Comments on: iFob: Keyless entry

By: napile

napile — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 12:39:51 +0000

Your project sounds pretty good and it reminded me of this product: http://www.advancedkeys.com/Prod_IUI101.html

too bad it doesn’t come with push-start function though. Keep us posted with you project.

By: .x

.x — Tue, 26 May 2009 18:53:54 +0000

I’ve been working on a similar system in my spare time, that uses RFID to unlock/open the door (shaved door handles soon upon success) and as the “physical” key. The physical lock for the steering wheel simply creates an electrical signal anyway, you just have to hack n slash a little further back. The ignition switch on my car has 6 pins which determine key position. So I just have the RFID reader transmit to those as outputs. Then I’ll route out the keyhole and where the ignition switch was to put in an engine start pushbutton. I’ll be making a site soon for all my car mods soon, once I get enough images and finished segments.

By: TJHooker

TJHooker — Tue, 26 May 2009 18:24:42 +0000

I’d like to correct myself. The ECM ASIC on most domestic manufactured cars use a static code in the passive transponder, the higher end cars use ‘rolling code’.

Jet makes a unit that can create clones off a single key for any static code system which is a lot of makes. Also people often leave valet keys in the glove compartment. for ford they have a unit that can do a clone strait of the ecm interface.

The best way for a static code solution is just get a RFID ASIC and make a reader with non-volatile memory to store keys. You just have to find the frequency and format the chip manufacturer is using. texas instrument’s are the only easy to find ones.

Rolling code is the one that uses the crypto, and I think those are the ones that got fpga brute forced.

By: TJHooker

TJHooker — Tue, 26 May 2009 05:01:43 +0000

Honda started using passive transponder security in the 1995 prelude. the key turns, the ecm inits and powers the antenna around the lock cylinder, and the transponder in the key head does a response basically. It’s actually been working going on 3 decades as a solution because it was used in higher end cars before that; i think the corvette had them in the 80s as an option. the chip alone keeps the car from being cranked because the ecm which controls ignition, and fuel timing does a cryptographic challenge/response from the key that isn’t trivial cryptography.

By: goe

goe — Sun, 24 May 2009 11:38:27 +0000

Why not buy a renault?

By: bill

bill — Sun, 24 May 2009 02:26:30 +0000

I’m working on a similar project… The hardest part in removing the key (at least in my car) from the picture is disabling the steering lock. It is mechanically actuated buy turning the key, not an electrical signal.

I picked up a cheap rfid kit off ebay. They work well :)

By: Matthew Thiel

Matthew Thiel — Sat, 23 May 2009 21:31:31 +0000

Well, you don’t even need a fancy-brand car for dongle-unlock/starting anymore. My 2008 Nissan just has a button on the handle to open the car, and a button on the dash to start it. As long as you have the fob in your pocket, it just kinda works.

I understand the DIY fun of something like this, but I would personally be way more interested in something that handled all my damn online passwords using a physical device. If only every auth-system supported something like SecurID…

By: IceBrain

IceBrain — Sat, 23 May 2009 12:38:22 +0000

I don’t like keys either, but having to carry a small box doesn’t seem much better. If he had used an arduino with bluetooth he could then use his phone as the wireless “key”.

By: stunmonkey

stunmonkey — Fri, 22 May 2009 22:02:29 +0000

I second the idea that he just likes building things, which is perfectly acceptable.

You can already cheaply buy purpose-built products that bypass the key and do both keyless entry and allow for keyless driving. They are easy to install, and actually cost less than an arduino.

If it didn’t use one, however, we wouldn’t see it here on shillforarduino-A-Day, now would we?

By: Adam

Adam — Fri, 22 May 2009 20:21:54 +0000

So they’ve designed something many vehicles are already equipped with. (See BMW, Jaguar, Mercedes, etc.)

By: ChrisInNc

ChrisInNc — Fri, 22 May 2009 20:13:24 +0000

oops…I need to learn to read the posts completely.

By: TJHooker

TJHooker — Fri, 22 May 2009 20:12:44 +0000

@liam: it’s not that frequent. Passive transponder keys are super secure because of the crypto.

code catchers where over hyped years back.

By: ChrisInNc

ChrisInNc — Fri, 22 May 2009 20:11:15 +0000

I have never seen a remote start setup that allowed you to drive the car without the key. I’m not saying that they don’t exist, but the way most of them work requires the key to be inserted anyway just to unlock the steering wheel and keep the car running.

By: BigD145

BigD145 — Fri, 22 May 2009 20:06:42 +0000

Why use a wireless car starter when you can just hide a button?

By: Tim

Tim — Fri, 22 May 2009 19:57:17 +0000

Erm don’t most car keys already do this? In fact some car keys don’t even have a real key part anymore – it is just a fake plastic stick.