V3I2P17

Development of an Autonomous RFID-Equipped Robot for Inventory Management

Fernando Jr. H. Banal¹, Raphael Arnold Pierre P. Aglibot² , Romeo Hodei H. Sy³, Eliza B. Ayo⁴*

Abstract

Traditional inventory management systems in educational institutions rely on manual processes that are time-consuming, error-prone, and lack real-time visibility. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology offers automated tracking capabilities, but existing commercial solutions remain cost-prohibitive and poorly adapted to institutional requirements. This study develops and evaluates an autonomous 4-wheeled robot integrated with Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) RFID scanning capabilities for real-time inventory management in educational settings. A developmental research approach was employed using a dual-controller architecture (ESP32-WROOM and Arduino UNO) with hierarchical control systems. The robot integrates an R200 UHF RFID reader (860-960MHz), HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensors for obstacle avoidance, and WebSocket-based communication protocols. Key algorithms for RFID scanning, autonomous navigation, and path planning were implemented. Performance evaluation included technical testing across seven quality metrics and user acceptance testing with structured surveys at Centro Escolar University facilities. The system achieved 98% RFID tag identification accuracy at distances up to 3.2 meters, outperforming the industry average of 2.5 meters. Obstacle avoidance maintained 80% detection reliability, while WebSocket communication exhibited sub-100ms latency in 99.5% of operations. Battery performance sustained 4.2 hours of continuous operation, exceeding comparable platforms by 40%. User evaluations confirmed high satisfaction across usability, functionality, and data accuracy dimensions. The integration of autonomous robotics with UHF RFID technology provides a viable, cost-effective solution for institutional inventory management, demonstrating scalability potential for diverse organizational contexts.

Keywords:

RFID technology; autonomous robotics; inventory management; real-time monitoring; IoT; educational institutions