I'm looking into creating a wireless door lock using any method. I currently have an Arduino Uno hooked up to a servo motor. I can just set it up to the door lock with engineering magic (duct tape) and have it work. The problem is that it currently works by sending a character input through the computer's Arduino console to lock/unlock, and I want to make it work via my phone (or other alternative), so that the computer doesn't have to be plugged in to the lock all the time.
Is there any bluetooth device that can help me achieve this? Or should I simply go for a secret knock (http://arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/Knock) type of mechanism for this. I'm not that inclined to go for the knock one because it's less..secure. This project is pretty open ended, so anything goes, really. I'm just trying to avoid the clutter and increase actual usability. Are there any other alternatives/ideas I can use that I'm overseeing?
Thank you!
Yes I agree with polymorph. RFID is a good idea. You can have too a keyboard to enter a PIN.
Thank you! Do you have any recommended or preferred RFID devices I could buy for this? Also, since I'm new to all of this, where could I find a tutorial for this?
I've never used a RFID reader so I can't suggest anyone. Top brands are expensive but they have docs, libraries and examples. Until now (for the other shields that I buy) I always buy and I always did the work. For what I know the lower brands use the libraries from the top brands (as Arduino is an open hardware and open source platform all is normally open and can be copied). Is up to you make the choice.
You need to match the RFID tags to the reader. The simplest way is to buy both from the same company, specified by them as matching.
But for cheapness, you can't beat this. A roll-your-own RFID reader using an LM324 Op Amp, a bunch of passive components, and a hand-wound coil. Works on 125kHz and 143kHz.
http://playground.arduino.cc/Main/DIYRFIDReader
If I'm reading that correctly, it uses HID EM4100 125kHz tags.
Here are 10 of them for $8:
http://www.amazon.com/Generic-125kHz-EM4100-Proximity-Access/dp/B00GXV4KJM/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1402057730&sr=8-4&keywords=em4100+rfid
If you don't want to build one (I think you should, it looks very simple and incredibly cool), here is one for $7 that is breadboard friendly:
http://www.amazon.com/Enjoydeal-125KHz-EM4100-Reader-RDM6300/dp/B00FBZVTQI/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1402057803&sr=8-9&keywords=em4100+rfid
Here is one for access control that has a reader, keypad, and comes with 10 RFID keyfobs for $12:
http://www.amazon.com/Proximity-Entry-Access-Control-System/dp/B009NQUPZW/ref=pd_cp_pc_0
Very informative. Thank you all for your help!