Category: Siyuan’s Status Reports

Accomplishments This Week

This week, I focused on enhancing System Interaction.

I successfully integrated an onscreen keyboard into our system, which now allows for a completely keyboard-free and mouse-free operation. Previously, while users could interact with the system using a touchscreen to replace the mouse, a physical keyboard was still necessary for entering textual information, such as dates. By having the onscreen keyboard, all functionalities can now be managed directly from the touchscreen, simplifying the user interface and reducing hardware requirements.

 

Project Schedule and Progress

I am on schedule, and my progress is still good.

 

Goals for the Next Week

Next week, my work will shift toward final documentation.

Accomplishments This Week

This week, I focused on testing of newly arrived temperature and humidity sensor. The key accomplishments include:

Completion of Temperature and Humidity Sensor Software: I finalized the software development for handling data requests from the temperature and humidity sensors.

Testing Sensor Accuracy: I conducted testing to ensure the accuracy of the temperature and humidity sensors.

Full Hardware Integration: I completed the full hardware integration of two scanner modules, since the third one’s materials are with my teammates. This integration gives one of the final products of the project. For the central module, I have the screen in my hand, but the Raspberry Pi is with my teammates, so I can’t integrate it now.

Contribution to Final Presentation Slides: In addition to the technical developments, I completed almost all of the final presentation slides on my own.

 

Project Schedule and Progress

I am on schedule, and my progress is still good.

 

Goals for the Next Week

Next week, my work will shift toward final documentation and demonstration preparation.

 

Special Question

In the past, I didn’t have much knowledge about Python. In this project, I learned how to use it and how to find libraries for ease of use and strong capabilities. In order to learn it, I read some posts in different forums. When I have some bugs, I search through Stack Overflow to find answers. Although they might not have exactly the same problem, I can still summarize solutions on my own.

Accomplishments This Week

This week, I focused on testing of newly arrived temperature and humidity sensor. The key accomplishments include:

Testing of Temperature and Humidity Sensor: Upon receiving the temperature and humidity sensors, I conducted comprehensive testing to assess their functionality with the Raspberry Pi. These tests were designed to ensure that the sensors operate accurately and reliably under various conditions, providing the data essential for our system’s environmental monitoring capabilities.

Project Schedule and Progress

I am on schedule, and my progress is still good.

 

Goals for the Next Week

Next week, I will complete the development of the software required to manage data requests from the temperature and humidity sensors. With the software development completed, the next step will be to integrate the temperature and humidity sensors into the scanner module.

Accomplishments This Week

This week, I focused on integration of additional sensors to further enhance the capabilities of our inventory management system. The key accomplishments include:

Further Integration of Scanner Module Software: Continued efforts were made to integrate the scanner module software more deeply within our system. This involved refining the interaction between the scanner module and other system components.

Research of New Sensors: I conducted thorough research into temperature sensors, humidity sensors. These components were selected for their potential to provide valuable environmental data, enhancing our inventory management capabilities. Following the research, orders were placed for these parts from DigiKey.

 

Project Schedule and Progress

I am on schedule, and my progress is still good.

 

Goals for the Next Week

Next week, upon the arrival of the temperature sensor and humidity sensor, I will conduct initial tests to verify their functionality and compatibility with the Raspberry Pi and our existing system components. Following successful testing, I will begin the process of integrating these sensors into the scanner module. This involves developing the necessary software.

Accomplishments This Week

This week, I focused on the software development aspects of the project. The key accomplishments include:

Scanner Module Software Integration: I successfully carried out further integration of the scanner module software, ensuring that it seamlessly interfaces with other components of our inventory management system.

Development of Photo Capture Function: In collaboration with Jason, we initiated the development of a photo capture function, aiming to capture images for OCR. Despite our efforts, we encountered technical difficulties with setting up the OpenCV environment required for the photo capture function. These challenges have temporarily hindered our progress in implementing this feature but have not impacted our overall project timeline.

 

Project Schedule and Progress

I am on schedule, and my progress is still good.

 

Goals for the Next Week

Next week, the focus will continue to be on the integration of the scanner module software with the broader system. Alongside development, I will try resolving the OpenCV challenges, and I will resume development of the photo capture function, aiming to integrate this feature into our system.

Accomplishments This Week

This week, I focused on the software development aspects of the project. The key accomplishments include:

Modification of API Request for Database Compatibility: I undertook the essential task of modifying the API request functionality to ensure compliance with the data format used in our database. This modification is a vital step towards integrating the barcode scanner module software with our existing data management systems. By aligning the format of the data retrieved from the API with that of our database, we facilitate smoother data integration, storage, and retrieval processes.

Implementing More Features to Barcode Software: A significant development achievement this week was adding more useful information to the API request. Now, the software can get the date and time, and the user can select which item is correct if there are many corresponding items to the barcode.

 

Project Schedule and Progress

I am on schedule, and I have catch up what I missed last week.

 

Goals for the Next Week

Next week, the focus will continue to be on the integration of the scanner module software with the broader system. Alongside development, testing of the newly added features will be conducted to ensure their reliability and effectiveness. Based on the testing results, necessary refinements will be made to enhance the software’s performance and user experience.

Accomplishments This Week

This week, I focused on both the documentation and development aspects of the project. The key accomplishments include:

Completion of Design Review Report: I have completed writing crucial sections of the Design Review Report, which include the Introduction, Use Case Requirements, and Architecture.

Implementation of Information Extraction Function: A significant development achievement this week was the implementation of the function that extracts useful information from the API request. With this functionality, the software now can parse information, such as product name and brand.

 

Project Schedule and Progress

I am slightly behind schedule, but the work for next week is still software development. In this case, things are still manageable.

 

Goals for the Next Week

Next week, the focus will shift towards further development of the barcode module software, building upon the foundational work completed this week. Alongside development, testing of the newly added features will be conducted to ensure their reliability and effectiveness. Based on the testing results, necessary refinements will be made to enhance the software’s performance and user experience.

Accomplishments This Week

During the third week of our project, we achieved significant milestones in software development, specifically in API integration and functionality testing. Key accomplishments include:

API Integration Completion: I successfully integrated the upcitemdb API with a Python script on the Raspberry Pi. This was a crucial step towards enabling our system to fetch product information based on barcode scans.

Functionality Testing of API Requests: Post-integration, I conducted thorough testing to ensure the API requests were functioning as intended. The system is now capable of fetching detailed product information, including product name and brand, using just the barcode. This functionality is pivotal for our inventory management system, as it allows for immediate identification and cataloging of items.

 

Project Schedule and Progress

I am pleased to report that the project is progressing on schedule.

 

Goals for the Next Week

Next week, I will start with the development of the barcode module software. This next phase includes:

Software Development for Barcode Module: I plan to commence development on the core software that will manage the barcode scanning process.

Initial Testing of Barcode Module: Alongside development, I will conduct initial tests on the barcode module software to ensure its compatibility with the hardware setup and its effectiveness in scanning and processing barcode data.

Accomplishments This Week

The second week of our project focused on the practical aspects of integrating a barcode scanner with the Raspberry Pi. The key accomplishments include:

Hardware Setup and Testing: Upon receiving the Raspberry Pi and the barcode scanner, I immediately set up the hardware to test its functionality. This involved connecting the barcode scanner via USB to the Raspberry Pi and conducting initial tests to ensure it was operational and capable of scanning barcodes accurately.

Data Output Understanding: I invested time in understanding how the barcode scanner outputs data through USB.

API Research for Product Information: To enrich the data obtained from scanning barcodes, I researched various APIs capable of providing detailed product information. After evaluating several options, I decided to utilize upcitemdb’s API, which offers extensive data, including an item’s name and brand, based on the barcode scanned.

 

Project Schedule and Progress

I am pleased to report that the project is progressing on schedule.

 

Goals for the Next Week

The objectives for the next week include:

API Integration: I plan to fully integrate upcitemdb’s API with a Python script running on the Raspberry Pi. This involves developing the code to send barcode data to the API and retrieve product information, ensuring a seamless and efficient process.

Feature Development: With the API integration underway, I will start developing additional features to enhance the usability of our system. This includes implementing user-friendly interfaces for displaying product information and possibly starting work on inventory management functionalities.

Accomplishments This Week

This week, I dedicated myself to the initial phase of integrating a barcode scanner with the Raspberry Pi. My efforts were concentrated on researching the most effective methods to achieve functionality. This involved:

Comprehensive Research: I conducted thorough research on utilizing Raspberry Pi for barcode scanning purposes. This included studying various technical forums, articles, and guides to understand the hardware and software requirements, compatibility issues, potential challenges, and best practices for implementation.

Procurement of Necessary Components: Following the research phase, I identified and compiled a list of all necessary components required for the project. This list included the Raspberry Pi unit, compatible barcode scanners, cables, and any additional hardware. Subsequently, I placed orders for these items from reputable suppliers to ensure quality and compatibility with our project needs.

 

Project Schedule and Progress

I am pleased to report that our progress remains on schedule.

 

Goals for the Next Week

In the upcoming week, my primary focus will be on the technical setup and testing phase of the barcode scanner integration with the Raspberry Pi. The specific deliverables I aim to achieve include:

Assembly and Setup: Upon receipt of the ordered components, I will assemble the hardware and configure the Raspberry Pi for barcode scanning functionality. This will involve setting up the operating system, installing necessary drivers, and configuring the scanner.

Testing and Troubleshooting: I will conduct extensive testing to ensure the barcode scanner operates correctly with the Raspberry Pi. This includes verifying scanning accuracy, response time, and integration with our inventory management software. Any issues encountered during testing will be addressed through troubleshooting and adjustments.