server in secured Engineering Department Office

Database CSV file saved on server desktop

CSV File remotely accessed by Raspberry Pi through USDCONNECT network using SSH

CSV file updated from Blackboard at 2 AM everyday after server reboot

Autoit program runs 10 minutes after startup

Automating Server Update

Created Program using Autoit Scripting Language

Autoit program invokes virtual mouse movements and keystrokes

Blackboard webpage automatically navigated by program to download grade center and overwrite database csv file

Cells Columns of Interest

Targeted Download Link

Acquired Skills

Knowledge of Server Database Configuration

Python Scripting Language

Autoit Scripting Language

Raspberry Pi Hardware Implementation

Future Improvements

Replacing keypad input with MagTek Card Reader

Using Python Program to scrape data from Blackboard table