I need some advice . I am making a emulation product using Micro pro . What i want is to trigger micro in a certain proximity so that i can unlock my PC. What i thought initially was.
Micro + blueSmirf Auto connect module -> triggered with android app.
Issue : I have to know that i reached my home foe that i am using wifi to detect location and then trigger BT . Though i am also having troubles in using bluesmirf
Guys can i get any other nice way to easily trigger my micro in a certain proximity with android. I am thinking of wifi module only with proximity , but no idea what hardware to use. I need a simple smart way .
Issue with bluesirf is that it is not coming up on CMD mode from last few days ? shd i try reset it??
Interesting. I've had a similar idea (of being able to lock/unlock a PC just by presence) for the last couple of years but my experiments have shown that it is harder than it looks.
Bluetooth has far too wide a range - up to 30m so it's hardly a secure method of un/locking a PC, I found.
I'm not sure how WiFi would help here, as your phone would be connected to WiFi and your PC would be unlocked? Perhaps you need to explain how this might work.
I also tried RFID but the range was too short - the sensor would have to be within a centimetre or so of the fob to detect it (I'm convinced there must be longer range RFID devices out there but not at hobbyist consumer prices).
I eventually narrowed it down to actual physical present by detecting a human being - ultrasonic, infrared, seat switch, capacitive switch - you name it, I've experimented with it, and none are ideal.
I also found an infrared presence detector (that did not work like a PIR that only detects heat movement) but it was not yet commercially available and certainly not at consumer prices.
So maybe this background research will help you follow other or similar avenues - but I would recommend you sit down and think exactly how you expect it to work (you mention Bluetooth, but how exactly is this going to work for you?).
If you find a solution that works (for you) please, please post back!
Explain the mechanism for "locking /unlocking " PC. What technology, circuit, software does that entail ?
The only reliable forms of access encryption are called "dongles". They are USB keychain H/W circuits that contain the encrypted access code and when plugged in the software that locks the application or PC reads the encrypted access code in the USB dongle and unlocks the application/PC. They are used for high end software packages that cost tens of thousands of dollars. It could be CAD or circuit simulation software, or any number of other expensive applications.
The way I tried it was to connect the PC to a virtual USB device (it wasn't an Arduino [it was a Microchip device] but a Leonardo or Sparkfun Pro Micro would work just fine) and if that device received the correct 'go' command it would send the unlock key-presses.
I tried the RFID approach (which is secure, I believe, certainly against casual attacks) but there was still the issue of sending back the Window's password to the device to sync both. Especially if the PC in question is not yours but your employers on which you cannot install programs to do this. Hence the need to connect via (say, your mobile phone to the unlocking device) to manually resync the password.
I got all this more or less working but it was so clunky I felt the technology (at consumer level) just wasn't ready for it. However, this was a couple of years ago, maybe things have moved on a bit since then.
My computer at work has a USB keyboard. The security software requires a CNTRL-ALT-DEL, followed by an ENTER key, followed by the password. Basically, it sounds like what you are describing is a black box that looks for a signal RF etc, and when it receives the correct BT /WIFI/RF signal, it sends the above keyboard codes with brief delays between them. The only problem I see (maybe because I don't understand how PC peripherals work) is that the PC is only looking at the keyboard for those codes, so it would ignore any other device plugged into the USB that doesn't "look" like the keyboard to the PC.
The Arduino Leonardo, or Arduino Micro or Sparkfun Pro Micro is identified by Windows (not sure about Macs) as a HID (Human Interface Device aka a keyboard and/or mouse, depending on how you have configured the Arduino software).
You can then (as you have surmised) send keystrokes from the Arduino to Windows and these will be accepted just as if you had typed them yourself.
You can see a brief example of my recent project doing this sending commands to my video software in my video #28 (at the beginning of the video).
Hey Thanks for the discussion rolling. i ll explain.
Arduino Micro & Leanardo comes with emulation HID. I was able to emulate locking/unclocking easily on some event.
Now what i want is , When a user comes to his/her work palce, They should be able to trigger a event to arduino board and inturn Arduino should unlock PC and locking is vice versa when He/she leaves a place.
Now the technology part. I Bought a blue smirf so that i can auto connect every time a user comes in a place with bluesmirt BT on state and as soon as Arduino detects the connection unlocking should be done/ if user connection is lost from BT locking should be.
Currently i am having trouble using blue smirf, though if it works the way it is sold, I am sure ill make this work .
I am just looking for other options. I also search xbee wifi sheild , looking for some proximity sensing.
The last solution which i have got is to use Beacon that allows 3 to 70 meter proximity sensing , when Phone detects a particular distance it will send trigger to Arduino wifi sheild . I am sure that will work easily.
Just looking for smart way. of doing this. Low cost and low resources.
Well i have thought of RFID/ZIGBEE other arduino boards .. Everything i found on net.
This is the best way : That will work .
Android device with WiFi connectivity -> comes in a space with a particular wifi .
Opens the BT of mobile. As sson as it gets the beacon signals , waits for the set limit , say 5 meters.
Sends a signal to Arduino Wifi sheild on port. and password as well.
Arduino wifi sheild triggers that to Arduino micro --> which triggers the emulation with that password.
When the Beacon signals die to a limit say 50 , locks the PC vice versa.
But above i was trying to restrict the use either to Wifi or BT. i dont wanna use both.
So looking for may be Wifi Proximity . That will erase use of BT.
Can some one suggest any harware for Wifi proximity + data sending in a same device on Arduino. Please note not all Arduino has Emulation capabiliity, so i need to stick with either micro or leanardo.
The problem with your proposed design is that the range of either WiFi or Bluetooth is far greater than what you need (or would want). I mean, do you really want your PC unlocked at 30 metres? And not locked until you move 30m away? You need it done within 2-3m ideally.
I could not get that short a range even when amended the antennae of the Bluetooth module - it was just too good at finding me and reconnecting, even though I was many metres away (which is the design goal of the manufacturer of course!).
So if you can think of a short range solution (2 -3 m) then do please let me know!
Well that is the point of proximity sensing , I have tried beacons and they can reach quite close. So i can trigger event based on that data . I am looking for similar proximity sensing on WiFi modules.
Does this clear ur confusion?
I got your point and definitely triggering things at 30 meters is no option .
Ralph_S_Bacon:
The Arduino Leonardo, or Arduino Micro or Sparkfun Pro Micro is identified by Windows (not sure about Macs) as a HID (Human Interface Device aka a keyboard and/or mouse, depending on how you have configured the Arduino software).
...
Macintosh computers work the same way with my 32u4 based boards. (Sigh.)
navaljosh:
...I have tried beacons and they can reach quite close...
Even more interesting.
The couple of iBeacons I looked at can determine distance based on Power Level (received, I'm guessing). I shall have to investigate further. But at 12.75 British Pounds (about $17) it's not a cheap device.
However, Google indicated that there were cheap iBeacon alternatives (clones) so maybe that would be a possible avenue. As I say, I've added this to my list of "Very interesting things to investigate".
Ralph_S_Bacon:
Interesting. I've had a similar idea (of being able to lock/unlock a PC just by presence) for the last couple of years but my experiments have shown that it is harder than it looks.
Bluetooth has far too wide a range - up to 30m so it's hardly a secure method of un/locking a PC, I found.
I'm not sure how WiFi would help here, as your phone would be connected to WiFi and your PC would be unlocked? Perhaps you need to explain how this might work.
I also tried RFID but the range was too short - the sensor would have to be within a centimetre or so of the fob to detect it (I'm convinced there must be longer range RFID devices out there but not at hobbyist consumer prices).
I eventually narrowed it down to actual physical present by detecting a human being - ultrasonic, infrared, seat switch, capacitive switch - you name it, I've experimented with it, and none are ideal.
I also found an infrared presence detector (that did not work like a PIR that only detects heat movement) but it was not yet commercially available and certainly not at consumer prices.
So maybe this background research will help you follow other or similar avenues - but I would recommend you sit down and think exactly how you expect it to work (you mention Bluetooth, but how exactly is this going to work for you?).
If you find a solution that works (for you) please, please post back!
Hi, I was able make that project work. Just won that competion that i was targetting. see the youtube video :https://youtu.be/3HLxZYhuZ50
Hello...l'm new to this l hope you can help me.. l have a cople or serv motors 280 Ozin 8-Wire Stepper motor..supply 24v 6.5A and l have also PBX-2 and this has a SL7078MR circit...and l want to connect with arduino but l have no idea how to connect to arduino ..me can help