Introduction: JustTagin - Your Own Personal Electronic Tag That Secure Your Property

Have you ever forgotten where you put your phone, or have you ever worried about your property getting stolen by others? Many people worldwide live in places where they must be aware of where their phone, and their wallet all the time. This is not only annoying, but it is also threatening.

In Singapore, well-developed laws and regulations cover nearly all the behavior violating other people’s rights. Unfortunately, people in many other countries with less strict rules must find a way to solve this problem themselves.

Introducing the JustTAGin, a device that alerts you when your property is being stolen and helps track your property’s location as it is stolen or lost. By all means, this device reduces the risk of your property getting stolen, uses cheap materials to build, and is easy to use, what not build one right now with materials in your house?

(Photo from here)

Supplies

Tools:

  1. Computer (MacOS prefered)
  2. Type C to Type C cable 

Parts:

  1. Rubber bands x6
  2. Microbites x3 (Definition: The MicroBit is an open source hardware ARM-based embedded system designed by the BBC, you may purchase them from this link)
  3. 9V batteries x3
  4. Battery holder x3

Remember, we need at least all of these parts in order to make a whole system, JustinTagin involves one receiver, one detector, and the alarm itself.

Step 1: Set Up Your Codes 1

Go to the website: https://makecode.microbit.org/

Start a new project which will be the code for the receiver of the TAG system (This website is owned by BBC microbit).

Step 2: Code (Python) Your Receiver

Above is the code for your receiver, and below is a brief explanation of the codes:

At the start, all of the radio is set into the same group, to let all the parts communicate. When the receiver receives a signal from the alarm, the receiver will show the icon of "X" and continue to play a melody 200 times, to alert the user. The last line of the script will allow the user to turn the alarm when the property is found.

You may directly download the code from the file that I have attached to this step, and transfer it straight to your micro bit (Receiver), or try it on your own. You may also get inspiration from the website mentioned above, which includes many codes from BBC microbit. The code provided is also inspired by ideas on the site mentioned before.


Attachments

Step 3: Set Up Your Codes 2

Start a new project which will be the code for the alarm of the TAG system

Step 4: Code (Python) Your Alarm

Above is the code for your alarm, you may directly download the code from the file that I have attached to this step, transfer it straight to your micro bit (Alarm), or try it on your own. This part of the code allows the alarm to sense and react when it is being moved. The code enables the alarm to make a noise and sends a single to the receiver to alert the user, meanwhile also sends a signal to the detector of its location.



Attachments

Step 5: Set Up Your Codes 3

Start a new project which will be the code for the detector of the TAG system

Step 6: Code (python) Your Detector

Above is the code for your detector, you may directly download the code from the file that I have attached to this step, transfer it straight to your micro bit (Detector), or try it on your own. This part of the code allows the detector to get notified when the alarm part senses that your project has been stolen or moved. The code enables the detector to detect the signal strength as you move closer or further from the alarm part.

Attachments

Step 7: Power Your Microbits

Now, you should already have three parts: Alarm, Receiver, and Detector. These microbits only work when there is a power source attached to them. Put all three triple A 9V batteries into the battery holder, and connect the battery holder's wire to the microbit as shown.

Step 8: Attach the Battery Holders

Use rubber bands to attach the battery holder with the microbits as shown.

Step 9: Import Your Codes 1

Plug in your microbits to your laptop, and follow the instructions on the website to pair your microbits. Import all codes that we made into the three separate microbits. Each microbit only needs one set of codes. E.g import code from step 3 to one of the microbit.

Step 10: Finish

Nice! You have made your own JustTagin, using these three components, you may use them to protect your properties from getting stolen.