FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING

PROJECT TITLE: RFID BASED E-PASSPORT SYSTEM

SUBMITTED BY: Bushu Tinashe

REG NUMBER: B1852865

Email address:tynashbushu@gmail.com

SUPERVISOR: Mrs Malindi

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 Abstract
This project looks into the use of RFID cards as e-passports rather than the traditional paper
passport booklet with an embedded chip inside. Because of technology advancement, all
information can now be stored electronically. The goal is to reduce the use of fake
documents. This, in turn, will prevent the traveller from entering any specific country
illegally while also protecting the privacy and giving personal security to the passport card
holder.

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 Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Mrs Malindi for supervising me throughout this research. My
sincere gratitude goes to Bindura University of Science Education, specifically to the
department of Electronic Engineering staff for their immerse contribution towards this
research. A special thanks goes to my family and friends who supported me
academically and socially to make learning enjoyable.

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Contents
CHAPTER 1................................................................................................................................ 1

1.1 Introduction............................................................................................................................ 1

1.2 Background............................................................................................................................. 1

1.3 Justification............................................................................................................................. 2

1.4 Problem Statement................................................................................................................ 2

1.5 Aim of Study........................................................................................................................... 3

1.6 Objectives................................................................................................................................ 3

1.7 Literature Review.................................................................................................................. 4

References..................................................................................................................................... 6

CHAPTER 2................................................................................................................................ 7

THEORETICAL ASPECTS...................................................................................................... 7

2.1 Introduction............................................................................................................................ 7

2.1.1 RFID System........................................................................................................................ 7

2.1.2 RFID Cards........................................................................................................................... 7

2.1.3 RFID Reader........................................................................................................................ 8

2.1.4 Reader antennas................................................................................................................. 9

2.1.4 RFID Systems Operating Frequencies.............................................................................9

2.1.5 RFID System Working Principle.................................................................................... 10

2.1.6 Merits of RFID systems................................................................................................... 11

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2.1.7 Demerits............................................................................................................................ 12

2.1.8 RFID-based e-passport working principle...................................................................12

2.2 Arduino Uno board............................................................................................................. 12

2.2.1 Arduino Uno Board technical specifications................................................................13

2.3 LEDs...................................................................................................................................... 13

2.3.1 LED Circuit Symbol.......................................................................................................... 14

2.3.2 LED Characteristics......................................................................................................... 14

2.3.3 LED Basic Operation........................................................................................................ 15

2.3.4 Advantages of LEDs......................................................................................................... 16

2.3.5 Disadvantages of LEDs.................................................................................................... 16

2.5 LCD........................................................................................................................................ 16

2.5.1 How LCDs work................................................................................................................ 17

2.6 Buzzer................................................................................................................................... 17

2.7 Fingerprint Sensor.............................................................................................................. 18

2.8 Resistors............................................................................................................................... 19

References.................................................................................................................................. 21

CHAPTER 3............................................................................................................................. 23

METHODOLOGY.................................................................................................................... 23

3.1 Introduction......................................................................................................................... 23

3.2 Data Collection..................................................................................................................... 23

1 Method of Participation......................................................................................................... 23

2 Interviews............................................................................................................................... 23

3 Online Material....................................................................................................................... 24

3.3 System Structure................................................................................................................. 24

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3.4 Pins Functions of the Arduino Uno board.......................................................................24

3.5 Interfacing the RFID Reader to the Arduino Uno...........................................................25

3.6 Interfacing the LCD display to the Arduino Uno.............................................................26

3.7 Interfacing Fingerprint Sensor to the Arduino Uno.......................................................27

3.8 Interfacing a buzzer and LEDs to the Arduino Uno........................................................28

3.9 Software Description.......................................................................................................... 29

3.10 System Block Diagram..................................................................................................... 29

3.11 Data Flowchart Diagram.................................................................................................. 29

References.................................................................................................................................. 31

Chapter 4................................................................................................................................. 32

Results and Discussions.................................................................................................... 32

4.1 Introduction......................................................................................................................... 32

4.2 Schematic Design and System Operations.......................................................................32

4.3 RFID Reader Response....................................................................................................... 34

4.4 Analysis................................................................................................................................ 35

4.5 E-passport prototype views.............................................................................................. 35

4.6 Observed Technical issues from the e-passport prototype..........................................36

4.7 Chapter Summary............................................................................................................... 36

CHAPTER 5............................................................................................................................. 37

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS...............................................................37

5.1 Introduction......................................................................................................................... 37

5.2 Summary of the Results..................................................................................................... 37

5.3 Passport Issuance System currently used in Zimbabwe...............................................37

5.4 Anticipated Challenges in the adoption of the E-Passport System..............................38

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5.4.1 Security.............................................................................................................................. 38

5.4.2 Poor IT Infrastructure..................................................................................................... 38

5.4.3 Lack of readiness from the people.................................................................................38

5.5 Recommendations.............................................................................................................. 38

5.6 Future Study Areas............................................................................................................. 39

5.7 Conclusions.......................................................................................................................... 40

References.................................................................................................................................. 41

APPENDIX A............................................................................................................................... 43

APPENDIX B............................................................................................................................... 56

APPENDIX C............................................................................................................................... 57

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Table of Figures
Figure 2. 1 RFID card used in the prototype............................................................................................. 8
Figure 2. 2 RFID Reader................................................................................................................................. 8
Figure 2. 3 RFID cards operating frequencies classifications......................................................10
Figure 2. 4 Figure 2.4 RFID System Working Principle....................................................................11
Figure 2. 5 Arduino Uno Board.................................................................................................................. 12
Figure 2. 6 Labelled Arduino Uno............................................................................................................. 13
Figure 2. 7 Typical LEDs............................................................................................................................. 14
Figure 2. 8 Circuit Symbol of a LED........................................................................................................ 14
Figure 2. 9 Characteristics Curves of an LED........................................................................................ 15
Figure 2. 10 Electrons and holes recombining in a forward biased LED......................................15
Figure 2. 11 LCD Display............................................................................................................................ 16
Figure 2. 12 How LCDs Work.................................................................................................................... 17
Figure 2. 13 Buzzer........................................................................................................................................ 18
Figure 2. 14 Fingerprint Sensor.................................................................................................................. 19
Figure 2. 15 Typical Resistors..................................................................................................................... 20

Figure 3. 1 Arduino Uno board Pins ...……………………………………………………………..... 24

Figure 3. 2 Interfacing the RC522 RFID Reader to the Arduino Uno............................................26

Figure 3. 3 Interfacing the LCD display to the Arduino Uno............................................................27
Figure 3. 4 Interfacing Fingerprint Sensor to the Arduino Uno........................................................28
Figure 3. 5 Interfacing a buzzer and LEDs to the Arduino Uno.......................................................28
Figure 3. 6 System Block Diagram............................................................................................................ 29
Figure 3. 7 Data flow diagram of the process at the border checkpoint.........................................30

Figure 4. 1 Schematic diagram for RFID E-Passports ...……………………………………….......... 32

Figure 4. 2 Results for E-Passport card 1................................................................................................ 33

Figure 4. 3 Results for E-Passport card 2................................................................................................ 33
Figure 4. 4 Results for E-Passport card 3................................................................................................ 34

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ix
List of Tables
Table 2. 1 Classifies cards based on their power capacity....................................................................7
Table 2. 2 RFID cards differences in operating frequencies.............................................................10
Table 2. 3 Arduino Uno Board technical specifications.....................................................................13
Table 2. 4 Technical specifications of a fingerprint scanner.............................................................19
Table 3. 1 Functions of the pins on Arduino Uno board.....................................................................25
Table 5. 1 Factors considered by Zimbabwe in Passport System....................................................37

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CHAPTER 1

1.1 Introduction
In recent times, there has been a shift from traditional paper passports to electronic passports,
also known as e-passports, due to technological advancements. These e-passports utilize
biometric systems and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) cards to enhance security and
reduce counterfeiting. This is crucial for international security as it enables the tracking of
individuals and their movements in and out of countries. A research project has been
undertaken to develop an electronic passport that addresses the limitations of RFID, such as
security vulnerabilities and the inability to store both biometric and biographic information.
The project aims to determine if incorporating RFID into conventional passports can improve
security against fraud and identity theft. The prototype of this project electronically stores the
passport holder's information on an RFID card and enables identification of the e-passport
holder. In the future, RFID e-passports could potentially replace traditional paper passports,
leading to faster clearance at passport controls.

1.2 Background
Many developed countries have already embraced e-passports, but it has been observed that
only a few of these countries utilize RFID cards as passports. Instead, they continue to use
traditional passport booklets that incorporate contactless chips. While the implementation of
electronic passports is progressing, there are still numerous countries that are falling behind
in this transition. This is particularly evident in many African countries and certain
underdeveloped nations, where the process is hindered by the high cost associated with
obtaining and producing chips. For instance, countries like Zimbabwe, currently in the
process of economic recovery, find it financially burdensome to produce passport booklets
with contactless chips. Consequently, the aim of this project is to bridge this gap and provide
an affordable solution for electronic travel documents. The project focuses on developing an
RFID system that can serve as a passport document and potentially as an electronic identity
card (e-ID) in the future. By achieving this, it is anticipated that the government's expenditure
on producing identity cards and passports can be significantly reduced.

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1.3 Justification
The project aims to enhance security and prevent forgeries by implementing a system where
identities are only disclosed to authorized individuals with access. This will be achieved
through the use of unique RFID cards, ensuring that if these cards are lost or stolen, they
cannot be utilized by anyone else. The data stored on these cards can only be modified by
authorized personnel, eliminating the possibility of duplicate data entry or multiple passport
issuances to the same individual. Additionally, RFID cards offer greater portability,
simplicity, reliability, and ease of replacement in case of loss compared to traditional passport
booklets. As a result, the waiting time for processing RFID-based passports is significantly
reduced.

1.4 Problem Statement

The challenges that Zimbabwe is facing across the country when it comes to traditional paper
passport booklets inspired this study. The issue with paper passports is that they do not
provide privacy, anyone who can physically access the passport can see identity. The
conventional passport can be duplicated and the identity can be illegally used by another
person, which is referred to as identity theft. This is because the information can be forged on
the paper passport because all the details are readable and accessible [3]. This will affect both
the user and the border checkpoints. As a result of the issues with paper passports, it has been
discovered that there is a rise of use of falsified paper passports by drug cartels and illegal
immigrants. They use a variety of approaches, including photo substitution combined with
data manipulation and look-alike fraud.

Due to the added security that e-Passports can provide, if they are used correctly, illegal
travellers ceases to use falsified passport although they can try to cheat the border control
system, they will be caught either with look-alike fraud on original documents or attempting
to cheat the issuance process in in the passport offices trying to be illegally issued an original
authentic e-Passports [1]. Zimbabwe is currently experiencing high crime rates that, it is
possible for as person to commit crimes and flee to another country before being arrested or
brought to justice. Thus by adopting e-passports, the aforementioned issues will be resolved,
if this system, is installed, linking it to the country's Criminal Investigation Department
(CID), so that a notification can be sent to airports and all border checkpoints with the
information of the people on the wanted list as well as those being investigated, this reduces
the likelihood of criminals flying out of the country.

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Another issue with traditional passport booklets is that the pages are insufficient for business
travellers who travel frequently, forcing them to apply for new passports when their current
ones run out of pages before their passports expire. This raises the stamping issue which is
currently used in the traditional paper passport booklet. The passport holder is authorised to
pass at border checkpoints and the booklet is stamped, showing the amount of time they are
permitted to be in a foreign country. In this project it is assumed that at the immigration
offices and border controls checkpoints will issue receipts instead and the e-passport
travellers will be given these receipts when they are authorised to pass to the other country.
They will be issued a receipt to keep wherever they go to the other country. The document
must state that the holder of an e-passport card holder given entrance to a foreign country for
a specified period of time. [4]

Furthermore in Zimbabwe it takes a lot of time when replacing a passport that has been stolen
or lost, but implementing RFID system will make the process faster. The processing time will
be greatly reduced while the traditional inspection requires information to be inputted
manually. [5]

1.5 Aim of Study

To create a prototype that works in the same way as e-passport booklets, except instead of
using paper passport booklets, RFID cards are used. The purpose is to strengthen the bond
between the passport and its bearer in order to increase passport security.

1.6 Objectives
•To develop an electronic passport system using RFID cards.

•To prevent the same person from taking passports multiple times.

• To make it almost impossible to alter documents.

•To strengthen the detection of imposters.

• To prevent identity theft, reduce forgery, duplicate data entry, look-alike fraud, and photo
substitution.

• To make border control points move faster.

•To provide affordable solutions through the adoption of e-passports in Zimbabwe.

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1.7 Literature Review
The RFID e-passport incorporates two types of technologies that are biometrics and RFID in
order to verify and safely identify the owner of the passport. This chapter has brief
acknowledgement of similar work and quote similar work done so far on the electronic
passports and RFID technology and further explain how the project differ from all these
works.

The idea of e-passport is quite known and is being used in a number of American and
European nations and a numerous studies have been carried out globally as a result of their
introduction in the nations. [6][7][8] Talked about how to implement the passport system
effectively using many biometrics and cryptographic security. [2] Claims an identification
document like an e-passport contains pertinent biometric and biographic data about its bearer
on paper as well as having this data embedded cryptographic functional chip like the RFID
chip. [2] This project on the other hand seeks to eliminate the design of a conventional
passport with a contact chip or an RFID chip which is embedded in favour of simply using an
RFID card. The process of checking if the passport is genuine that is the authentication
process involves two steps which are verification and the registration. When registering the
applicant registers their biometrics being supervised by a human and the information is stored
on the e-passport card and is saved in a centralised database system and should not be
duplicated on the paper of the passport. The data can only be accessible to authorised staff at
the border checkpoints. In order to determine whether the person appearing in front matches
what the system is presenting they will need to use eyes to compare the two physically. The
American paper passport will have an RFID card placed at the cover, this card will be having
the details which are on the biographic information page. [9] This project makes the case that
since both the chip and the paper passport booklet contains the same data then why not just
use one device, the RFID card to store all the data since they are easier to replace if the get
stolen or lost and are more portable than the booklets. The technology and operating principle
used by the Chip and RFID card are identical. Without doubt the RFID card will need to have
a robust security measures in place to prevent data alteration and skimming.

This project would like to take into account that the card should be written many times in
order to continuously update the system photos of the card holder from time to time specified
by the passport office. The chips that are used in American electronic passport can never be
changed after they are produced. The type of RFID governs the use of the card and for this
project the low frequency cards with a small read distance are appropriate. The Faradays

4
Cage can be used to prevent the chips or cards from being read from more than a few
centimetres as they all use RFID technology. [10]

Given all of the information it is reasonable to draw the conclusion that using an RFID based
electronic passport system will make it difficult for skilled counterfeit to change the
information in the card. The matching of information after the card has been stolen would be
almost impossible.

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References
[1] N. D, Warsaw [online] Statewatch.org. Available at:
<https://www.statewatch.org/media/2144/eu-frontex-security-electronic-passports-study-
2011.pdf> [Accessed 2 January 2022].

[2] V. K. Srinivasan and K. Narendira, “Design and Implementation of E-Passport Scheme

Using Cryptographic Algorithm along with Multimodal Biometrics Technology. International
Journal of Advanced Information Technology, (IJAIT), vol. 1, no. 6, p. 35, 2011.

[3] B. Clay, 2014. Royal Institute of Technology Systems Theory and Security – IV2036.
[online] SlideServe. Available at: <https://www.slideserve.com/belle/royal institute-of-
technology-systems-theory-and-security-iv2036> [Accessed 3 January 2022].

[4] S, Guan. T, Wang. and S, Ong. Migration control for mobile agents based on passport
and visa. Future Generation Computer Systems, 19(2), pp.173-186, 2003.

[5] B. D. M Semir UZUN, “Smart Card System’’ [online] Engpaper.net. Available at:
<https://www.engpaper.net/smart-card-system.htm> [Accessed 2 January 2022].

[6] A. Rana and L. Sportiello, “Implementation of security and privacy in ePassports,”

International Journal of critical infrastructure protection, vol. 7, p. 233–243, 2014.

[7] A. B. Jeng and L. Y. Chen, “How to enhance the security of ePassport‟,” Proceedings of
the Eighth International Conference on Machine Learning and Cybernetics, 2009.

[8] G. Avoine, K. Kalach and J. J. Quisquarter, ePassport: Securing International Contacts

with Contactless Chips, Belgium: Louvain-la-Neuve, 2008.

[9] B. Brianne Christine Vollmer, “BIOMETRICS, RFID TECHNOLOGY, AND THE

EPASSPORT,” Washington, DC, 2006.

[10] S. Ahson, And M Ilyas, “RFID handbook.” p.482, 2017.

6
 CHAPTER 2

THEORETICAL ASPECTS

2.1 Introduction
This chapter covers in detail the descriptions of various types of the components, their
operations, and applications used in the design of the prototype of the RFID-based E-
Passport.

2.1.1 RFID System

RFID system is a Radio Frequency Identification which uses wireless technology to allow
items, animals or humans to be uniquely identified. With RFID, identification is possible
without direct line of sight. The RFID system is made up of RFID reader, an RFID tag, or
card a computer database, and a central control unit. There are two major types of RFID
systems which are active and passive. RFID reader and RFID card exchange information
using interrogation of the card. [1]

2.1.2 RFID Cards

RFID tags are made up of a small integrated circuit and a reader antenna which are stamped,
etched or printed into a base that is usually a substrate of a paper made of polyethylene
terephthalate. The inside layer consists of an antenna and a chip combined, and is placed
between the printed labels and is housed in a more robust structure. [2]

The card is made up of, a memory unit, a radio frequency chip, an antenna unit, and encoding
and decoding circuitry. [3]

Cards are classified as active, semi-active or passive depending on their power capacity.
Table 2.1 shows how these classifications differ. [3]

Table 2. 1 Classifies cards based on their power capacity

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Cards can be classified depending on their communication frequency. The card and the reader
communication frequency determine the read range, energy, and size of the card.

An example of an RFID card that will be used in the prototype of this project is shown in
Figure 2-1 below.

Figure 2. 1 RFID card used in the prototype

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2.1.3 RFID Reader
This is an electronic device which reads data from the RFID card. RFID reader also referred
to as an interrogator connects data from cards to software which requires the data. [4] RFID
reader can be seen in Figure 2.2 below.

Figure 2. 2 RFID Reader

The RFID reader extracts the information from the cards using an attached antenna before
sending it to a host computer to be processed further.

2.1.4 Reader antennas

They covert current into electromagnetic waves which are then send into space, and they are
picked up by the card antenna and converted to current again.

9
Two types of reader antenna that are most frequently used are:

i. Linear antennas
 These emit linear electric fields.
 Long ranges
 Because of power levels, these signals can penetrate various materials and read
RFID cards.
 Sensitive to the orientation of the card
 Depending on the angle or placement of the card, they might find it challenging
to read.

ii. Circular polarized antennas

 Radiate circular electric fields.
 They have less sensitivity to orientation
 Compared to linear antennas, circular polarized antennas have lower power
output.

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2.1.4 RFID Systems Operating Frequencies
Cards are classified as Low Frequency (LF), High Frequency (HF) and Ultra-High
Frequencies (UHF) depending on their operating frequencies. Figure 2.3 and Table 2.2 below
shows how these classifications differ. [3]

Figure 2. 3 RFID cards operating frequencies classifications

Table 2. 2 RFID cards differences in operating frequencies.

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High-frequency tags are the most common, they are commonly used for data transfer
applications, payment, and, ticketing. [5] RFID systems data rate and read range are
determined by these operating frequencies. A passive RFID card operating range is up to
approximately 30 centimetre for LF, 1 meter for HF, and 12 meters for UHF cards. However,
an active card operating distance is up to 100 meters because the card does not depend on the
reader since it powers its own internal circuitry to send electromagnetic signals.

2.1.5 RFID System Working Principle

The structure consists of three components:

 A coil or antenna.

 Transponder (RFID card) with unique information electronically programmed.

 The transceiver.

These elements communicate through unidirectional or bidirectional radio signals. When a

transponder enters the red zone, the reader captures its contents, which can then be
transferred to host devices like computers or programmable logic controllers for storage or
processing using standard interfaces.

Figure 2. 4 Figure 2.4 RFID System Working Principle

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2.1.6 Merits of RFID systems
 Human errors in data collection are eliminated by tag detection that does not require human
intervention.

 Since there is no need for a line of sight, there are fewer restrictions on where to place the
tags.

 RFID makes it simple to implement distinct item identification.

 RFID allows items to be identified individually rather than generic.

 Tags are less susceptible to adverse environmental conditions like physical damage,
chemicals, dust, and so on, implying that they can withstand harsh environmental conditions.

 RFID tags and sensors can be combined

 Can be used in real time tracking of people, equipment, and objects.

2.1.7 Demerits
 Production errors in tags. Up until now, tag production has not been completely error free

 Collision. When multiple cards are read at once the chance of signal collision increases
causing subsequent loss of data.

 Lack of standardization. There are no standards for the communication protocols, format
and quantity of data that can be stored in tags. [6]

2.1.8 RFID-based e-passport working principle

The RFID system will allow the e-passport prototype to store passport holder information on
an RFID card which is a mobile and portable device. An RFID reader will read this RFID
card and process the data to determine who the owner of the e-passport is.

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2.2 Arduino Uno board

Figure 2. 5 Arduino Uno Board

The Arduino to be used in the prototype is an ATmega 328P based microcontroller board. It
has 6 analog inputs, 14 digital pins, 16 MHz quartz crystal, ICSP header, power jack, USB
port and a reset button. An Arduino board is shown in Figure 2.5. To get started connect AC
to DC adapter from Arduino to battery or use a USB cable to connect to a computer. [3]

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2.2.1 Arduino Uno Board technical specifications
Table 2. 3 Arduino Uno Board technical specifications

Labelled Arduino Uno is shown in Figure 2.6

Figure 2. 6 Labelled Arduino Uno

This is the Arduino microcontroller board that is used in the e-passport prototype. The board
has two power output levels: 3.3V and 5.0V

2.3 LEDs
LED is an abbreviation for Light Emitting Diode. An LED is a simple but vital device with 2
terminals: positive and negative [7]. It is a light-producing component classified as an active
semiconductor component. [8] If the LED’s internal diode junction receives a forward

15
electric voltage or current, the LED emits visible or invisible light equitable to the current
flowing. [9] LEDs are shown in Figure 2.7 below.

Figure 2. 7 Typical LEDs

A LED emits visible light in the colours green, red, yellow and orange. The invisible light is
emitted as infrared light.

2.3.1 LED Circuit Symbol

Figure 2. 8 Circuit Symbol of a LED

2.3.2 LED Characteristics

Figure 2. 9 Characteristics Curves of an LED

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To produce a significant forward current, the forward bias must be at least 1 volt.

2.3.3 LED Basic Operation

In a forward biased LED the electrons move from n-type to p-type through the PN junction to
combine with holes as shown in Figure 2.10. The jumping electrons are found in the
conduction band and holes are in the valence band therefore electrons have more energy
compared to holes which are at a lower energy level.

Figure 2. 10 Electrons and holes recombining in a forward biased LED

For the electrons and hole to recombine, a portion of the energy is lost. Heat and light energy
are released the moment recombination occurs. The photons can be emitted as visible light if
a large surface area of the semiconductor material is exposed. This is known as
electroluminescence which is emission of light from a semiconductor when subjected to an
electrical field. The wavelength of the light emitted is determined by the addition of various
impurities during the doping process. The wavelength determines whether the light is visible
or infrared. [10]

2.3.4 Advantages of LEDs

 Very minimal voltage and current are required to power the LED.
 The response time is very quick.
 Because of their tough design, they can withstand shocks and vibrations.
 Light in weight since they are little in size.
 They have a lifespan of more than 25 years.
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2.3.5 Disadvantages of LEDs
 A small increase in voltage or current can kill the device.
 LEDs have a significantly wider bandwidth than lasers.
 The radiation output power or wavelength determines the temperature.

2.5 LCD
Liquid crystal display (LCD) is an electronic visual display that uses liquid crystals and it has
properties which modulates light. It is made up of two states combined, that is liquid and
solid states and these states are maintained with regard to one another. Both liquid and solid
characteristics are found in LCDs. Liquid crystal do not directly emit light. [11]

LCDs show fixed or arbitrary low information images that can be displayed such as 7-
segment displays like those found digitals clocks, digits and characters of a word. [12]

Figure 2. 11 LCD Display

2.5.1 How LCDs work

The fundamental idea behind this is that the liquid crystal molecules untwist the movement
electric current is applied. The top polarizing filter angle shifts with respect to the liquid
crystal molecule. As a result, only a small amount of light can pass through that area of the
LCD, making it appear darker than the surrounding areas. [13]

In the back, a reflective mirror is set up to create the LCD screen. Additionally, an electrode
plan is positioned on the top. Indium oxide is used to create the plane. The glass with
polarizing film is attached at the bottom. A liquid crystal substance is placed on top of the

18
common electrode which covers the entire LCD area. It is then followed by a second piece of
glass that has a second polarizing film on top and a rectangular shaped electrode at the
bottom .They are both kept at right angle. This is shown illustrated in Figure 2.15 below.

Figure 2. 12 How LCDs Work [13]

When there is no current, the mirror reflects and bounces back light which passes through the
screen of the LCD. The electrode is temporarily connected to a power supply and as the
current flowing through causes the liquid crystals in plane electrode and rectangle shaped
electrode to untwist. Therefore light cannot pass through and the rectangular area appears
bank. [13]

2.6 Buzzer
A buzzer is an audio communication electrical component that can be piezoelectric,
electromechanical or mechanical,. These are frequently used as timers, alarm clocks, training
aids, and confirmations of user input like mouse clicks or keystrokes. [14] Figure 2.17 shows
a picture of a buzzer.

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 Figure 2. 13 Buzzer

The operating voltage of a buzzer is 5 volts

2.7 Fingerprint Sensor

A fingerprint sensor captures a picture of the fingerprint. This live scan picture is processed
which is stored as a biometric template which will be used for finger matching a collection of
extracted features that is saved and used for matching. [15] Ultrasound fingerprint scanners
work by penetrating the outer (epidermal) layer of the skin with high-frequency sound waves.
For login authentication and user identification on computers, fingerprint sensors can be used.
[16] An example of a fingerprint sensor is shown in Figure 2.17 below.

Figure 2. 14 Fingerprint Sensor

The following table shows the specifications for a fingerprint scanner

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Table 2. 4 Technical specifications of a fingerprint scanner.

2.8 Resistors
A resistor is type of electronic component that functions by creating a voltage drop between
its ends relative to current in order to resist the flow of electricity. Thus the resistor reduces
the voltage that enters it by slowing the flow of current. They are made of a variety of
materials, including carbon and metal. In comparison to carbon ones, which are less
expensive, metal ones are more precise and have less noise. Resistors are typically used as
voltage dividers, current limiters, and to pull up Input /Output lines. In this project the
resistors are used to protect the LED by limiting the current flow since they are sensitive to
high currents. There are many different types of resistors which include the potentiometer and
photo resistors (photocells). Resistors are colour coded with colours stripes because they
small in size

Figure 2. 15 Typical Resistors

Resistance can also be represented as a symbol and is expressed in in ohms. The following
formula is used to calculate the resistance of the resistor.

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Vs. is the voltage of the power supply, Vf is the forward voltage of the resistor and I the
current flowing through the resistor. The equation was derived from Ohms law. Ohm’s states
that the flow of current between two points in a current carrying wire is directly proportional
to the voltage between those points, resistance being the constant of proportionality [17].

References
[1] I. R. A. a. N. B. Ithnin, Users Authentication and Privacy control of RFID Card.

[2] B. Divya, "LOW POWER RFID WIRELESS SENSOR FOR SMART," International

Journal of Infinite Innovations in Engineering and Technology, vol. II, no. 1, 2015.

[3] I. R. A. N. B. Ithnin, Users Authentication and Privacy control of RFID Card, Universiti
Teknologi Malaysia.

[4] T. G. a. H. L. Qinghan Xiao, "RFID Technology, Security Vulnerabilities," in Supply

Chain, The Way to Flat Organisation , Vienna, Austria, I-Tech, 2008, p. 404.

[5] V. S. A. B. V. H. Aadesh Kamble, "Automatic Toll Collection Systems using WSN

(RFID)," IJSRD - International Journal for Scientific Research & Development, vol. III, no.
04, p. 6, 2015.

[6 Kaur, M., Sandhu, M., Mohan, N. and Sandhu, P., RFID Technology Principles,
Advantages, Limitations & Its Applications. International Journal of Computer and Electrical
Engineering, vol. III, no. 1, 2011.

[7] A. R. Humbley, Electrical Engineering Principles and Application, Prentice Hall.

[8] "Internal Functioning of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) Explained,"

brighthubengineering.com, 2012. [Online]. [Accessed 14 March 2022].

[9] "How a LED works – Light Emitting Diode working," 2015 CircuitsToday, 2015.

[Online]. Available: www.CircuitsToday.com. [Accessed 17 March 2022].

[10] T. L. Floyd, Electronic Devices, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2005.

[11] [Online]. Available: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lcd.

[12] "LCD display," INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH SCIENCE &

MANAGEMENT, vol. III, no. 02, p. 52, 2016.

22
[13] "Liquid Crystal Displays (LCD) - Working," [Online]. Available:
www.circuitstoday.com/liquid-crystal-displays-lcd-working. [Accessed 24 March 2022].

[14] [Online]. Available: www.electronicdefinitions.com/definition.php?defid=2474.

[Accessed 20 March 2022].

[15] "Fingerprint recognition," [Online]. Available: 25

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fingerprint_recognition. [Accessed 20 March 2022].

[16] "Know about Fingerprint Authentication based identification for Operating Loads,"
EDGEFX.IN, [Online]. Available: www.edgefx.in/fingerprint_authentication-and-
controlling-system-using-microcontroller/. [Accessed 20 March 2022].

[17] E. R. Melgar and C. C. Diez, Arduino and Kinetic Projects, New York: Apress, 2012.

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 CHAPTER 3

METHODOLOGY

3.1 Introduction
This chapter describes in detail the methodology used in the design of the prototype. It goes
over various methods used to collect data for the project. It focuses on prototype design,
technics used in gathering information, requirement analysis of the system, and
specifications.

3.2 Data Collection

1 Method of Participation
Field visits to passport offices were conducted, and information on the current system for
issuing passports to individuals was gathered. The borders to the neighbouring countries were
visited while visiting neighbouring countries first-hand information was obtained at border
checkpoints. The information obtained includes a sequence of events that takes place using
the traditional passport booklet.

2 Interviews
A worker from the Harare passport offices was consulted on many aspects of the passports
being issued.

The following questions were asked:

• Is the passport office compliant with International Civil Aviation Organization

(ICAO) regulations.
• The present passport system in Zimbabwe and how it operates?
• The features of Zimbabwe's passport nowadays?
• What kind of system is being used?

3 Online Material
Several online publications and journals were read for guidance in order to arrive at this
prototype design, with the main goal of building a suitable system that fully demonstrates
researched findings.

24
The data collected shows that the passport system used by Zimbabwe is outdated and
inefficient as it wastes time in queues and processing. It also shows that traditional passports
are less secure and expensive as they use the same paper used to make money.

3.3 System Structure

Hardware components in the overall structure of the system

 Arduino Uno board (ATmega 328P)

 RFID Cards

 RFID Reader

 LCD display

 Fingerprint Sensor

 LEDs

 Resistors

3.4 Pins Functions of the Arduino Uno board

Figure 3. 1 Arduino Uno board Pins [1]

The Arduino Uno is interfaced to the components with jumper wires through pins which have
different functions.

25
Table 3. 1 Functions of the pins on Arduino Uno board

3.5 Interfacing the RFID Reader to the Arduino Uno

The RC522 RFID reader type used. The reader has eight pins and only 7 are used and the
power supply is restricted to 3.3 volts otherwise the module burns. The pins are connected to
the reader as follows:

3.3V 3.3V

GND GND

RST D9

SDA D10

MOSI D11

MISO D12

SCK D13

26
 Figure 3. 2 Interfacing the RC522 RFID Reader to the Arduino Uno

3.6 Interfacing the LCD display to the Arduino Uno

The LCD used in the prototype is a 16x2 LCD with an I2C connected to reduce the number
of pins from 16 pins to four pins. The connections are:

VCC 5V

GND GND

SCL A4

SDA A5

27
 Figure 3. 3 Interfacing the LCD display to the Arduino Uno

3.7 Interfacing Fingerprint Sensor to the Arduino Uno

The fingerprint sensor used is an optical fingerprint sensor and it has six wires out of which
four are used for data and power supply. The connections are:

Red 5V

Black GND

Green D2

White D3

28
 Figure 3. 4 Interfacing Fingerprint Sensor to the Arduino Uno

3.8 Interfacing a buzzer and LEDs to the Arduino Uno

A green and a red LEDs are used for signalling valid an invalid cards respectively, the long
leg of red LED is connected to pin 5 and the green one is connected to pin 7 of the Arduino
through 220 ohm resistors while both of their short legs are grounded. The buzzer has two
pins, the long leg goes to pin 9 of the Arduino and the short leg is grounded.

Figure 3. 5 Interfacing a buzzer and LEDs to the Arduino Uno

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3.9 Software Description
The Arduino Uno board which has a microcontroller was used in programming the entire e-
passport system using the embedded C programming language so that once the system is
connected to PC, the RFID e-passport cardholder that they are welcome and indicates the
instruction to swipe their card.

3.10 System Block Diagram

Figure 3. 6 System Block Diagram

3.11 Data Flowchart Diagram

Figure 3.8 shows the flow of events from when the e-passport cardholder scans the card to
when they are authorised to pass the border checkpoint.

30
 C
R Ha
R
P
a
NO

YES
Q

Pass

YES
Q
NO
Che

Ent
I

Figure 3. 7 Data flow diagram of the process at the border checkpoint

31
References
[1] “Starting Electronics,” 31 July 2012. [Online]. Available:
http://startingelectronics.org/beginners/start-electronics-now/tut3-starting-with-arduino/.
[Accessed May 2022].

32
 Chapter 4

Results and Discussions

4.1 Introduction
The results of data analysis of the prototype system are compared to the system already used
in Zimbabwe in this chapter. Schematic diagrams, pictures, and tables are used to present
results from the circuit test operation.

4.2 Schematic Design and System Operations

Figure 4. 1 Schematic diagram for RFID E-Passports

Figure 4.1 above shows a schematic diagram taken from the design of the system prototype.

33
 Figure 4. 2 Results for E-Passport card 1

The above Figure 4.1 shows serial monitor results of a valid RFID electronic passport after
scanning the passport card and confirming the identity of the cardholder with a biometric
fingerprint. These results are also displayed on the LCD and signified by turning on the green
led.

Figure 4. 3 Results for E-Passport card 2

34
Figure 4.2 shows the results of the second passport card. The result shows that the card is also
valid, which means that the system recognizes the card, and its information is kept in the
system and is displayed once the card has been scanned.

Figure 4. 4 Results for E-Passport card 3

Figure 4.3 shows the results of the third card which is invalid and is not recognized by the
system. The red led on the prototype turns on to signify that the card is not valid and is
displayed on the LCD. This is the result obtained for any card whose information has not
been stored in the system.

4.3 RFID Reader Response

Three RFID cards were used and all 3 were read by the MFRC522 RFID reader, resulting in
RFID reader response of hundred percent RFID reader response. Two of the 3 cards were
found valid, while the third was invalid. When the 2 valid cards were scanned, their validity
was indicated by a green diode and the invalid card was indicated by a red diode. The
response rate is sufficient to guarantee reliability and efficiency of the MFRC522 RFID
reader used in the design of the prototype.

35
4.4 Analysis
The system demonstrates clearly that all passport information will be stored electronically,
reducing forgery, identity duplication and theft as well as other major issues associated with
traditional passport booklets. The prototype also demonstrates that the cardholder’s details
can be updated continuously without encountering any challenges. RFID cards can quickly be
read without difficulty as soon as they enter the reader’s electromagnetic field zone, and the
card details are displayed on the monitor in less than a second. As a result, the system saves
time while also providing enhanced border control. Any RFID cards that were not previously
saved in the system database were not identified by the system. If anyone presents an
unregistered RFID card to the system, it is certain that the system will not recognize it. The e-
passport system, as shown in the available prototype demonstration is user friendly and easy
to learn. The system technology is compatible with Zimbabwe’s current passport system
which uses central electronic database found at Registry’s department. Making it easy to
implement e-passport system by integrating it into the existing system. The welcome
information as well as the e-passport card details was clearly displayed on the LCD although
the MFRC522 reader used in the prototype does not have an on or off enable pin. A delay
function was added to solve the looping effect, which ensures the RFID tags are only read
once when they are scanned quickly. The cards were scanned quickly but one must pose the
card on the reader for second in order for the antenna to read it. Positive results were obtained
from the project as the monitor displayed passport information without any problems.

4.5 E-passport prototype views

The following are concerning issues to the available prototype.

If RFID cards are implemented how will they be distinguished from one another? When these
cards are implemented the holder’s image may be printed on the card for identification
purposes.

How efficient is it? What are the chances that a person travels to another country only to find
out that the card is not working while they are at the border checkpoint? Using the results of
this project this in unlikely to occur because the RFID cards used to test the functionality of
this project had a 100% response rate.

How secure is it? The system will be secure as demonstrated by the prototype because the
holder’s information will be electronically stored in a safe database.

36
How will the receipting system which shows that one has lawfully entered a foreign country
work? This is because we are in a world where most things are becoming digital and the
paper system is slowly phased out entirely. Therefore departments like the police should have
checkpoints that can access the data on e-passport cards. However, this lowers the security
and privacy of the cardholder since there will be access to receipt information on the card.

4.6 Observed Technical issues from the e-passport prototype

The prototype had some technical issues:

This project will require expert verification analysis after it is implemented.

A manual verification system must be used to maintain and improve data integrity.

 The possibility of unauthorized remote access to RFID cards.

Prior to implementation, these should also be taken into account and further researched.
Contact-based technologies could be considered as well.

4.7 Chapter Summary

This chapter compared the prototype results to the current passport booklet system. This
chapter serves as the foundation for the project’s conclusions and recommendations. The
following chapter contains areas of future research, recommendations and conclusions.

37
 CHAPTER 5

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 Introduction
Recommendations based on this project as well as conclusions derived from the working
principles of E-Passport demonstrated by the prototype are provided in this chapter.

5.2 Summary of the Results

The project prototype for RFID-based passports worked. Biographic information and
personal details of the E-passport holders were stored and retrieved electronically without
challenges. The system ensures privacy by giving access to electric information only to
authorized personnel. The project eliminated common problems like data duplication and
look-alike fraud ensuring tight security. RFID cards have a quick response time and traffic
and people delayed at border checkpoints will be less.

5.3 Passport Issuance System currently being used

On December 15, 2021, Zimbabwe introduced an electronic passport that meets the
International passport standard and modernization. The passport is a conventional booklet
with a chip inside and requires paper to be printed. After application the applier has to wait
for at least a week for a regular passport to be produced. [1] Table 5.1 contains the factors
considered by the Zimbabwean in its passport system.

Table 2. 5 Factors considered by Zimbabwe in Passport System

38
On the Henley Visa Restrictions Index list, Zimbabwean citizens have access to 65 countries
and territories without a visa or with one upon arrival, placing their passport at number 78 in
terms of travel freedom. [2] The conclusion that can be drawn from comparing the current
system of passport issuance with this project is that it will be simple to alter the current IT
infrastructure for passports in order to implement this project. .This is because Zimbabwe
already has an e-passport system.

5.4 Anticipated Challenges in the implementation of the E-

Passport System

5.4.1 Poor Information Technology Infrastructure

To install the entire e-passport system in the passport issuing offices a massive investment in
software and hardware should be done. This means modifying the already existing LAN
infrastructure, installing, integrating, reorganizing, and coordinating the world system of
technologies. Because only a small sample of RFID cards was used with the prototype
system, when dealing with a larger scale causes the system become slow and unstable at the
beginning after the system has been installed. Whereas the actual system will be dealing with
millions of RFID cards, a risk must be considered before the system is installed.

5.4.2 Un-readiness of people to adopt new systems

Human mind is afraid of the unknown hence they might have doubts and ask themselves
questions like; what if the system does not reach the expected functionality. This can be a
major setback for the adoption to the new system. Furthermore, people may be resistant to
changes including staff at border controls and passport offices, which could make the e-
passport system difficult to adopt. Cultural differences are also another factor that could
prevent the e-passport system from becoming widely adopted.

5.4.3 Security
The increased connectivity has resulted in a decrease in data security, and security concerns
are restricting the advancement of e-commerce systems. [3]

5.5 Recommendations
When these e-passports are deployed, a Faraday cage should be used in conjunction with
Basic Access Control to prevent unauthorized remote reading. This project can be improved
39
by the use of a fingerprint scanner that can be used by border officials in real-time for the
identity verification of individuals. The data from the fingerprint scanner is then sent to a
microcontroller and compared to the fingerprint already stored in the user’s template. If it
matches the card’s template the LCD shows that it is valid and the cardholder is authorized to
pass. This system can also be used as a secure access system in highly valued places where
only authorized personnel are allowed to enter. Other technologies, aside from RFID, that
could be used in the advancement of this e-passport and do not compromise the data of the
user should be further researched.

5.6 Future Study Areas

As predicted in the ICAO standards, RFID e-passports are have a promising chance to be
used not only in airports but also in some areas such as e-Commerce. These e-passports may
also provide useful knowledge which can be used to build more secure and private identity
platforms in the future. [4] As a result, another area of research could be the future use of e-
passports. It is also necessary to explore the issue of e-passports serving as e-IDs. According
to the article published in Newsday on July 23, 2014, Tobaiwa Mudede, the former
Registrar-General suggested that the current plastic IDs to be used as passports. If this
technology can be developed these RFID cards can act as the e-IDs, serving dual purposes.
Combing visas with e-passports should also be looked into. Another area that can also be
researched in the future is the implementation of these visas in conjunction with e-passports.

5.7 Conclusions
Serving people effectively is the primary goal of the Registrar General’s Department. This
includes the passport office and security is the top priority. This project supports the
department’s major goals by providing a faster and more efficient method of issuing
passports to the Zimbabwean citizens. Even though the process of issuing passports has
improved in recent months, a more rapid and efficient method will be used and passports will
be issued the same day they were applied reducing the waiting period to a few hours from the
usual minimum one week of the regular traditional passport booklet.

40
References
[1] Machivenyika, F. Muhamba, K. “E-passport launch marks another milestone” The
Herald. [Accessed 30 June 2022.]

[2] Henley "Global Ranking - Visa Restriction Index 2017"

[3] M. Attaran, “Catch the wave of e-procurement,” Industrial Management, vol. III, no. 11,
pp. 33- 40, 2001.

[4] A. Juels, D. Molnar and D. Wagner, Security and Privacy Issues in E-passports.

41