Comments on: Automated dorm room door

By: D_

D_ — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 21:38:25 +0000

Most hackers don’t realize the poweful hydraulic system at their disposal. Wasteful of water, unless you cab redirect the water to a lawn or garden, rather than sending it to the sewer. While it may not be as messy as an oil leak, a water leak can be just as damaging.

By: Virgie Wyant

Virgie Wyant — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 21:02:05 +0000

Useful detailed information and interesting post shared.

By: chris

chris — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 08:48:55 +0000

the computer/solenoids/servo is on a battery backup! So it shouldn’t be okay…when the water goes out though the door won’t open, but the servo will still open the handle, and there’s a bleed valve on the door so if you force it will slowly open. with the bleed valve closed the door can be pretty strong too!

By: Amatoc Industries

Amatoc Industries — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 05:02:21 +0000

But what happens when the power goes out. Does the hydraulic not having power cause it to be unopenable?

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 19:18:16 +0000

That is sweet – I was going to do this in my room, but we cannot mount anything on our walls unless we use blue masking tape. Otherwise we can get fined $200 for stripped paint lol.

By: chris

chris — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 06:36:22 +0000

@RenardHound “That might even be impressive to whoever he comes stumbling back to his room with.”

My girlfriend agrees! (only needed that trick once).

Also, the door has been bequeathed to a freshman, so she’ll have to make her own secret knock now!

By: jake

jake — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 01:57:06 +0000

why is it always the MIT kids that build crazy dorm room shit??

By: Inuyasha10121

Inuyasha10121 — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:10:04 +0000

Holy s***, I went to school with Chris, its awesome to see him getting recognized out there! I can’t wait to tell Mr. Hawley, the physics teacher, he’s gonna flip!

By: tehnthdegree

tehnthdegree — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:12:58 +0000

“Apparently it would randomly open in the middle of the night sometimes.” … A very undesirable feature when you live in the dorms; unless you’re into surprises! =]

By: Kris

Kris — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 21:07:05 +0000

Maybe a solution to the secret knock staying secret would be a rotating algorithm based on the date. You would have to keep track of the date in order to know what todays knock would be but anyone overhearing the knock would not be able to use it to gain entry after it changed for the next day. Just a thought.

By: yu

yu — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:54:34 +0000

mr. “A solution to a problem that doesn’t exist.” never need to open doors. he just remove unstack his stone barrier to his cave each time he needs to leave.

By: jayjam

jayjam — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:40:56 +0000

thats what i was thinkin jack. not too smart showin your “secret” knock on a video to the rest of the world!

By: Dean Putney

Dean Putney — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:38:32 +0000

Ah, sloth. the leading cause of doing too much work.

By: Jack

Jack — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:06:15 +0000

I don’t think the secret knock is much of a secret any more… but it looks pretty cool besides that.

By: RenardHound

RenardHound — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:55:03 +0000

That might even be impressive to whoever he comes stumbling back to his room with.