Published March 20, 2020

Secure Lock

Monitor your locker in real time. Get an SMS alert whenever the locker is opened. An IoT based add-on to the security of your commodities.

IntermediateFull instructions provided4 hours536

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Bolt IoT Bolt WiFi Module

IR proximity sensor

Male/Female Jumper Wires

3 wires are needed to connect IR sensor with Bolt WiFi module

Battery bank 5V 10,000mAh

Power banks with higher capacity are preferred.

Software apps and online services

Bolt IoT Bolt Cloud

Bolt IoT Android App

Twilio SMS Messaging API

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Tape, Double Sided

Story

Introduction

This project utilizes an IR proximity sensor and an IoT device (Bolt WiFi module, here) to intelligently monitor the state of a locker. It has the following functions:

detect whether the door is open or closed in real time
send an SMS when the door is opened
store the door opening and closing time in a file
Using an interface, show the current status of the door.

This system can be used for the security of a locker, cupboard or anything where important commodities (such as important documents) are kept. The stored information can be very helpful in investigating theft cases.

Demonstration

sending SMS on phone

Hardware setup

The circuit is connected as follows:

Data is be collected via pin 1 of WiFi module.

The IR sensor should be put at a convenient distance from the door. Utmost care should be taken while regarding the position and angle of IR sensor. Nearly 3-4 cm distance should be maintained from the door.

Use double sided tape or hot glue to install the components inside the locker. A cardboard box is recommended for housing or supporting the components.

1 / 3

Software setup

A file data.csv is used to store the time whenever the locker door is opened or closed. It should be initiated with the following python code:

import csv
with open('data.csv','w',newline='') as file:
    writer = csv.writer(file)
    writer.writerow(['Action','Time'])

The python script which fetches data from Bolt device and performs required actions is attached in the code section. Safely study the code to understand what it does.

The 'conf.py' module stores the bolt device login credentials and twilio project data:

To use messaging service, you need to create a project with programmed SMS service on twilio. You need to store Account SID, Authorization token, number generated (FROM_NUM) (while building programmable SMS) into the conf.py module. TO_NUM is the phone number to which message has to be sent.

Bolt device ID can be found on Devices tab in your Bolt Cloud dashboard. API key can be found on API tab.

1 / 2 • Bolt Device page

Working

The python script should be running 24x7. So, it is preferred to run in a remote server (Digital Ocean, for example). If it is to be run on a local computer, it needs to be running all the time.

When the door of the locker is closed, transmitted ray of IR module is reflected by the door's surface and is detected; value 0 is sent. When the door is open, value 1 is sent.

The value sent by IR sensor is received by digital pin 1 on the IoT module.

Every 5 seconds, the value is checked by Bolt API from the python script.

When the door is opened, time is recorded in the file 'data.csv' and an SMS is sent to your phone saying that the door is opened at that time.

When the door is closed, only the time is recorded in the file, no message is sent.

1 / 2 • an instant of data.csv

Hence, real time security is provided and a record is also maintained.

Status can be known at any time via the product page. It is described below.

User Interface

The device interface can easily be accessed on mobile phone using Bolt android app by linking Bolt device to a Bolt product (HTML code attached in Code section). Here is a screenshot:

Or, the Bolt device can directly be accessed from a web page if device ID and API key are known. In the HTML code, just replace the api_key and d_name (lines 26 and 27) with the known api key and device id which can be found at Bolt cloud dashboard.

Limitations

Regular power supply is needed. Battery bank should regularly be checked. Higher capacity battery bank is recommended.
Relies on available WiFi network. Internet connectivity is required all the time.
csv record file must be kept under high security as it is easily editable.
csv file should not be opened in Excel or any other application while the monitoring program is running because those applications impose write protection to the file; which leads the monitoring program to crash. Instead, it can be viewed safely by opening in text editors like Sublime Text or VS Code.

Code

#conf file stores the credentials of the bolt device and twilio account
#datetime is used to get current system time
#all the records are stored in a file data.csv

import time, json, csv, conf
from datetime import datetime
from boltiot import Bolt, Sms

my_device = Bolt(conf.API_KEY,conf.DEVICE_ID)   #object for bolt device
sms = Sms(conf.SID,conf.AUTH_TOKEN,conf.TO_NUM,conf.FROM_NUM)   #object for sending sms

#setting initial state to 0, i.e. closed
previousState = 0
#'0' means door is closed and '1' means it's open
#current state is obtained each time and matched with previous state
#if they are different, then either the door is opened or is closed

print("Press Ctrl+C to quit")

while True:
    try:
        file = open('data.csv','a',newline='')  #opening file to store door open and door close time
        writer = csv.writer(file)
        reading = my_device.digitalRead('1')    #reading from digital pin 1
        data = json.loads(reading)
        currentState = int(data['value'])   #surrent state of door
        current = datetime.now().strftime("%d-%b-%Y %H:%M") #current time of system (dd-Mmm-yyyy HH:MM)

        if previousState==0 and currentState==1:
            #door was closed and now opened
            writer.writerow(["opened",current]) #store door opened time in file
            try:
                sms.send_sms("Door recently opened at: " + current) #send sms to phone
            except Exception as e:
                print("Message sending error:",e)
            
        if previousState==1 and currentState==0:
            #door was open and now closed
            writer.writerow(["closed",current]) #store door closed time in file
            
        previousState = currentState    #storing the current state
                                        #for comparision in the next iteration of loop
            
    except Exception as e:
        print("Exception raised: ",e)
    
    finally:
        file.close()    #this is required to see update in the file 'data.csv'
    
    time.sleep(5)   #wait for 5 seconds before next iteration of loop

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
    <title>Secure Lock Check</title>
    <style>
        body{
            font-family: sans-serif;
            margin: 0;
        }
        h3{
            margin-top: 0px;
            margin-left: 2%;
            font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Geneva, Verdana, sans-serif;
        }
        button{
            margin: 10px;
        }
        #banner{
            background-color: #424242;
            color: white;
        }
    </style>
    <script type="text/javascript">
        var api_key = "{{ApiKey}}";
        var d_name = "{{Name}}";
        var base_url = "https://cloud.boltiot.com/remote/";
        var message = "";
        
        function digitalRead(pin) {
            var xmlhttp = new XMLHttpRequest();
            xmlhttp.onreadystatechange = function() {
                if (this.readyState == 4 && this.status == 200) {
                    var obj = JSON.parse(xmlhttp.responseText);
                    if(obj.success=="1"){
                        if(obj.value=="1")
                            message = "Door is open!";
                        else if(obj.value=="0")
                            message = "Door is closed.";
                    }
                    else{
                        message = "error in reading, try again";
                    }
                }
            };
            xmlhttp.open("GET",base_url+api_key+"/digitalRead?pin="+pin+"&deviceName="+d_name,true);
            xmlhttp.send();
        }
        
        function getState()
        {
            var result = document.getElementById("state");
            message = "undefined, try again";
            digitalRead('1');    //reading from pin 1
            setTimeout( () => {result.innerHTML = message;}, 2000);
        }
    </script>
</head>

<body>
    <div id="banner"><h3>Secure Lock</h3></div>
    <p>This page lets you know the current state of your locker's door.</p>
    <p>Click the button below to know the live status:</p>
    <center>
        <button onclick="getState();">Check State</button>
        <br>
        <div id="state"></div>
    </center>
    <p id='pin-state'></p>
</body>
</html>

Secure Lock

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Story

Introduction

Demonstration

Hardware setup

Software setup

Working

User Interface

Limitations

Schematics

Connections

Code

CSV file initializing program

Monitoring program

User Interface webpage

Credits

Dharmveer Bharti

Comments

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Secure Lock

Secure Lock

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Story

Introduction

Demonstration

Hardware setup

Software setup

Working

User Interface

Limitations

Schematics

Connections

Code

CSV file initializing program

Monitoring program

User Interface webpage

Credits

Dharmveer Bharti

Comments

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