17. Applications and Implications¶
Group assignment:¶
None
Individual assignment:¶
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Propose a final project masterpiece that integrates the range of units covered, answering:
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What will it do?
- Who has done what beforehand?
- What will you design?
- What materials and components will be used?
- Where will they come from?
- How much will they cost?
- What parts and systems will be made?
- What processes will be used?
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What questions need to be answered?
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How will it be evaluated?
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Your project should incorporate:
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2D and 3D design
- Additive and subtractive fabrication processes
- Electronics design and production
- Embedded microcontroller interfacing and programming
- System integration and packaging.
What I've done this week¶
What will it do?¶
For my final project, I chose to design an access control system for the FabLab.
This idea came from observations made during my time at the FabLab: the physical key was often unavailable or lost, and it was difficult to know exactly who had entered the FabLab and at what time.
The objective of this project is to develop a system that allows only authorized persons to access the FabLab using an RFID badge. The system will also include a mobile/web application for logging and monitoring entries and exits, ensuring complete traceability.
The system will consist of:
- An access control box installed at the FabLab entrance, equipped with an RFID reader, a display screen, and an electronic lock.
- A management application that logs entry and exit events with timestamps and user identities.
Who has done what beforehand?¶
I researched previous Fab Academy projects and existing commercial products related to access control and RFID-based systems.
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IOT FABTRACKER — by Achraf Ben Jamaa, Fab Academy 2020
A connected system for tracking people and equipment in a FabLab using IoT technologies. -
SMART DOOR LOCK SYSTEM — by Mansoor Ahmed, Fab Academy 2020
A smart door lock system using RFID and microcontroller programming. -
FAB BUDDY — by Philippe Libioulle, Fab Academy 2019
A system to manage access and usage of FabLab machines.
On the commercial side, I was inspired by FABMAN, a professional solution for managing FabLab resources and machine access.
What will you design?¶
I will design two main elements:
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The electronic control box: including the custom PCB, the housing (3D printed), the RFID reader module, a display screen (LCD or OLED), LEDs for visual feedback, a buzzer for audio feedback, and a servo motor or relay to control the door lock.
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The management application: a web or mobile interface allowing administrators to view entry/exit logs, manage authorized badges, and receive alerts.
What materials and components will be used? / Where will they come from? / How much will they cost?¶
| Component | Origin | Price ($) | Quantity | Subtotal ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESP32-WROOM-32D | Digikey | $4.08 | 1 | $4.08 |
| Module RFID RC522 | Amazon | $7.65 | 1 | $7.65 |
| LCD Display 20x4 I2C | Amazon | $10.00 | 1 | $10.00 |
| Servo motor SG90 | Amazon | $3.00 | 1 | $3.00 |
| Buzzer 5V | Digikey | $0.61 | 1 | $0.61 |
| LED RED SMD 1206 | Digikey | $0.39 | 3 | $1.17 |
| LED GREEN SMD 1206 | Digikey | $0.39 | 3 | $1.17 |
| RES SMD 100 OHM ¼W | Digikey | $0.10 | 10 | $1.00 |
| RES SMD 10K OHM ¼W | Digikey | $0.10 | 5 | $0.50 |
| CAP CER 100NF 50V 1206 | Digikey | $0.15 | 5 | $0.75 |
| CAP CER 10UF 35V 1206 | Digikey | $0.48 | 3 | $1.44 |
| IC REG LINEAR 3.3V 1A SOT223 | Digikey | $0.63 | 1 | $0.63 |
| SWITCH TACTILE SMD | Digikey | $1.08 | 2 | $2.16 |
| CONN HEADER 2.54MM | Digikey | $0.12 | 10 | $1.20 |
| PCB FR4 blank board | FabLab | — | 1 | $3.00 |
| PLA Filament 1.75mm (3D printing) | Prusament | $29.99/kg | 150g | $4.50 |
| Total | ~$42.86 |
What parts and systems will be made?¶
- Custom PCB designed with KiCad and milled at the FabLab using the Roland SRM-20
- 3D printed enclosure designed with Fusion 360 and printed with the Prusa i3 MK3S+
- Embedded firmware programmed with Arduino IDE / PlatformIO on the ESP32
- Web/mobile management application developed using Node-RED or a custom interface
What processes will be used?¶
2D and 3D Design:
- KiCad — for the PCB schematic and layout
- Fusion 360 — for the enclosure 3D modeling
- Inkscape — for 2D cutting files (labels, vinyl)
Additive manufacturing:
- 3D printer: Prusa i3 MK3S+ (PLA filament)
Subtractive manufacturing:
- PCB milling: Roland SRM-20
Cutting:
- Vinyl cutting (for labels or decorative elements)
Programming:
- Embedded programming: Arduino IDE / PlatformIO
- Interface application: Node-RED
- Communication: WiFi (ESP32), MQTT or HTTP protocol
- Database: MySQL or SQLite for storing access logs
What questions need to be answered?¶
- Is the RFID communication fast and reliable enough for real-time access control?
- Can the ESP32 reliably serve a web interface while managing RFID reads simultaneously?
- Does the 3D-printed enclosure provide sufficient protection for the electronics in a FabLab environment?
- Is the servo motor/relay powerful enough to actuate the door lock mechanism?
- How can we ensure data security and prevent unauthorized badge cloning?
How will it be evaluated?¶
- Functional test: Verify that the system correctly identifies registered and unregistered RFID badges.
- Communication test: Confirm that access events are properly logged in the database with correct timestamps.
- Interface test: Check that the management application displays the logs in real time and allows badge administration.
- Mechanical test: Verify that the door lock actuation (servo/relay) works correctly upon badge authentication.
- Reliability test: Run the system continuously for an extended period to ensure stable operation.