Hello I'm new here and I was wondering if I can get and this http://m.instructables.com/id/Easy-Bluetooth-Enabled-Door-Lock-With-Arduino-An/
But instead of blue tooth on the phone I want to use a flash drive that when plugged in will send a some sort of secure code that will unlock the door?
Thank you for your help!
What do you mean by a flash drive? An Arduino is not a USB host so plugging a USB stick into it won't work.
I don't know if you could use an SD card - the Arduino can read those.
What about using RFID? There are mifare devices that can store some data.
...R
Thank you for the fast reply! I could use an sd card but I would prefer a USB pen/flash drive.
No RFID. I wanted the arduino to read a set of passwords that are on the drive(one like this http://www.apricorn.com/products/hardware-encrypted-drives/aegis-secure-key.html?gclid=CJLCl9a3v78CFUpqfgodVYQAcQ)
And wouldn't this version read a USB drive (http://arduino.cc/en/Main/ArduinoUSBHostShield ) with and uno?
it looks like there are ways to pass data from the USB to an arduino.
first problem I see is someone putting gum in it or bugs nesting in the opening.
the best security devices have no indication of how they work. magnetic or wireless or such.
Why are you ruling out RFID. To the best of my knowledge mifare cards have the ability to store some data - such as the passwords you are talking about.
As well as the risk of gum and bugs I doubt if a usb shield plugged into an Arduino would be sufficiently robust for regular insertions and withdrawals of USB sticks by "regular" people who take no trouble to be gentle with hardware.
...R
Again thank you for the replies and help
I'm ruling out RFID because I want to put the lock on a box not a door and I plan on being around the box when ineed it to be locked.
I would also like the USB input to be away from the box
And I would prefer to use a flash drive or sd card would work
Here is a rough sketch.
RFID could still work even close most of those lil one gotta be really close to work. Also have you thought about using your phone an an Ethernet sheild (WiFi works too) if you have an android there is an app called arduino controller that I really like I use it for the door locks at home and all sorts of other stuff not just locks.
OK, so an Arduino is an ill match to a USB flash drive.
This function is performed in practice using the Maxim iButton.
If you want to do it yourself on the cheap, use a Dallas DS18B20 One Wire Digital Temperature Sensor (much cheaper on eBay) mounted in a standard 6.5 mm "Phone" plug and a socket to suit. All the Arduino libraries are already there for you.
{In case you haven't "twigged" to it, the DS18B20 not only tells the temperature of your pocket, but contains a unique 64-bit "password" which is difficult to imitate.}