Help in identifying Device/Component

[fayaz_3e]

Hi,

As part of academic project, I am looking for a component which tracks for object(s) and signals if it is missing. The number of object are too high. I can not add anything to object. So I planned to set a component on floor top which sends signals to the object and if its missing, signal that its missing.

Please help me on identifying the component/device for this.

I appreciate your help. Thanks.

Regards,
Fayaz

[fouwad]

What exactly do u mean by tracking? Like you want to detect missing objects on a conveyer belt or Track a vehicle kind of thing? Your problem needs elaboration.

[fayaz_3e]

What exactly do u mean by tracking? Like you want to detect missing objects on a conveyer belt or Track a vehicle kind of thing? Your problem needs elaboration.

We have bicycle stand. These are placed in open community and being stolen in very high number. As part of academic project, I would like to contribute and help in monitoring these.

[betwixt]

Still need more information.

Detecting the presence of a bicycle is easy, you can use it's weight to operate a switch or use it to block a light beam or even use a magnetic switch if the frame is magnetised. All of these methods can be overcome by a determined thief. Are you looking for a high security system to detect if a specific bicycle has been moved from a specific position or are you looking for a system to track the motion of a stolen bike and report where it's present location is?

Brian.

[fayaz_3e]

Thats nice. We have those many options :) I understand that all these can be overcome. But for a high-school project having 500 cycles, considering economical facts, which one would be preferred for a low cost project.

Trust me I don't want to follow the thief and track the bike. I could do it in my graduation. For now, my duty is just to check if it still exists or gone.

Its just a thought, applying science to it. I don't have clear/concise requirements or information. Your inputs could be very much helpful.

[ravindragudi]

Use CCTV. It helps in many ways ...

[betwixt]

If all you need is "there or missing", the cheapest and simplest option is a microswitch under the bike stand to detect whether there is any weight in it. Wire the switch to a power source and light bulb or LED so it shows which have a bike in them and which are empty.

If you want to indicate when the switch changes state, in other words a bike is added or removed from the rack, you need a circuit that checks the switch state and remembers what is was, if a new check doesn't match the previous state, the bike has been moved. You can do this quite easily with an XOR logic gate, a resistor and a capacitor.

Brian.

[fouwad]

U can make a small digital lock with mechanical locking mechanism, use a simple 4x4 Keypad for a user to enter password and enable an alarm incase the wrong password is entered. It involves simple microcontroller, Keypad, speaker, lock

[betwixt]

That gets expensive when you need 500 of them and if they are close together it would be difficult to tell which alarm was sounding.

Brian.