Design and implementation of an RFID-based fuel dispensing system

Current fuel dispensing systems rely heavily on manual payment processing and authorization steps, leading to long queues, revenue loss from errors, and vulnerability to internal fraud.This paper proposes integrating Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to automate core aspects of the fueling process including user identification, metering fuel quantity, securely logging transactions, and accepting contactless payments.A functional prototype system was developed using an Arduino Uno microcontroller, MFRC522 RFID module, 16x2 LCD display, keypad, flow sensor, relay-controlled pump, and custom power supply.Key capabilities implemented include customer authentication via RFID cards, accurately metering dispensed fuel quantity based on flow sensor pulse feedback, securely mapping RFID profiles to accounts, and deducting amounts from user balances, all from the onboard memory.Rigorous testing demonstrated reliable user identification, metering accuracy within 8% error margin, an average error of 1.71% over 10 different trials, and robust system security.The prototype serves as a valuable proof-of-concept for enabling pervasive RFID integration in next-generation fuel dispensers.While limited in scale, it establishes the feasibility of using RFID technology to drive automation, enhance security, improve accuracy, and transform the gas station experience.Further work is proposed to evolve the system for real-world deployment through durability improvements, maintainability enhancements, and expanded feature scope.