RFID door lock

Here is Makers Local 256's version of what we are thinking of doing.

https://256.makerslocal.org/wiki/index.php/USB_Auth

Required features of Load of Fun lock system

• Cooperation with Sherwin and the rest of the tenants
• Should be extremely reliable. QA / field testing should be fun.
• Should be extremely simple, require no skills (programming, unix, etc.) to change settings, add or remove access.
• Should cheap enough to replace all artists keys or work with the current lock system
• Should have an option to buzz people in for visitors
• Will be internal requiring access to two doors

Solutions

No Networking

• Each door has its own microcontroller and reader, stores its own access list ( SD card? )
• Buzz in system connects directly to lock and uses simple two conductor wire and a button.
• This system limits failure to one door at a time, is very modular.

Wireless Networking

• Jeenodes
  • Do they have enough range?
    • Read that Jeenodes at 100m line of site or 30m indoors. Lower baud-rates improve range.
  • What would the power situation be like?
    • Power off of wall-wart, possibly with battery recharge for power-outage.
  • What are the failure modes?
    • internet out - local activation via keypad/usb key/retina scan
    • power out (internet also out) - battery backup kicks in for a few hours, use local activation
    • it seems like you'd want to always leave the door openable by key for the best failure protection.

Wired Networking

• Ethernet shield and web server
  • One wire between door and router, second wire between router and server, and always on door server. As few "moving" parts as necessary.
  • would require people to be on the loadoffun wireless to buzz people in
  • could store access keys locally incase server melts down
• No ethernet alternative: signal boards via simple copper wire from central web server.
  • plus: no ethernet shield cost.
  • node server (running dyn-dns or similar) authenticates users and then sends command over serial to a usb-attached arduino/similar peripheral. peripheral sets signal lines high for corresponding node devices. Node devices open door locks.
  • node server could run fancy program (auth via tropo sms, email, web app), also just as feasible with wireless networking

Third Party / Complete Solutions

What are the money and time costs of using a pre-packaged solution?

Door Hardware

Generally, it seems like a good idea to keep normal door operation the same once the unlocking system installed. Doors have been slowly engineered over the years and work very well in the case of crowds, fires, etc. Electric strike works well for this, additional actuation also as long as it doesn't require that it be used to get in our out.

• Electric door strike
  • we have one but from our tests it will not work on the outside door. Great for door to studio. (how electric strike operates: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7lCiQ6IP4I)
• Electromagnetic lock
  • requires a battery backup incase power goes out
  • requires a button to be pressed to exit (This could be a motion sensor, with the button just as a backup)
• Servo/other-motor actuated
  • for bar-style door (http://shrten.com/424), a servo motor would keep the door function the same but allow you to trigger opening from outside. servo force would need to be pretty decent to push the bar in. $75-$110 would buy a hefty enough servo (http://www.servocity.com/html/hsr-5498sg_servo.html). there's also a potential for very clever solution possibly involving a counter weight, some gearing, etc.

The Key

• SMS/Tropo
• Mobile Website
• Keypad -- doesn't have to look like an atm keypad. could be a rotary dial (http://www.porticus.org/bell/images/buttset/dial.jpg) or a set of crazy lost style knobs/switches. ideally they'd be self returning/position-less though so that once the door was opened, the code to open it couldn't be discerned.