Automated AV Center

Problem Statement:

The Audio-Visual Center at UQAM University is responsible for renting audiovisual equipment—such as cameras and microphones—to students and staff. Currently, the rental and return processes rely on barcode scanning, which is time-consuming, labour-intensive, and prone to human error. As a result, staff must spend significant time managing transactions, and there have been instances of equipment loss, including high-value items.

Objective:

To design and propose an IoT-based solution that streamlines the rental process, reduces error rates, minimizes maintenance costs, and enables the center to serve a greater number of users more efficiently.

Proposed Solution:

By integrating Passive UHF RFID tags alongside existing barcodes, multiple devices can be scanned simultaneously in just seconds, significantly improving speed and accuracy. The solution includes the installation of an RFID antenna at the checkout area and the creation of a dedicated delivery station, enabling quick and reliable verification of equipment during both rental and return processes.