UNIVERSITY OF DAR ES SALAAM

COLLEGE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES

(CoICT)

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATION

ENGINEERING

(ETE)

PRACTICAL TRAINING REPORT

REPORT TITLE: WIRELESS DIGITAL SCALE USING BLUETOOTH LOW ENERGY (BLE)

Student Name: BWIRE, APRIAN T

Reg. No.: 2020-04-00936

Course BSc. In Telecommunication Engineering

Practical Training Year: PT 3

Company/organization name: E-GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY

Training Officer´s Name: DR. JAHA MVULLA

Academic Supervisor’s Name: DR. GODFREY CHUGULU

 DISCLAIMER:

This work includes Ideas, designs and source codes that originated from the e-Government
Authority (e-GA) Research and Innovation Development Centre (e-GovRIDC). Students were
allowed to work on them as part of the Industrial / Practical Training experience.
For any furtherwork based on it, e-GA should be consulted first to provide a go-ahead.

NOTE: That all work including ideas, design and source codes accessed during practical training
under the Center are the property of the Government managed by e-Government Authority and
therefore they cannot be used or further developed without the consent of e-Government
Authority.

DR. JAHA MVULLA,

MANAGER, eGovRIDC

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 DECLARATION

I, Bwire, Aprian Thomas with registration number 2020-04-00936, hereby declare that I have
prepared this report with the knowledge gained during the Practical Training period of 8 weeks
at e-Government Authority (e-GA) as according to the regulations of the College of Information
and Communication Technologies of the University of Dar es Salaam so as to accomplish the
curriculum requirement of Bachelor of Science in Telecommunication Engineering.

The report written is based on my practical experience throughout the time period I have been at
the institution and it follows all guidelines and principles and in no way whatsoever is the
content of this report taken from uncredited sources.

APRIAN BWIRE DR. JAHA MVULLA

(STUDENT) (MANAGER (e-GovRIDC)

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 ABSTRACT

This report consists of the activities and assignments conducted during my time at e-Government
Authority specifically in the project I was entrusted with. This report consists of four chapters:

● CHAPTER ONE. Is where the problem is identified, explaining the background

of the problem, the problem statement the objectives and rationale of the project.
● CHAPTER TWO. The project requirements including the functional and non-
functional requirements.
● CHAPTER THREE. The project implementation, explaining the architecture and
the user interface design.
● CHAPTER FOUR. The project benefits and challenges.

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 ACKNOWLEDGMENT

During my practical training at e-GA, I had the opportunity to actively engage in various projects, tasks
and responsibilities, all of which have contributed significantly to my professional growth and
development.Through these experiences, I have honed my technical skills, problem-solving abilities,
and project management acumen, preparing me for a successful career in the dynamic and ever-evolving
field of telecommunication engineering.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the College of Information and Communication Technologies of the
University of Dar es Salaam for providing me with the platform and guidance to embark on this
educational journey. I am also profoundly thankful to the dedicated faculty members who have imparted
their knowledge and expertise, helping me navigate the complexities of this discipline.

Furthermore, I wish to express my deepest appreciation to the e-Government Authority (e-GA) for their
unwavering support, mentorship, and the real-world exposure they have afforded me during my practical
training. The insights and experiences gained at e-GA have been pivotal in shaping my understanding of
the information technology industry and its practical applications in the real world.
I would like to thank Dr. Jaha Mvulla for being a great leader and mentor to us ensuring that we have a
good working environment and equipping us with necessary resources for the accomplishment of our
projects.

Bwire Aprian Thomas

Registration Number: 2020-04-00936
Date: 28/09/2023

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Contents
DISCLAIMER: ............................................................................................................................................................................ 1

DECLARATION ......................................................................................................................................................................... 2

ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................................................................. 3

ACKNOWLEDGMENT ............................................................................................................................................................. 4

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS...................................................................................................................................................... 6

LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................................................................................... 7

CHAPTER ONE: PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION ................................................................................................................. 8

1.1 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................................... 8
1.2 BACKGROUND ........................................................................................................................................................ 8
1.3 PROBLEM STATEMENT........................................................................................................................................ 8
1.4 OBJECTIVES ............................................................................................................................................................ 9
I. Main Objective ........................................................................................................................................................... 9
II. Specific Objectives ..................................................................................................................................................... 9
1.5 RATIONALE OF THE PROJECT .......................................................................................................................... 9

CHAPTER TWO: PROJECT REQUIREMENTS ................................................................................................................ 10

2.1 FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS ....................................................................................................................... 10
2.2 NON-FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS ............................................................................................................. 11

CHAPTER THREE: PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION ....................................................................................................... 11

3.1 ARCHITECTURE ................................................................................................................................................... 11
a) HARDWARE ARCHITECTURE ........................................................................................................................ 11
b) SOFTWARE ARCHITECTURE .......................................................................................................................... 12
3.2 USER INTERFACE DESIGN ................................................................................................................................ 16

CHAPTER FOUR: PROJECT BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES ...................................................................................... 19

4.1 PROJECT BENEFITS ............................................................................................................................................ 19
4.2 PROJECT CHALLENGES .................................................................................................................................... 20
REFERENCES ...................................................................................................................................................................... 21

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 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

e-GA – e-Government Authority

e-GovRIDC – e-Government Research, Innovation and Development Centre

BDS – Bluetooth Digital Scale

ICT – Information and Communication Technology

SDK – Software Development Kit

DB – Database

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 LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1 Hardware Architecture............................................................................................................................................ 12

Figure 2 Digital Scale Architecture ....................................................................................................................................... 14
Figure 3 The BDS Software flowchart .................................................................................................................................. 15
Figure 4 Use Case Diagram for BDS .................................................................................................................................... 16
Figure 5 Registration Interface.............................................................................................................................................. 17
Figure 6 Admin Dashboard ................................................................................................................................................... 17
Figure 7 Login Interface........................................................................................................................................................ 18
Figure 8 Farmer's Interface ................................................................................................................................................... 19

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 CHAPTER ONE: PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION

1.1 INTRODUCTION
The wireless digital scale is a device that provides wireless access to weight data,
enabling users to acquire, store, and manage their yield information digitally. The device
is to be used along with electronic data acquisition software running on mobile phones.
Bluetooth connectivity is for remote access of the weight data making the process of
weighing faster and semi-autonomous.

1.2 BACKGROUND
The Bluetooth digital scale project aims to revolutionize traditional weighing scales by
Integrating Bluetooth connectivity, enhancing convenience, and enabling seamless data
transmission between the scale and compatible devices. This innovation allows users to monitor
and manage weight-related data remotely, facilitating easier tracking of health metrics.

1.3 PROBLEM STATEMENT

Problem Statement:
In the agricultural sector, farmers' cooperative societies, individual farmers, and logistics companies
face challenges related to traditional weighing methods.
Manual weighing processes are time, consuming, error-prone, and inefficient, leading to inaccurate
yield measurements and data discrepancies.
Additionally, the lack of real-time access to weight data hinders timely decision making, logistics
planning, and market responsiveness. The absence of a modern and standardized weighing system
affects the transparency of the agricultural supply chain, leading to potential trust issues between
stakeholders.

Opportunity Statement:
The opportunity lies in the development of a Bluetooth-enabled Digital Mizani for Agricultural
Weighing, a comprehensive solution that addresses the limitations of traditional weighing methods.
By introducing a user-friendly mobile application and a high-precision digital scale device equipped
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 with Bluetooth connectivity, farmers' cooperative societies, individual farmers, and logistics
companies can achieve.

1.4 OBJECTIVES

I. Main Objective
The main objective of the Bluetooth-enabled Digital scale for Agricultural Weighing project
is to modernize agricultural weighing practices and provide wireless access to weight data,
benefiting farmers' cooperative societies, individual farmers, and logistics companies. The
project aims to improve efficiency, accuracy, and transparency in agricultural yield
measurements while promoting data-driven decision-making and sustainable farming
practices.

II. Specific Objectives

i. Create a user-friendly software application compatible with multiple platforms for
easy data access and management.
ii. Develop a robust and accurate digital scale device capable of measuring a wide
range of Agricultural yields.
iii. Enable seamless Bluetooth communication between the digital scale device and the
software App.
iv. Implement data security measures to ensure the privacy and integrity of users' yield
Information.
v. Facilitate real-time data sharing and analytics for cooperative societies, farmers, and
logistics companies.
vi. Enhance the efficiency and transparency of the agricultural weighing process

1.5 RATIONALE OF THE PROJECT

The project rationale for the Bluetooth-enabled Digital e-Mizani for Agricultural Weighing is
driven by several factors that address the challenges and opportunities in the agricultural sector.
Here are the key rationales behind the project:
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 • Modernization of Agricultural Practices: Traditional weighing methods in agricultural
settings often involve manual processes and paperwork, which can be time-consuming,
error-prone, and inefficient. Introducing a digital scale with Bluetooth connectivity and a
mobile app streamlines the weighing process, automates data collection, and brings a
modern touch to agricultural practices.
• Increased Efficiency and Accuracy: The use of a high-precision digital scale ensures more
accurate measurements of agricultural yields. By eliminating manual data entry and
automating the process, the potential for human errors is significantly reduced, leading to
more reliable yield data.
• Enhanced Transparency: The system fosters transparency in the agricultural supply chain.
By sharing aggregated yield data with relevant stakeholders, cooperative societies can
provide proof of fair-trade practices, sustainable sourcing, and accurate yield measurements,
building trust among consumers and investors.
• Data Analytics and Reporting: The mobile app's data analytics and reporting features enable
cooperative societies to gain valuable insights into yield trends, crop performance, and
productivity. This information can aid in optimizing agricultural practices, identifying areas
for improvement, and promoting sustainable farming methods.

CHAPTER TWO: PROJECT REQUIREMENTS

2.1 FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• The system should be able to weigh the agricultural crops in Kg

• The system should be able to calculate the approximate amount of humidity and dust
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 present in the yields.

• The system should be able to produce receipts to the farmers if they approve the results

• The system should be able to display a log to the farmer on his / her sales.

• The system should be able to register a farmer if not

2.2 NON-FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• The system should be available 24 hours, 7 days in a week

• The system must be easy to use.
• The system should be reliable.
• The system must be able to display accurate results within a short period of time.
• The receipts must contain the correct parameters
• Automatic saving system and strong security architecture

CHAPTER THREE: PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION

3.1 ARCHITECTURE
a) HARDWARE ARCHITECTURE
The hardware architecture of the Bluetooth-enabled digital scale system incorporates essential components to
ensure accurate weight measurement and seamless communication. The key hardware components include:
• Load Cell
• HX711 Load Cell Amplifier
• ESP32 Microcontroller
• Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Module

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 Figure 1 Hardware Architecture

b) SOFTWARE ARCHITECTURE

Web Application Processes

The web application component of the Bluetooth-enabled digital scale system plays a pivotal role in managing
farmers, corporate societies, and crop prices. It provides a centralized platform for administrators to oversee the
system's operations and perform key tasks.

User Registration
• Farmers Registration: The web application allows farmers to register their profiles by providing
essential details such as name, contact information, farm location, and other relevant information. The
registration process includes account verification mechanisms for data accuracy.
• Corporate Societies Registration: Corporate societies, as an integral part of the system, can also
register through the web application. Where details about their organization, including contact
information, location, and authorized representatives are added by the system admin.
User Management
Corporate Societies Management: Similar to farmer management, administrators can oversee corporate
societies' profiles.

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Crop Prices Management
• Price Data Entry: The web application allows administrators or authorized personnel to enter and
update crop prices. This data should include crop types, pricing information, moisture percentage, and
effective dates.
• Price Monitoring and Analytics: The application provides a dashboard to monitor and analyze crop
price trends over time. Users can view historical price data and gain insights into market fluctuations.

Reporting
• Generate Reports: The web application enables the generation of reports related to user registrations,
corporate society activities, and crop price changes. These reports can be exported in various formats for
further analysis.
Integration with Mobile App and Digital Scale
• Real-time Data Synchronization: The web application is integrated with the mobile app and digital
scale, allowing real-time synchronization of weight measurements and transaction data. This ensures that
all data collected from the field is securely stored and accessible through the web application

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 Figure 2 Digital Scale Architecture

Software Interface Flow Chart

In the logical design of the system, the flowchart maps all the process flow of the functioning and operation of
the proposed system. The figure below shows the flow chart of the software (Web App part) allowing personnel
and admin to interact with the system.

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THE FLOW CHART DIAGRAM

Figure 3 The BDS Software flowchart

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 HIGH LEVEL USE CASE DIAGRAM

Figure 4 Use Case Diagram for BDS

3.2 USER INTERFACE DESIGN

The user interface design illustrated by figures below models the functionality of the proposed system. They
illustrate how the users of the proposed system can interact with the system through the system’s user interface.

a) Registration Interface
The proposed system is capable of allowing users such as station personnel and admin to register
through the system by entering their credentials like name, e-mail address as well as password that
will be helpful and used to login after registration for further working activities.

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 Figure 5 Registration Interface

b) Admin Dashboard
Here the admin will be able to register and manage all corporate societies.

Figure 6 Admin Dashboard

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c) Login Interface
A system user such as station personnel and Admin will be able to login by entering their user
name and password they used when registering to the system.

Figure 7 Login Interface

d) Corporate Society Interface

This interface allows a specific corporate society to add their farmers and the specific crops they
want to buy also able to see their receipts sales.

e) Farmer’s Interface
This interface allows a specific Farmer to see all his or her crop sales receipts

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 Figure 8 Farmer's Interface

CHAPTER FOUR: PROJECT BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES

4.1 PROJECT BENEFITS

a. Improved efficiency
The use of a digital scale and mobile app streamlines the weighing process, reducing the time and effort
required for weighing agricultural yields

b. Accurate and Reliable Measurements

The high-precision digital scale ensures accurate and consistent weight measurements, minimizing errors
and discrepancies in yield data also it reduces the chances of farmers being exploited by companies that
deliberately forge the readings for their own profit

c. Real-time Data Access

The Bluetooth-enabled system provides real-time access to weight data through the software

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d. Transparency in the Supply Chain
By sharing aggregated yield data with relevant stakeholders, farmers' cooperative societies can promote
transparency in the agricultural supply chain

e. Improved Market Competitiveness and empowerment of Individual Farmers

With better data management and decision-making capabilities, farmers and cooperative societies can
enhance their market competitiveness.

4.2 PROJECT CHALLENGES

a. The Load cell can measure the weight of up to 5kg. Therefore, limiting the weight s to which it can be
measured.

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 REFERENCES

• ESP32 with Load Cell and HX711 Amplifier (Digital Scale)

https://randomnerdtutorials.com/esp32-load-cell-hx711/

• IoT Weighing Scale using Load cell HX711, ESP32, & New Blynk V2.0
https://www.electroniclinic.com/iot-weighing-scale-using-load-cell-hx711-esp32-new-blynk-v2-0/

• Avia HX711 Based Weight Scale Examples with Espressif ESP32, Arduino, and Bluetooth Low Energy
Interfacing
https://github.com/CalPlug/Espressif_ESP32-Scale/

• Weighing scale using HX711 and ESP32 for remote weight monitoring (by Bluetooth)
https://www.robotique.tech/robotics/weighing-scale-using-hx711-and-esp32/

• Bluetooth Low Energy Resources

https://easyeda.com/modules/bluetooth1_4ad8f757f00c4cc788cadc2369d8918d/

• Circuit Maker
https://circuitmaker.com/

• React native for mobile application development

https://reactnative.dev/docs

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