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I'm no artist, unless you count engineering as an art. Anywho, here's my latest project:



I created it primarily to test out Camtasia, secondarily to show progress to a client (who is local, but is working with others around the world), and thirdly to practice presenting.

So, please critique everything about it and let me know how I can improve! Everything! You don't even have to be nice - if you noticed something that could be improved, please speak up.

You are talking like this is a new kind of thing. I could not do what it is you just did and your presentation is pretty good - short, to the point and demonstrates everything that needs to be shown - but what differentiates this from other similar products?

Dave said:

You are talking like this is a new kind of thing. I could not do what it is you just did and your presentation is pretty good - short, to the point and demonstrates everything that needs to be shown - but what differentiates this from other similar products?

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The primary motivation for my client is that existing RFID door access systems cost $500 per door, require an electrician to install (another $200 per door), and another few thousand dollars for the servers. Further, they don't give they granular control over user access, nor do they provide detailed logs. In other words, they can give a certain keycard access to a certain room and not another room, but they can't give them access between 8am and 9am (for a conference room, or laser cutter) and block everyone else during that time.

They actually talked to the major keycard entry providers and found that they were unwilling to give them more access to the system even if they paid extra for it.

This setup, right now, costs $270 and people can buy it and build it themselves now (it'll be open source). Once the parts and pieces are custom designed onto a single circuit board I expect the cost for a unit (including door strike) to fall down to around $150, and even if we marked it up significantly it would still be half the cost per door of a traditional system.

Further, since it's powered over low voltage ethernet you don't need to pay an electrician to come and wire power to the door - get your IT guy or local hacker to drop an ethernet line to the door and both power and data come to the same spot.

Lastly, the API, server, and software that runs on this unit will all be open source, so there are no server fees for most people who already have web servers or computers lying around that can be left on all the time. They can develop their own special purpose software if needed, log what they want, and provide very specific and customizable access patterns.

This system particularly targets coworking facilities and maker shops. A coworking office is a shared office - everyone pays a monthly fee and they come and work at the coworking facility. There are a lot of benefits to doing this rather than working out of home, but I'll let you google that if you're curious. The in addition to open workspaces, the local facility has conference rooms, meeting rooms, classrooms, and a few other resources which can't easily be shared. They have to be reserved, and occasionally there are conflicts. Further, use of conference rooms and some other resources require a higher monthly fee or a one time fee. This system not only allows access to the building, but integrates with the conference room reservation system so that only the person who has reserved it has access.

Maker shops (techshop is one example of a maker shop) allow their members to use laser cutters, large format printers, vehicle bays, electronic test equipment, etc so people don't have to pay thousands of dollars for a tool they are only going to use occasionally. They have complex rules for using equipment, though. Some machines require training before they can be operated by the user, and other machines require maintenance and materials on an ongoing basis, so they have a per-hour cost in addition to the membership fee. Further, some popular machines (such as the laser cutter) require reservations, similar to the conference rooms in coworking facilities. So this system can control each machine. You walk up to a machine, bring your card near the reader, and as long as it's not reserved (or you hold the reservation), and you've passed the training for it, then it'll turn the machine on and log the hours you used it. If the machine has a per hour fee then the server can add that automatically to your monthly bill.

So the primary advantages are:
- Low cost
- Fine grain control
- Extensive access logs
- Machine and resource control (ie, not simply door lock)

Eventually, as we get closer to having this ready for sale, I'll likely put together a more comprehensive video explanation.

What failsafes do you have for such events as power outages?

Dave said:

What failsafes do you have for such events as power outages?

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That's up to the end customer. Since it's a door strike, and not a door knob they can still user the keys they already have, and panic bars on the inside of the door would still work.

The door strike can also be configured as a fail-safe (ie, it unlocks when there's no power) or fail-secure (it locks when there's no power) so that when they install it they can decide what they want to have happen when the power goes out.

However, it's powered over ethernet, and consumes 2.4 watts - similar to a desk phone. Drop a UPS on the server, and a UPS on the power over ethernet injector/switch/hub and the doors and server (and network) will continue to run as long as the UPS holds out (until the generator kicks in, if someone is that serious about power).

So there are many options, and depending on the needs of the end user they can spend nothing and get fail safe or fail secure access by default, or spend a lot and put in a huge UPS with a generator for continuous powered operation.

Can this be locked/unlocked remotely?

(I might want one for my own house!)

Dave said:

Can this be locked/unlocked remotely?

(I might want one for my own house!)

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It's set up so it can, though we don't have an iphone app yet. It'll undoubtedly happen though. It can certainly controlled over the internet at the moment. Some people will want to be alerted when someone goes in as well. I can imagine telling the server to text my cell phone when my kids get home.

Who knows, maybe it'll eventually implement voip so you can answer the door using the iphone wherever you are (maybe with video?) and unlock it if it's the repair person or a friend.

Amorous Eyes said:

Fuck open source, copyright it, sell it, and make millions? ?

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And share those millions with everyone who posts in this thread!

Patent/Copyright it, license it. Make tons of money.

Open Source it, thoroughly document it, build it, demonstrate it at trade shows. Make a few hundred pounds of money, then when someone else tries to patent your idea, beat them over the head with your meticulous record-keeping and invalidate their patent via sufficient claim of prior art and make the Open Source community cheer your name.

--Patrick

Chances are good most of the methods and techniques are already patented, otherwise we'd see a ton of cheap electronic door locks on the market already.

Fortunately I don't have to worry about that part of it - my client will own it all and deal with that. I'm giving them a discount since it'll be open source, but I'm still getting paid to make it.

I don't understand the tech stuff, but I love the fact you have that awesome doodle on your business card.

Silver Jelly said:

I don't understand the tech stuff, but I love the fact you have that awesome doodle on your business card.

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Yes, Eljuski's doodle is awesome.

It wobbulates!



Running on the iphone simulator. Should have it running on a real iphone and ipad soon, so I can check the performance. Then it's on to designing a game that uses cubes....